Free Software

Orange County Professionals

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Free Software

Annoyed about antivirus and security update fees? Leery of laying out hundreds of dollars for programs with features you don't need? We've found some alternatives that don't cost a penny.

Antispyware

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (MSAS) - beta
Microsoft Corporation http://www.microsoft.com	SUMMARY MSAS did well at removing spyware. Despite its elaborate Security Agent protections, it let more than half of our test spyware install. Still, it's free! Use it if you're on a budget, or use it in conjunction with another antispyware tool. PROS Does a decent job of spyware removal; has excellent, detailed information about specific threats; can clean surfing traces; can restore many IE settings; blocks hijack attempts. CONS Did not do well at blocking installation of spyware; single-window user interface can be hard to navigate.
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Lavasoft http://www.lavasoftusa.com	SUMMARY Ad-Aware does a good job of detecting and removing spyware, and provides useful information about the threats it finds.We suggest you use the free Personal edition as a backup scan for your main antispyware utility. PROS Scans quickly and offers detailed scan results and statistics, including severity. Links to more information online. Detected all but one of our test threats; removed two-thirds. CONS No ability to schedule regular scans. Can't restore individual quarantined items.
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot http://www.spybot.info	SUMMARY This version brings Spybot back to a decent level of spyware removal, but it's not much good at preventing spyware installation. Use its full scan as a "second opinion" along with your main antispyware program. The tools available in Advanced Mode will delight experts, but frighten others. PROS Decent detection and removal of spyware. Easy recovery of individual items from quarantine. Many tools for expert users. Can schedule recurring full scan. CONS Real-time protection not effective at preventing spyware installation. Repeated real-time protection alerts interfere with computer usage. Little information about found threats.

Free Software

Antispyware

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (MSAS) - beta

Microsoft Corporation http://www.microsoft.com

SUMMARY MSAS did well at removing spyware. Despite its elaborate Security Agent protections, it let more than half of our test spyware install. Still, it's free! Use it if you're on a budget, or use it in conjunction with another antispyware tool.

PROS Does a decent job of spyware removal; has excellent, detailed information about specific threats; can clean surfing traces; can restore many IE settings; blocks hijack attempts.

CONS Did not do well at blocking installation of spyware; single-window user interface can be hard to navigate.

Ad-Aware SE Personal

Lavasoft http://www.lavasoftusa.com

SUMMARY Ad-Aware does a good job of detecting and removing spyware, and provides useful information about the threats it finds.We suggest you use the free Personal edition as a backup scan for your main antispyware utility.

PROS Scans quickly and offers detailed scan results and statistics, including severity. Links to more information online. Detected all but one of our test threats; removed two-thirds.

CONS No ability to schedule regular scans. Can't restore individual quarantined items.

Spybot Search & Destroy

Spybot http://www.spybot.info

SUMMARY This version brings Spybot back to a decent level of spyware removal, but it's not much good at preventing spyware installation. Use its full scan as a "second opinion" along with your main antispyware program. The tools available in Advanced Mode will delight experts, but frighten others.

PROS Decent detection and removal of spyware. Easy recovery of individual items from quarantine. Many tools for expert users. Can schedule recurring full scan.

CONS Real-time protection not effective at preventing spyware installation. Repeated real-time protection alerts interfere with computer usage. Little information about found threats.

Microsoft Corporation
http://www.microsoft.com

SUMMARY
MSAS did well at removing spyware. Despite its elaborate Security Agent protections, it let more than half of our test spyware install. Still, it's free! Use it if you're on a budget, or use it in conjunction with another antispyware tool.

PROS
Does a decent job of spyware removal; has excellent, detailed information about specific threats; can clean surfing traces; can restore many IE settings; blocks hijack attempts.

CONS
Did not do well at blocking installation of spyware; single-window user interface can be hard to navigate.

Lavasoft
http://www.lavasoftusa.com

SUMMARY
Ad-Aware does a good job of detecting and removing spyware, and provides useful information about the threats it finds.We suggest you use the free Personal edition as a backup scan for your main antispyware utility.

PROS
Scans quickly and offers detailed scan results and statistics, including severity. Links to more information online. Detected all but one of our test threats; removed two-thirds.

CONS
No ability to schedule regular scans. Can't restore individual quarantined items.

Spybot
http://www.spybot.info

SUMMARY
This version brings Spybot back to a decent level of spyware removal, but it's not much good at preventing spyware installation. Use its full scan as a "second opinion" along with your main antispyware program. The tools available in Advanced Mode will delight experts, but frighten others.

PROS
Decent detection and removal of spyware. Easy recovery of individual items from quarantine. Many tools for expert users. Can schedule recurring full scan.

CONS
Real-time protection not effective at preventing spyware installation. Repeated real-time protection alerts interfere with computer usage. Little information about found threats.