TABLE OF CONTENTS Although this book is about spyware and its effects on the enterprise, we would be remiss not to discuss, at least in brief, end-user spyware mitigation solutions. A number of solutions are intended for end-user mitigation, ranging from freeware scanners and pop-up blockers to toolbars and keystroke detectors.
In this chapter, we will highlight some of the more popular freeware packages and toolbars, as well as a select number of pay-to-play software packages.
In the field of spyware protection you can take multiple routes to ensure the integrity of your computer and your data. Commercial products are available that include easy-to-use interfaces, user manuals, and free 24x7 technical support for users in trouble. Unlike in many other software markets, though, purchasing the cream of the crop in spyware protection software does not require a credit card swipe. Plenty of reliable and well-performing applications are available for free over the Internet. As is the case with many free applications, most free spyware solutions provide very little support and include interfaces that are not very intuitive, creating a hindrance for the common computer user. In this section, we will discuss a few of the most popular free spyware scanners, and we ll walk you through their usage.
Beware Malicious Antispyware Applications
One of the hidden dangers of downloading spyware scanners from the Internet is the general incredibility of most of the applications. The common home computer user does not know the difference between Ad-Aware and Adware...
