What's a good FREE Spyware/Virus program?

[Not_Giving_Up]

I downloaded one that finds things, but to clean it up, you have to pay. I'm about convinced that half of this stuff didn't exist because dates don't make sense on the files. It says they were created on a date that this computer wasn't even running. So, I might have just infected my machine by downloading this program. I've been running Spybot S&D with no problem for over a year, but it's apparently not picking up all of this other stuff.

[MindPilot]

1. I have used Ad-Aware with good results

www.lavasoft.nu

onedit: the personal version is free

[Not_Giving_Up]

3. Thanks!

Stop sign (the other program) says I have five viruses on top of loads of spyware. No freakin way!

[oxymoron]

2. 2nd Ad-Aware

www.lavasoft.com

[u4ic]

4. Spywareblaster

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

I only run Ad Aware once every couple weeks now, because Spywareblaster nips it in the bud before it gets to my machine. And other than a couple of tracking cookies, I don't have anything to delete.

Great stuff.

[Not_Giving_Up]

7. Spybot runs in the background and blocks automatically

I'm running a check now...Guess what? The program that took an hour to download on my dial-up gets picked up as spyware. Crafty little bastards. They have commercials running to go and download their shit for free to find the problems with your machine, and their shit IS a problem!!!!!!!!! :nuke:

[u4ic]

9. I never found Spybot to be nearly as good

as Spywareblaster...Immunize doesn't block the wide ranging amount of spyware programs that SPYBL does.

[lenidog]

5. Also get Spyware Blaster

its free and its a good companion to Adware because it is a shield rather than a remover. It keeps most of the more common crap off and they update it at least every other week. That reminds me I should see if there are any updates.

[welshTerrier2]

15. SpywareBlaster has special Firefox protections too ...

make sure you activate them !!

[mvd]

6. Others

SpywareGuard http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html

IE-Spyad http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0%2Cfid%2C23332%2CRSS%2CRSS%2C00.asp

[Digit]

8. With Spybot, don't forget to IMMUNIZE (eom)

[Ron Green]

10. The program that worked best for me was buying a Mac. n/t

[FM Arouet666]

11. Adware is good but.......

I seem to be plagued by a pop-up called Bullseye Network News. I have run Adware twice and still have this annoying pop-up. Resetting the IE Deplorer security feature regarding pop-ups seems to have quelled its recurrence. Good luck, fighting spyware is a continual battle.

[porkrind]

12. "AntiVir" is a good virus program

And Ad-aware is a good adware program.

[Spacemom]

13. I third the vote for Adware

I've also noticed that I get about a tenth the amount of spyware/adware now that I'm running Firefox instead of IE.

[Bat Boy]

14. I run AdAware and Spybot..

With Avast antivirus.

All free, and I've never had a problem.