Three good anti-spyware/anti-adware programs to download

[Onlooker]

I was so sick and tired of crap on my computer (including one that opened some garbage search engine in a separate window every time I went to Google) that I went to a few sites to figure what to do. If you want to get rid of spyware and adware, here are three program I recommend.

If you're not good with computers, use just Ad-aware

If you're pretty good with computers, also use Spybot

If you're very good with computers, also use Hijack This. (Really, don't download this unless you understand a little bit about the registry. If you misuse it, it might do some harm.)

All three programs are free, and I have never had a problem with any of them. They're all available from download.com. After you install them, you can check for updates.

[Dookus]

1. In my experience

you need both Spybot AND Ad-aware to do a good job. Each catches some things the other doesn't.

Also be sure to update the file definitions regularly.

[Wickerman]

2. I'm with you

need 'em both. When you are done, ditch Internet explorer forever. Use Mozilla or Opera and not have those worries. I have never used Hi-Jack this. Any thoughts?

[LuLu550]

3. thanks!

Between this post and one today on a message board warning of a virus, I downloaded the programs and checked my computer....had 121 infected files, 21 of which had worms and more spyware than you could shake a stick at. My computer is running so much faster now, I can't believe it.
Thanks a ton!

[LTR]

4. You need HijackThis

If a strange search engine is popping up in place of Google, you have a browser hijack. Not spyware (though it may be on there), no virus - jsut a crappy little script that changed your hosts file.

Hijack This should work.