Spyware Guide for PC users
I still see a lot of people here having difficulties with spyware on their computers. I also noticed that some people still have no idea what tools are available to them that can help them clean and repair their computers. I compiled a list of some of the best programs to detect, and get rid of spyware on your PC. Some are free, some are not, and some are online scanners. Either way you can find some of the best tools here.
Freeware
Ad-Aware 1.06
Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components.
Download - http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Adaware_SE_Personal/965718306/1
Microsoft Windows Defender 1.1.1051 Beta 2
Windows Defender is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Known spyware on your PC can be detected and removed. This helps reduce negative effects caused by spyware including slow PC performance, annoying pop-up ads, unwanted changes to Internet settings, and unauthorized use of your private information. Continuous protection improves Internet browsing safety by guarding over 50 ways spyware can enter your PC.
Download - http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/default.mspx
Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4
Spybot Search and Destroy searches your hard drive for so-called spy- or adbots; that is, little modules that are responsible for the ads many programs display. Many of these modules also transmit information, including your surfing behavior on the Internet. If it finds such modules, it can remove them. In most cases the host still runs fine after removing the spyware/adware.
Download - http://safer-networking.org/en/index.html
HijackThis 1.99.1
HijackThis is a general homepage hijackers detector and remover. It scans for all objects which may be affiliated with Web Browser activity. StartList scans the system for all objects that are in all startup sections of the registry. It is continually updated to detect and remove new hijacks. It does not target specific programs/URLs, just the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites.
Download - http://www.merijn.org/
Specific removal tools
Trend Micro CWShredder 2.19
Trend Micro CWShredder is the premier tool to find and remove traces of CoolWebSearch – the name for a wide range of insidious browser hijackers– from your PC. It removes these browser hijackers. CoolWebSearch installs dozens of bookmarks–mostly to porn Web sites–on your desktop, changes your home page without asking, and continually changes it back if you attempt to correct it. Furthermore, it significantly slows down the performance of your PC, and introduces modifications which cause Microsoft Windows to freeze, crash or randomly reboot.
Download - http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
Online Scanners
Trend Micro Housecall
Trend Micro™ HouseCall™ is a FREE Web-based solution designed to scan your PC for a wide range of Internet security threats including viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware. It also detects system vulnerabilities and provides a link so you can easily download missing security patches. After each scan, HouseCall delivers a detailed report, which identifies security threats detected on your computer.
http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp
These are just a few of the most popular programs designed for spyware. I would recommend using several as one may miss something another may find.