whats the best free spyware and which one(s) would u be best to avoid

The simplest solutions are the best and they are often save you money

One stop shopping (and mentioned here frequently):

Rogue List

See also your previous post:

http://www.computing.net/security/w...

I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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.. and just a few posts down:

http://www.computing.net/security/w...

(for unknown reasons, 'edit' wasn't working on my initial post)

I'm not one of those who think Bill Gates is the devil. I simply suspect that if Microsoft ever met up with the devil, it wouldn't need an interpreter.

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I use XP SP2 with all the updates & the SP2 firewall enabled.

Also use a NAT Router with strong password protection.
Hack lets intruders sneak into home routers
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-...
If you haven't changed the default password on your home router, let this recent threat serve as a reminder.

SpyBot
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Intern...
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/...
Update from MajorGeeks if unable to get from Spybot > Spybot Search and Destroy Detection Update
http://majorgeeks.com/
Bad Checksum message
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/...

SpywareBlaster
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spyw...
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.
Win95, 98, NT4, W2K, ME, XP, Win 2003.

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
All software offered on this page is free* to download and use and compatible with Windows 98/ME/NT40, Windows 2000 and Windows XP Home and Professional.
More download sites.
http://download.com.com/3000-2144-1...
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?...
Open Ad-Aware, click Start, down the bottom of the page, no need to remove > Search for negligible risk entries.
In other words, a red X for that one & a green tick for the one under it.

ewido security suite free for Windows 2000/XP ewido anti-spyware 4.0 becomes AVG Anti-Spyware ( NOTE: this is a 30-day trial of the program. This means that after 30 days the "background guard" protection will de-activate. However, this version can continue to be updated and used as an on-demand scanner forever )
http://www.ewido.net/en/download/
Or,
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/avg-ant...
Please use the online update after the installation. Only then can the recent signature database be transferred and installed.

to be honest i have tried to keep away from rouge spyware programs, and found spysweeper the best this was done on various tests for months and it seems the best one. i do have to say one major thing that is i have also done computer scans with...mcafee security suite/norton security suite/pc-cillin, and have been extreamly dissapointed with them all especially mcafee 2007, i had 3 test keyloggers and backdoor trojans installed and not one of them even noticed they were there. the only antivirus/firewall/program after all this that i have welcomed to be the best in everything is kaspersky internet security suite 6... by the way this is not an add.. the only reason why i recommend it is because i went through alot of bad s--- with keyloggers/trojans and dont want anyone else to go through that. thats it try it yourself for a free 30 day trial full program. nad make your own mind up.
best wishes
zenno

There is no one best ANTI-Spyware program if that's why you reposted the same question.

A Squared is particularly good for finding trojans, so worth having.

Ad-Aware and SpyBot are good. One or both of these is worthwhile (sometimes one will find what the other will miss).

SpywareBlaster keeps things out rather than finding them after they have arrived so it's well worth having. It uses no resources.

I think all of these have been mentioned previously. The rest is down to good browsing habits.

DerekW

i ask as part of me feels one program will find some spyware than another one will not i know the best way to do this is to buy some retail program like mcaffee or norton

It seems like you have already made your mind up on the principles and require answers that fit with your own conception of things. Stick around, maybe someone will come along eventually who happens to agree with you.

Neither of the packages you mention get particularly good press around these parts.

Most of us use several programs for the reasons I gave in #5. ASquared, Ad-Aware (and/or SpyBot) and SpywareBlaster tackle rather different aspects of the problem so they are a reasonable minimum. They are also free.

You can also use the "Go Search" button at the top right as general preferences (free or otherwise) have been discussed many times.

I have assumed, as you only mention Spyware, that you already have anti-virus protection which you are happy with.

DerekW

got the avast av

The simplest solutions are the best and they are often save you money

Avast is fine.

DerekW