Good afternoon all, I am looking for suggestions. What is the best way to prevent spyware from getting on your computer. (Especialy that dreaded CoolWeb) Do you have any software that you recomend? I have software to remove it, SpyBot, CW Shredder, Hijack This, Adware, etc. but nothing I found prevents it. The reason I need something to prevent it is because a handfull of my customers have to call me out every few months because their kids get so much spyware on there systems that their processing speed just dies. The money is good for me, but I would like to help them out and get them something to prevent it. Your help and advice is greeatly appreciated. Thanks, Mario

Stop clicking on all those links and windows. :>)

A great freeware program one can use is Spyware Blaster from JavaCool software. It protects people from spyware and the program does not have to be running. Another great program that protects is Webroot's Spy Sweeper. I believe it is about $30 but has excellent protection. AMD Sempron 2400+ overclocked to 2800+ 1024MB DDR PC3200 Hitachi 120GB 8MB Cache HD Western Digital 80GB 8MB Cache HD ATI Radeon 9200SE 64MB Antec 350W Smart Power

On way is to start with a good firewall and antivirus from places like Norton or Mcaffee. Next is to make a limited user account that you use for internet only! Never use an admin account on the internet. Be sure to make backups.

Definitly go with SpywareBlaster, as Jeremy said above. You'll be happy you did. A good computer takes good care of their computer

Spyware Blaster is a must (and it's free). Spybot and AdAware are also essential and they're free. They should be updated and run regularly. Of course, everyone should have a good AV program, but they don't do much to keep malware -- adware and spyware, among others -- out of the machine. As far as Coolsearch is concerned, CWShredder will get rid of it, and I don't know how effective Spyware Blaster is at keeping it out. I would think pretty good. Turning off Windows Messenger and getting a good pop-up blocker (like the Google toolbar) are also helpful, but not as much as the above. And yes, get a good firewall like Zone Alarm. Much better than MS's built-in one which you can disable. Here are links: AdAwareSE Spybot SpywareBl

Go here for MS new spyware program. Works very good. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx