Keep Spyware at Bay with Spyware Terminator (Windows)

Running a Windows PC without spyware protection is like hanging from a cliff by your pinky: sooner or later, AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! There are plenty of anti-spyware utilities out there, both commercial and freeware. A relatively new entrant to the latter category is Spyware Terminator, which offers spyware scanning and removal, real-time protection, and even optional anti-virus integration. Plus, it has a cool name. ("Come with me if you want your computer to live." Sorry, just had to channel Ah-nold for a minute.)

I've spent some time fiddling with Spyware Terminator, and for the most part it's easy to use and quite comprehensive. I recommend skipping the optional browser toolbar that's offered during installation but allowing the third-party anti-virus software (ClamWin, a popular open-source utility). When you're done, you should also consider enabling ST's Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS), which creates a database of existing programs on your PC and notifies you of any non-database programs that try to run. It's an added layer of spyware protection, but for some reason it's not enabled by default.

Because this is freeware, don't expect much in the way of support. That said, there's an active user forum, plus a robust online support guide that will lead you to a support e-mail address if it can't solve your problem. If you're not running anti-spyware software, you absolutely positively should be -- and Spyware Terminator won't cost you a penny. [via Download Squad]