Spyware, Adware, Privacy Tools

Windows Defender (Beta 2)

Windows Anti-Spyware is now Windows Defender and is in beta 2. Still free anyway.

Rootkit Revealer

This rookit revealer freeware from sysinternals detects persistent rootkits on windows 4.0 and higher.

Malware Destroyer freeware

Malware Destroyer is a malware removal tool that claims a new and faster scanning engine. According to the website it takes only about 10 seconds to search for various types of malware including adware, spyware, dialers, etc.

Spyware Block List File

This is a registry file that stops some ActiveX controls from running in Internet Explorer. When a page tries to install a component from the list, it will fail to run. You should read the documentation and take appropriate backup steps before modifying the registry. The Expert version includes instructions and an undo file.

IE-SPYAD: Restricted Sites List for Internet Explorer

IE-SPYAD adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC.

HijackThis

HijackThis examines certain key areas of the Registry and Hard Drive and lists their contents. These are areas which are used by both legitimate programmers and hijackers. It's up to you to decide what should be removed.

SpywareGuard 2.2

Fast Real-Time Scanning engine - catch and block spyware before it is executed (EXE and CAB files supported) with signature-based scanning for known spyware and heuristic/generic detection capabilities to catch new/mutated spyware, prevent spyware from being download in Internet Explorer...

a? free

a? free is primarily a Trojan scanner and remover. But beside Trojan Horses and Backdoors, it also detects other harmful software like Worm-Virurses, Dialer and other dangerous tools which are used by attackers to spy your files.

Spybot

Spybot is my favorite freeware removal tool for spyware. It features removal of threats by shredding them, backups of every removed problem and a whole lot more. Spybot is freeware for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP.

Ad-aware Standard Edition

"With its ability to comprehensively scan your memory, registry, hard, removable and optical drives for known datamining, aggressive advertising, and tracking components, Ad-aware will provide the user with the confidence to surf the Internet knowing that their privacy will remain intact." Free for non-commercial use on the various flavors of Windows.

SpywareBlaster

SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware, but it prevents it from ever being installed by preventing the downloading of certain ActiveX controls. It also has a system snapshot utility that allows you to detect changes and undo them.

Keylogger Hunter 1.0

Utility that attempts to detect the activity of keyboard monitoring programs running on your PC. Windows freeware.

Google Toolbar

The new version of the popular Google Toolbar features a handy popup blocker. If you use the PageRank feature it will send information about the pages that you are viewing to Google, but you can disable this feature.

XP-AntiSpy

XP-AntiSpy is a little utility that lets you disable some built-in update and authentication features in WindowsXP.