We're going to cover two methods of dealing with Spyware. First, we'll discuss how to prevent Spyware from getting onto your PC in the first place. Unfortunately, there is no 100% effective way to do this, so after that, we're going to cover Spyware removal. Ready?

We'll start with stopping Spyware before it starts.

1. Check your Internet Explorer security settings. In particular, your ActiveX controls. These are in IE's "Internet Options" on the "Security" tab. Click on "Custom Level" and scroll down until you find "ActiveX Controls and Plugins". Set all of these options to "Prompt". This will force IE to ask you before installing anything.

2. Watch your installations. If you install something you've downloaded off the Internet, be a tiny bit paranoid. If the installation gives you the option of an "Advanced Install", choose it. Many times this option will bring up a list of components that are going to be installed. Check this list for anything suspicious.  If there's anything that looks suspicious, don't install it. Sometimes, however, the program you're trying to install will not install unless you install the Spyware. If that's the case, go ahead and install the Spyware. We'll kill it in a second anyway.

Like I said before, there's not any guarantee that these methods will stop every piece of Spyware. But they'll help. And, for those nasties that do get through, we've got a little suprise: A little program called Ad-aware (Not to be confused with Adware). Using this program is covered on the next page

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