There are some excellent products available to detect spyware, stop spyware, and remove spyware from your computer. Anti spyware software is designed to do all this plus immunize your computer against the reinstallation of the spyware it destroys - spyware blocking. Although spyware and adware are not considered computer viruses (mainly because spyware and adware don't replicate themselves), anti spyware software works much like anti virus software works.

Anti spyware software scans and/or monitors your computer for known spyware and adware file characteristics and patterns. It compares its database of spyware definitions to the files on your PC, sending a trigger when it detects a match. Normally, anti spyware software alerts you whenever it finds spyware or other malicious software, and lets you know what it has found. Most good spyware removers provide you with some detailed information about the spyware that has been found, such as its name, origin, and what it is designed to do. You then have a choice to destroy the spyware or to keep it (rarely would you want to keep it - unless it has accidentally detected a known good program that it thinks is spyware an extremely rare occurence).

The key to effective and efficient spyware detection and removal is in the spyware file definitions database that is provided by the software developer. As with anti virus software (which also requires updated definitions), if the anti spyware definitions data is not kept up to date, it cannot detect the newest spyware and adware. Most good anti spyware software includes an auto update feature, which will automatically retrieve and install new spyware characteristics on a regular basis. This makes the process of staying well protected extremely easy.

Most anti spyware software is purchased as a one year license, which assures you will get regular spyware file updates as well as product upgrades and enhancements. Normally the initial price of the software includes one year of updates. You can renew each year for a lesser price. Spyware removal software is relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider the amount of privacy protection you are getting. Since spyware can easily steal your personal information and send it to an unscrupulous thief on the other side of the world, investing $30 or so for protection against spyware is a small price to pay to stay safe.

Anti Spyware software will not protect you against computer viruses, and anti virus software will not protect you against spyware. You need both an antivirus and anti spyware product to protect yourself against both types of threats - which are very commonplace. Spyware poses a huge security threat to everyday internet users today, as the possibility of identity theft is so great.

"Everyone who uses the internet today should have anti spyware software installed on their computer - it's not worth the risk to not use it."