What is best way to protect my PC/laptop from spyware/adware?

The latter. Just use the Windows-Firewall.

Yours, VB.

I am not saying they are beter but some use Ad-Aware of SpyBot both are free.

Go to the O/S

It's always best to keep up to date with new releases of such software, IMHO.

See above

You may want to do something here too.

Some comments;

- keep your machine up to date on Microsoft Update.

- Work smart. Don't click on anything you don't understand. This is *very* hard, pesonally, and in a company LAN situation training staff is almost, but you still have to try. In a very large coorpration, early in the days of spyware I found that a small number of people cought spyware on a regular basis and many never did.

- I just installed this /etc/host file and I'm *very* happy. I don't get *any* popups and if I should get some spyware it probably won't be able to do anything.

- I recommend a hardware firewall on any home broadband connection. This can be as simple as a home dsl modem router in the default configuration. This stuff is free for the asking when people upgrade to WiFi, etc.

1. If you're using Internet Explorer, switch to a different browser.
2. Turn off Javascript and Java. Most spyware/adware gets onto your computer via ActiveX (not usually an issue with non-IE browsers) or Java/Javascript. Turn these off and you won't have problems with malware. If certain sites require one of these, many browsers let you enable it for that site. Be careful which sites you trust, e.g.
   formatting link
   is probably OK, while
   formatting link
   is probably not.

A firewall really isn't going to help stop Spyware / Adware / Malware from being installed and causing problems. It *might* stop them from "calling home" but its not going to stop them from being installed and trying to call home. In other words really slow down your web experience. First clean up all the Spyware on your system now (see other suggestions) then install something like the Symantec Internet Security Suite or the ZoneAlarm Suite. Both now do a very good job from stopping this stuff from entering your computer in the first place. Then install (and use) Firefox with Adblock on NoScript extensions. If you do these two things you'll probably never have to worry about Spyware (etc) again.

John Herron - CISSP

get Spywareblaster to control ActiveX :-)

It's not possible to control ActiveX beside not using Internet Explorer at all.

Yours, VB.

Thanks for all your replys, will hopefully be spy & ad-free from now on!

Cheers Lyndsey

Has anyone had any experience/luck with SpywareGuide's Spyware Block List File?

Ron :)

And knowing what you're doing and not have the happy fingers clicking on everything makes this moot too.

Duane :)

I'm having problems with my network now, as mentioned before I'm using a Belkin wireless router 7230 to link my laptop with my desktop. My desktop is also wireless connected to my router with a Belkin dongle.

I can open files saved on my desktop pc with my laptop but cannot open files saved on my laptop with my desktop pc unless I turn off Windows firewall on my laptop (I have file & printer sharing ticked on my laptop & desktop)

I have read somewhere about Sygate Personal Firewall is this better than Windows Firewall or am I better trying to work why Windows Firewall wont let me file share documents on my laptop.

TIA Lyzzy

Yes. And this is a good idea.

No.

Better let it so. Use your Desktop as file sharing platform.

Yours, VB.