The best I've seen so far is SpyCop. It scours your system, looking for secret keystroke-logging software. JOHN DVORAK CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, PC MAGAZINE

If you're on receiving end of a snooping program, wouldn't you want to know? SpyCop can ferret out hidden spy programs… KIM KOMANDO THE KIM KOMANDO SHOW

SpyCop has been recommended in many books: The Art of Deception: Controlling Human Element of Security by Kevin D. Mitnick Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security by Mitch Tulloch Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics and Countermeasures by Joel McNamara : Steal This Computer Book 3: What They Won't Tell You About Internet by Wallace Wang : Privacy Tactics by Scott Germaise Home Networking Bible by Sue Plumley Computer and Intrusion Forensics by George Mohay Absolute PC Security and Privacy by Michael Miller

WHAT IS ADWARE?

The public has become outraged at advertisers who use hidden marketing programs to take over computers for purpose of marketing their products. The symptoms of Adware are uncontrollable popups, unwanted extra toolbars, and drastically slowed down computer performance that can result in freezes or lock up. Most spyware detectors are concentrated on detecting adware because that is what is getting all press…and adware profiles are free for them to add to their detection databases. This makes it very easy and inexpensive for anyone to get into adware detection business. Many times same advertising spyware databases are passed around or copied between Adware detection companies with very little new research done.

Unfortunately, there are many inferior products out there that only do a half job at detecting adware. Adware is extremely annoying and will often cost you money because this type of spyware is poorly designed, and may cause severe damage that only a computer repair shop can fix. All expenses related to adware damage come out of YOUR pocket, not advertiser.

REMOVAL OF ADWARE I’m going to let you in on a little secret that many in this industry don’t want you to know: You DO NOT have to spend ANY money to detect and deal with Adware because best product out there is FREE. Yes, I said FREE, and it amazes me how many people are spending their hard earned cash to detect Adware …but as I explained earlier, there is a lot of confusion regarding subject of spyware.

Look what Andrew Brandt from PC World wrote about all these so called spyware detectors

POOR DEFENDERS Some anti-Spy Software companies use confusing ads, and our tests show their $20-$60 products are less effective than free competitors. Andrew Brandt

From December 2004 issue of PC World magazine

You've almost certainly encountered ads: A dialog box pops up on your system bearing message Warning! Your computer may be infected with Spy Software and suggesting that you scan your computer immediately. Click it, and you often reach a Web site providing a free Spy Software scanner that finds all sorts of malware on your PC--and then offers to sell you software that will clean it all up. Should you buy these products? Based on our tests, our opinion is no.

Following complaints from several PC World readers, we tested seven heavily advertised Spy Software-removal tools-- MyNetProtector, No Adware, Pal Spy Software Remover, SpyAssault, SpyBlocks, Spy Software Stormer, XoftSpy--

and found that none were as effective as reputable free products such as SpyBot Search & Destroy

Andrew Brandt PC World Magazine...

Here’s what some of leading experts are saying about FREE SpyBot

Spybot Search and Destroy is adaptable for both beginning and power users, BRUCE STEWART CNET EDITOR.

Spybot: A powerful, easy to use tool for detecting, removing, and preventing adware… WINPLANET.COM

So folks, don’t waste your money on Adware Spyware detectors, just do like Andrew Brandt says and get your FREE copy of SpyBot S&D from website link below: To download your FREE copy of SpyBot go to www.safer-networking.org

There are a lot of companies imitating SpyBot and tricking customers into thinking they are going to SpyBot website when they are really going to a competitor who wants to cash in on SpyBot’s popularity.

Adware Prevention (Careful what browser your using)

Many people are unaware that they can get adware deposited on their computer by simply visiting a website with an insecure browser. To help prevent new adware from making its way onto your machine when you surf net, I recommend FireFox. FireFox is latest cutting-edge browser designed for simplicity and security: To download your FREE copy http://www.mozilla.org/

FOUR EASY STEPS TO SPY PROOF YOUR COMPUTER 1. Check for hardware keyloggers attached to keyboard input. 2. Download your copy of SpyBot from www.safer-networking.org 3. Download your copy of SpyCop www.spycop.com 4. Download your copy of FireFox browser http://www.mozilla.org/

Copyright © 2005 Elizabeth Ward. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this report for free distribution at any website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety. Copies may be obtained in Ebook format from www.nospyzone.com

Buying a Bluetooth Headset

Bluetooth headsets for cellular phones are generally very expensive when compared with conventional ‘corded’ PC headsets. Depending on where you buy your headset, you could spend anywhere from $20 to $200+ USD. If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive headset that’ll simply enable you to make wireless VoIP calls using your PC, I recommend looking on Ebay. Although prices vary considerably on Ebay between merchants for similar products, overall they are considerably less expensive than purchasing same headset from a telephone store. A word of caution about Ebay though; ensure that you read fine print associated with shipping costs. Some Ebay merchants advertise Bluetooth Headsets for $5 USD however real cost quickly rises to $35+ when you account for their often exorbitant shipping charges.

‘Pairing’ Headset with your PC

Once your computer is ‘Bluetooth enabled’ and you’ve obtained a Bluetooth headset, you’ll need to ‘pair’ headset with your computer in order to use it for VoIP applications. This is usually just a matter of setting your headset in ‘discovery mode’ and allowing your PC to ‘search’ or ‘discover’ Bluetooth devices. The steps needed to enable discovery mode on your headset and adapter will vary between devices and should be clearly explained in documentation accompanying your devices.

Adjusting your Audio Settings

Depending on your hardware and operating system, you may need to make adjustments to your audio settings after headset is ‘paired’ with your PC. In Windows operating system, this will involve accessing ‘Audio Properties’ through ‘Control Panel’ and setting audio and voice devices to your newly paired Bluetooth headset. Again, adjusting these settings should be covered in documentation accompanying both your headset and Bluetooth adapter.

Once you’re up and running, you’ll wonder why you didn’t adopt this wireless headset solution sooner. The freedom to wander away from your computer whilst maintaining voice over Internet conversations is something you’ll come to appreciate and love.