I use Windows Defender for my real-time protection and Ad-Aware for my on-demand scanning.

In my opinion (and an opinion is all that it is) a real-time protection program is a must. Having an on-demand scanner is just an added bonus. Scan your computer with it once in a while to see if any crap has surreptitiously bypassed your real-time protection.

There are other viable options . . . and they don’t cost a cent either.

Spybot – Search & Destroy
An effective on-demand scanner.

Spyware Doctor Starter Edition
A free anti-spyware program bundled with Google Pack (I don’t recommend Google Pack – ’tis somewhat intrusive and often contains outdated versions of software). Additionally, Spyware Doctor consumes a lot of system resources, so I don’t recommend it for older computers. This program has limited real-time monitoring options and can also be used as an on-demand scanner.

AVG Anti-Spyware Free Edition
This on-demand scanner costs nothing and removes spyware others aren’t capable of removing. Real-time protection exists on the commercial version only. This program works well in combination with a program that provides real-time monitoring services.

Spyware Terminator
This program provides real-time protection as well as on-demand scans. Like other programs of this ilk, it also consumes a fair amount of system resources, so if you possess an older machine, this program may slow it down.

Spywareblaster
Providing a different style of protection, this program “blocks installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.” It doesn’t have to be running in the background like other programs. This program works well for those still using Internet Explorer.

My Recommendation
On my computer I run Windows Defender as my real-time monitor and Ad-aware as my on-demand scanner. I really think, though, that AVG Anti-Spyware does a better job removing malicious spyware and adware than any other free program out there; I’ve just been too lazy to install it on my computer. If you do install it, I’d immediately disable the real-time monitoring, automatic updates and scheduled scans as they run out anyway in thirty days. I’d then use msconfig to take it out of my startup items. Then, I’d run it manually (download updates and run a scan) about once a week.

If you have an older computer, Windows Defender might slow it down a bit. Spyware Terminator might be a better option for you. Additionally, if you have Vista installed on your computer, you already have Windows Defender so you don’t really have to worry about it. I know some of you are really anti-Microsoft, but in my opinion, Windows Defender is the obvious choice for a free real-time spyware monitor. It just works.

Anti-Virus
First off, get rid of your fancy anti-virus software and download and install AVG. It’s free, has a small footprint, works on XP and Vista, and provides adequate virus protection. I’ve been using it for years and have not had a single virus. Check out my earlier post on AVG here. Using AVG will also improve your system’s overall performance.

Spyware Protection
For spyware protection, I run Windows Defender. It starts up with my computer, provides real-time protection (which most free anti-spyware programs do not), and integrates seamlessly with XP (it’s built into Vista, so if you have Vista, you already have Windows Defender). I also have Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware, which I run (just for fun) about once per month. It hasn’t detected any spyware on my system for a very long while.

Firewall
I make sure that Windows Firewall is always running. It’s especially a good idea if you have an “always-on” connection. Windows Firewall does a good job of keeping my PC secure. I haven’t needed to go out and find a commercial solution or any other solution, for that matter. So many people are “anti-Microsoft,” but I’m just a regular guy who likes my computer to run – safely and smoothly (meaning without glitches or overt hardship). And the built in Windows firewall does its job well. To access it in XP or Vista, go to your control panel and double click on “security.”

Safe Browsing
Use the open source Firefox instead of Internet Explorer. This may seem like a small thing, but it isn’t. When I ran Internet Explorer as my default browser, I picked up all sorts of spyware. Every time I ran my spyware program, it found 20 to 50 critical items. After switching to Firefox, the typical result when I run my spyware scanner is “zero items.” I haven’t had any spyware other than a couple of tracking cookies for the last couple years.

Windows Updates & Auto-Updating Programs
Keep up on your Windows updates! I have automatic updates turned off, but it’s important to remember (if you do have this feature turned off) to remember to manually update your computer. If you have a bad memory, let Windows do updates for you automatically. Personally, I hate leaving any auto-update feature running on my computer. I have every single automatically updating program on my computer (that I know of) turned off. It results in superior system performance and you control what you update on your computer instead of leaving that up to the software manufacturers.

Temporary Files
Clear out your temporary files once in a while. I use Ccleaner to do the job (just remember, if you install Ccleaner, be sure to pay attention to the prompts while installing; I don’t recommend the programs it comes bundled with). I use it probably once each day. It enhances system performance and gets rid of pesky tracking cookies that may have found their way in.

Email Attachments
Don’t open up any attachments unless you’re sure they’re safe. If you don’t know what it is, quell your curiosity and just delete it, even if it’s from someone you trust. Often viruses attach themselves to contacts stored in an address book then send off emails to all those contacts. So it’s very possible to get an email from a trusted source that still contains a virus. If you have any question about whether an attachment is legitimate or not, play it safe and just get rid of it.

Regular Registry Backups
I don’t recommend the following for everyone but it works very well for me. I don’t use system restore. I’ve found it to be clunky and ineffective. It uses a lot of hard drive space, and can slow things down on your system. I use a program called ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT). It’s free and fast and takes up a lot less space than system restore. It doesn’t back up as many things as system restore, but backing up the registry is what you really need for reverting back to a previous state. The point here is: make regular registry backups, whether you use system restore or another program, so that if a major catastrophe occurs, you can revert back to a previous (stable) state.

Regular File Backups
Again, if all your efforts to protect yourself fail, you still need a way to recover your data. So, make regular backups of your “documents and settings” folder. That contains all your valuable information. There are many ways to do this, which I won’t go into now. Just make sure you do it! The easiest way is to copy the “documents and settings” folder, then paste it onto a second hard drive or another storage medium.

You can do more to protect your system, but do you need to? Let me know if you have any other suggestions.