How to Protect Your PC from Spyware

The best way to protect your PC from spyware is to avoid installing the spyware in the first place. This means avoiding obvious sources of spyware, such as peer-to-peer file-sharing networks, which are known to install spyware as part of their normal software installation.

Once spyware is installed on your PC, you can remove it with a dedicated anti-spyware program. An anti-spyware program should be run in addition to your normal anti-virus program, since most anti-virus programs don't detect spyware.

Some anti-spyware programs run in the background, automatically scanning your system at designated intervals and guarding against new spyware installations. Other anti-spyware programs require you to scan your system manually for known spyware.