why bother

10 spyware things - way too many! watch out for "rouge" anti-spyware . If you've got 10, I'm guessing you've got some wolves in sheep's clothing . 2-3 is probably best. MSAS and Spybot S&D for sure and maybe Adaware. Here's a good resource to check if you're anti-spy is a double agent http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm 3 firewalls - multiple firewalls tend to conflict. Get 1 you like, and configure it well If you want extra securtiy, add layers (different kinds of protection) There are some good ones that don't hog resources. Here's a pretty good combo: *) Current Windows Updates - should go without saying 1) 1 Anti-virus and 1 Firewall of your choice. 1.5) Trojan Scanner b/c virus scanners tend to be lax on trojans EWIDO is good and FREE, also finds some spyware http://www.avg.com/ww-en/homepage 2) reputable antipyware (2 is better than 1) MICROSOFT ANTISPYWARE microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx Huge database, good realtime protection, schedule updates and scans, nice extras, FREE SPYBOT S&D https://www.safer-networking.org/mirrors24/ Stable, reliable, unlikely to "sell out" , really nice extras, teatimer hogs CPU so I turn it off but you shouldn't unless you have other realtime protection, leave sdhelper on, schedule scans and set to update upon program start, set to immunize after updates, use the HOSTS list, FREE ADAWARE is ok to, also FREE, kinda unstable, tends to freeze for some people, sometimes has problems with updates, no realtime protection nor scheduling in free version. Running in safe-mode makes these more powerful 2.5) SPYWARE BLASTER http://www.brightfort.com/spywareblaster.html blocks some bad sites, installs, and cookies. no CPU usage, remember to update, FREE 3)PROCESSGUARD http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ controls what can and cannot execute on your CPU protects all your other security programs so they can't be disabled inserts itself very deep into the OS so that it is not easily disabled very simple, very little CPU, very powerful, a MUST FREE version works great, full version offers extra stuff ... remember to turn off learning mode, or it is useless 3.5)Script Defender http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm By setting itself as the script executer in Windows this simple little application interscepts requests to execute scripts, and then asks you what to do. If you're trying to execute script, just say Execute, and the script will be passed on to the real script executer. If your opening a strange email and suddenly a request to execute a script pops up, block it. Simple. Effective. No CPU use. Free 4) Intrusion Prevention PrevX Home and/or WinPatrol (doesn't hurt to use both) http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ https://www.winpatrol.com/ These offer great realtime protection against unauthorized installs and registry modification, aswell as buffer overflow protection. Little CPU usage. Main function is to throw up a warning if something is being changed and ask you to allow or block. FREE versions work fine, especially paired with PROCESSGUARD and MSAS realtime protection. PrevX is supposed to be more powerful, more extensive, and more difficult to use, but WinPatrol does have some nice functions that PrevX doesn't, and PrevX gives you more information in warning messages (perhaps too much for some). 5) Drive Cleaners Sometimes malware hides in temp folders, so its a good idea to clear those out every now and then, but be careful not to delete stuff you want. Here are a couple of good FREE Utilities /ccleaner http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ 6) Stand Alone Scanners and Uninstallers CWShredder http://www.antivirus.com/ removes coolweb search. found vx2.looktome when my other scanners missed it! FREE Lavasoft offers some FREE uninstallers http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ There are others, but I don't know them too well. 7) Online Scanners and Security Checks Since your installed scanners could be disabled, its a good idea every now and then to run an online scan to make sure everything's OK. Bookmark these, and visit once in a while. All FREE Virus http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ http://www.bitdefender.com/scanner/online/free.html Malware http://forums.xisto.com/no_longer_exists/ Trojan http://www.avg.com/ww-en/homepage Spyware http://free.antivirus.com/us/ Firewall Check and more https://security.symantec.com/nss/getnss.aspx?langid=ie&venid=sym https://us.norton.com/ http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/ Unless you work for the CIA, that ought to cover you pretty well. If you're still paranoid, add a Hardware firewall and a rootkit scanner. IE-SPYAD is probably good addition if you're using internet explorer