Here’s a few useful tools I have found for removing spyware, adware, popups from Windows computers. I recently had to help a client with a really bad case of popups and trojan horse software. McAfee and Symantec are good for catching viruses, but not so strong at cleaning up spyware and adware. Symantec Endpoint was good at detecting the threats, but not really good at cleaning them up.

So, what free programs are good right now for cleaning up spyware and adware?

1) Malwarebytes 1.4 – This is the best free anti spyware/adware program out there. I give it a 9 out of 10 rating. Actually detects and cleans most of the ones out there. Easy-to-use, fast, and runs even on a compromised computer. There is a paid upgrade if you want real-time scanning. For my client, it fixed the problems. So, highly recommended!

Download:
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

Publisher: http://www.malwarebytes.org/

2) Spybot Search and Destroy – I’ve been using this one for a long time for removing bad cookies and spyware. Its not as easy to use as Malwarebytes and has a tendency to be a bit laggy on a slower PC. Good additional tool to try as a second alternative, but you must make sure not to delete false positives.

Download: http://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html