您的计算机可能是您家中最有价值的资产，即使它不是最昂贵的。获得对您计算机的访问权限可以为间谍软件、恶意软件和勒索(malware and ransomware)软件的创建者赚到很多钱。例如， 最近出现了一种名为CryptoWall的新勒索软件，它会加密您硬盘上的所有内容，并且在您付钱之前不会给您解密密钥。(decryption key)
当有人打开看似安全但实际上是恶意软件的电子邮件附件时，许多系统都会被感染。为了保护自己免受此类情况的影响，您确实需要一个实时监控程序(monitoring program)来阻止恶意软件立即自行安装。
我将提到几个很棒的免费反恶意软件程序，但其中大多数在免费版本中不包括实时监控。您应该购买高级版还是专业版取决于您是哪种计算机用户(computer user)。如果您多年没有感染过病毒或恶意软件(virus or malware)，您可能知道如何避免这些类型的诈骗，但如果您不确定某事是否合法，那么拥有更多保护可能是个好主意。
Malwarebytes 反恶意软件
修复恶意软件感染的最佳工具之一是Malwarebytes Anti-Malware。免费版本包括反恶意软件、反间谍软件和反 rootkit 保护。免费版本的一大缺点是它不包括实时保护或自动扫描，因此不会阻止恶意软件将自身安装到您的系统上，并且只有在您运行手动扫描后才会被删除。
总的来说，它是一款很棒的产品，可以真正帮助您删除系统上任何预先存在的恶意软件。但是，该程序的真正价值在于仅在高级版本中提供的实时监控和保护（25 美元）。(monitoring and protection)
间谍机器人搜索和销毁
Spybot已经存在了很长时间，并且在查找和删除间谍软件和恶意软件方面有着非常好的(spyware and malware)记录(track record)。它值得信赖并定期更新。
安装Spybot时，系统会询问您是要自动保护还是要从程序获得更多控制和反馈(control and feedback)，因此请选择最适合您的选项。
运行程序后，您需要单击第二个窗口上的更新按钮以下载最新的签名。
完成后，您可以返回主窗口并执行系统或文件(system or file)扫描。同样(Again)，免费版没有实时保护。此外，免费版只有恶意软件和 rootkit 防护(malware and rootkit protection)，没有病毒防护。他们有14 美元的家庭版和 26 美元的(Home version)专业版(Professional version)。
它确实有一个名为Immunization的功能，基本上是阻止已知恶意软件站点的网站。默认情况下未启用，因此您必须手动启用它。
广告感知
Ad-Aware也已经存在了很长时间，并且是目前最好的防病毒程序之一。安装程序时，请确保取消选中SecureSearch的两个框，因为这并不值得。Google可以很好地保护您的搜索。
Ad-Aware最好的一点是它在免费版本中支持实时保护！几乎所有其他程序都需要付费版本才能进行实时监控。他们确实有几个付费版本，从 24 美元到 50 美元不等，但您无需支付任何费用即可获得很多保护。
在付费版本中，您还可以获得电子邮件保护，这对于避免那些可能感染您系统的恶意附件非常有用。
超级反间谍软件
SUPERAntiSpyware是另一个具有悠久历史的间谍软件/恶意软件删除程序。(removal program)多年来，许多这些旧程序变得越来越好，这就是为什么你一遍又一遍地听到相同的名字。
同样，免费版本不包括实时保护、计划扫描或自动更新。付费版本是 20 美元，但它是按年付费的。我愿意向卡巴斯基(Kaspersky)这样的公司支付年度订阅费(subscription fee)，因为他们做得很好，但我真的不认为(t think) SUPERAntiSpyware每年值 20 美元。如果您打算购买反间谍软件程序，最好选择上述其中之一。
广告清洁工
AdwCleaner可能是您可能还没有听说过的唯一程序。基本上(Basically)，这个程序专注于工具栏、浏览器劫持者、广告软件等。
该程序使用起来非常简单，没有任何配置选项。只需单击(Just click) Scan，然后浏览选项卡以确保检查的所有内容都是不需要的，然后单击Clean。
该程序捕获了许多其他程序有时会错过的恶意软件，这就是我在这里提到它的原因。在过去 15 年使用恶意软件程序后，我认为这些是免费软件方面的最佳选择。不过，我强烈建议购买其中一个程序的完整版本以进行实时保护。享受！
Best Free Spyware and Malware Removal Software
Your computer is probably the most valuable asset in your home, even though it’s not the most expensiνe. Gaining acceѕs to уour computer can make a lot of money for creators of spyware, malware and ransomware. For example, a new ransomware called CryptoWall has been going around latelу thаt encrypts everything on your hard drive and won’t give you the decryptіon key until you pay thеm money.
A lot of systems become infected when someone opens an email attachment that appears to be safe, but in reality is malware. To protect yourself from those type of situations, you really need a real-time monitoring program in order to stop the malware from installing itself immediately.
I’m going to mention a couple of great free anti-malware programs, but most of them do not include real-time monitoring in the free versions. Whether you should purchase the premium or pro versions depends on what kind of computer user you are. If you haven’t gotten a virus or malware in many years, you probably know how to avoid these types of scams, but if you’re uncertain about whether something is legitimate or not, it’s probably a good idea to have more protection.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
One of the best tools for repairing malware infections is Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The free version includes anti-malware, anti-spyware and anti-rootkit protection. The big downside to the free version is that it does not include real-time protection or automated scans, so malware would not be blocked from installing itself onto your system and would only be removed once you ran a manual scan.
Overall, it’s a great product and can really help you remove any pre-existing malware on your system. However, the real value of the program is in the real-time monitoring and protection available only in the premium version ($25).
Spybot Search & Destroy
Spybot has been around for a very long time and has a very good track record of finding and removing spyware and malware. It’s trustworthy and regularly updated.
When installing Spybot, you’ll be asked whether you want to be protected automatically or whether you want more control and feedback from the program, so pick the option that suits you best.
Once you run the program, you’ll need to click the update button on the second window to download the latest signatures.
Once complete, you can go back to the main window and perform a system or file scan. Again, there is no live protection in the free version. Also, the free version only has malware and rootkit protection, not virus protection. They have a Home version for $14 and a Professional version for $26.
It does have a feature called Immunization, which basically is website blocking of known malware sites. It’s not enabled by default, so you have to manually enable it.
Ad-Aware
Ad-Aware has also been around for a very long time and is one of the best antivirus programs out there. When installing the program, make sure to uncheck the two boxes for SecureSearch as that is not really worth it. Google does just fine protecting your searches.
The best thing about Ad-Aware is that it supports real-time protection in the free version! Just about all the other programs require a paid version for real-time monitoring. They do have several paid versions ranging from $24 to $50, but you get a lot of protection without having to pay anything.
In the paid versions, you can also get email protection, which is really useful to avoid those nefarious attachments that can infect your system.
SUPERAntiSpyware
SUPERAntiSpyware is another spyware/malware removal program that has a long history. A lot of these older programs have gotten better and better over the years and that’s why you keep hearing the same names over and over again.
Again, the free version does not include real-time protection, scheduled scans or automatic updates. The paid version is $20, but it’s a yearly fee. I’m willing to pay companies like Kaspersky a yearly subscription fee because they do an excellent job, but I really don’t think SUPERAntiSpyware is worth $20 every year. If you plan to purchase an anti-spyware program, it’s best to pick one of the above-mentioned ones instead.
AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is probably the only program you may not have already heard about. Basically, this program focuses on toolbars, browser hijackers, adware, etc.
The program is very simple to use and there aren’t any options to configure. Just click Scan, then go through the tabs to make sure everything checked is unwanted and then click Clean.
The program catches a lot of malware that other programs sometimes miss, so that’s why I have mentioned it here. In my opinion after using malware programs for the last 15 years, these are the best options in terms of freeware. I would highly recommend, though, purchasing a full version of one of the programs for real-time protection. Enjoy!
