Spy Sweeper
Spy Sweeper is one those programs that is not exactly free, but well worth trying. You can download the program itself and use it for a trial period, and now can even update definitions during the trial period.
However it is an excellent program and if you like it, it is well worth the subscription cost. The try it program can be downloaded here. Click on the Downloads link and go to the "Try It" section on the right to get the free trial. If you want to buy the program, use the "Buy It" links on the left side of the page.
After downloading and installing the program, it will ask if you want to update,the definitions. Go ahead and update and when finished click on "Sweep Now" on the left and let it do it's magic.
After the sweep is finished click neck and make sure everything is checked, click next again and let it remove every trace of spyware it finds. Everything it removes it puts in Quarantine. I usually go to the Quarantine section and remove everything from there.
Spy Sweeper also has resident shield that stay active in the system tray to protect your system from spyware. They include shields for:
- IE Favorites
- IE Host Files
- IE Hijack
- Memory
- Spyware Installing
- Common Ads
- Windows Messenger
- and Startup programs