It's not just viruses that plague today's Internet users. Spyware surreptitiously monitors your computer and Internet use, while adware can bombard your PC with unwanted advertising. Both pose a drain on your bandwidth and can lead to loss of security. Following are a selection of the best dedicated adware and spyware scanning tools to ferret out these often hidden menaces. If you go the standalone route, make sure you back it up with antivirus software and a firewall.

As noted, each of the three free antivirus scanners - AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic, AVAST 4 Home Edition, and AVG Free Edition - have proven ability to detect in-the-wild viruses. This is a core, basic functionality of any reputable antivirus scanner and thus serves only as the basis for inclusion in the review, i.e. no points were awarded for meeting this minimum qualification. (Before considering any antivirus solution, you should check their ItW certification by consulting any of the following: VB100%, ICSALabs, or Checkmark).

G DATA AntiVirusKit 2005 (AVK) provides a double layer of protection, bundling both the Kaspersky and BitDefender antivirus engines under a single, easy-to-use console. The use of these engines offers an important advantage to AVK.

A public beta of Microsoft AntiSpyware was released on January 6, 2005. Beta software is software that has not been thoroughly tested and may exhibit unexpected behavior ranging from benign inconsistencies (i.e. misspelling in dialog boxes, inability to use certain features, etc.) to serious incompatibilities (i.e. inability to access the Internet, system crashes, etc). Beta software should never be installed on production systems. Participation in the public beta is at your own risk. Tech support is not available. Those who wish to test the public beta for themselves may download a copy at http://www.microsoft.com/spyware.

One of these new features is their Vulnerability Assessment Security Check - providing an at-a-glance list of any missing security patches that could leave you vulnerable to compromise. From the Security Check console, a single click takes you directly to the Windows Update site to get the patches you need installed.

Trend Micro's PC-cillin Internet Security 2005 builds on the already superb foundation of virus, spam, and firewall protection found in their 2004 security suite. Now PC-cillin 2005 also includes spyware removal, anti-phishing controls, Wi-Fi intrusion detection and home network controls. All this, plus free tech support via a toll-free number, and it's priced significantly cheaper than the competition.

What is the top windows antivirus? What about Macintosh antivirus protection? What features are important? Choosing the right antivirus software can seem like a daunting task, but it can be simpler than it seems.

With today's increasingly sophisticated viral threats, many packing backdoor access Trojans designed to compromise your computer's security, a product such as ZoneAlarm does more than protect. It's a must-have in your "peace of mind" arsenal. ZoneAlarm monitors both inbound and outbound connection attempts and prompts the user for a decision. While a product like ZoneAlarm will stop a Remote Access Trojan (RAT) cold, it only works if the user is experienced enough to make the right decision. For this reason, ZoneAlarm and other permission-based firewalls are better suited to more advanced users who understand the ramifications of their decisions.

It takes more than just antivirus software to prevent infection. Fortunately, following the few simple steps outlined below can provide a good measure of security in very little time.

Norton AntiVirus is best suited for newer systems with large amounts of available drive space and plenty of memory.