Anti-Spyware Utility Evaluation

Create evaluation criteria:

·         Price

·         Is Real-time monitoring available

·         Are updates readily available and are they automatic

·         Is the product user friendly

·         Is browser protection available

·         Is scheduling available

·         What Operating Systems(OS) are supported

·         What are the computer specs required for operation

Develop and Evaluate Criteria:

Criteria	Spybot Search and Destroy	Ad-Aware
Price	Free	Free
Real-time monitoring	Yes	Yes
Updates	Automatic	Automatic
User Friendly	Yes	Yes
Browser Protection	Yes	No
Scheduling Available	Yes	Yes
Operating Systems	Windows 7, Vista, XP, NT, 2000, ME, 98, 95	Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 Professional
Computer Requirements	300MHz or better, 128MB RAM, 100MB free space on HD	733MHz or better, RAM req’d by OS + 200MB, 300MB free space on HD

In summary, most of the free anti-spyware programs out there are very similar. In my comparison between Spybot S&D vs. Ad-Aware I would recommend Spybot S&D. They have added support for browser protection. This added support will go along with the real-time monitoring and make for the greatest protection against spyware and other malicious threats.