Spyware Secrets Exposed - Review

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There is a lot of software that I trust much less than Microsoft's, even despite their public relations blunders with Microsoft Genuine Advantage.

I'm talking about the software that exists to spy on us, to track our surfing habits, to pop up ads wherever we might be on the Internet (or even if we're not surfing at the time), and to capture our credit card numbers and passwords.

I recently found, bought and quickly read a new book by Adrian Ling called Spyware Secrets Exposed - The Definitive Step-by-Step Guide to cleaning and defending your Computer from Spyware WITHOUT breaking a sweat! I'll be reading it again, too, and a lot slower this time...

While it is packed with content, Spyware Secrets Exposed is also packed with recommendations, screenshots and detailed instructions for conquerinng and preventing adware and spyware infections.

Even better, it's written so that you can understand it.

Spyware Secrets Exposed addresses both what it calls "commercial spyware" (the adware that tracks your online visits and shopping habits to give you pertinent popup ads wherever you go) and "surveillance software" (the spyware that tries to steal your credit card numbers, passwords, etc.)

Most anti-spyware/anti-adware writers and companies are quick to identify a difference between programs that track you and pop up ads based on your web surfing history and those programs that you choose to run that display an embedded advertisement as "payment" for using the software. Mr. Ling similarly distinguishes between them.

Mr. Ling quickly declares what he considers adware and spyware, and I agree with his classifications. This was the first of many of our agreements...

Quoting from the introduction to the book: "Your best defense is to PREVENT an infection in the first place..."

I know you've been reading my articles on the subject of anti-spyware and anti-adware, so you can guess that I agreed with this approach. I believe you need an anti-adware/anti-spyware solution that runs all the time, not just one that does periodic scans.

He talks about getting spyware with downloaded programs and screensavers (which are programs, too, in case you didn't realize that), via downloader programs (which themselves download other spyware and adware onto your computer), via "drive-by" downloads when you use Internet Explorer with its ActiveX "controls" (I think I've mentioned that a few times!) and a lot more.

More importantly, he goes into details on how to prevent the spyware and adware from installing itself. This includes instructions on how to change IE settings to "harden" Internet Explorer against infection. He has book sections discussing antivirus software and firewall software and the need for both. He has multiple pages with screenprints where he walks through the steps of using the free programs he recommends to find, remove and prevent spyware and adware.

As I do, he recommends an always-running antispyware/antiadware program -- by running all the time, it can be tremendously more effective than programs that just do occasional scans. Remember the quote above "Your best defense is to PREVENT an infection in the first place..."

Adrian Ling is offering special bonuses with his Spyware Secrets Exposed. You also get three video tutorials to show you how to use some of the antispyware/antiadware tools he recommends.

What didn't I like? My favorite antispyware/antiadware wasn't mentioned, although he does mention my favorite antivirus program. Mr. Ling gives several alternatives for each function and primarily focuses on free solutions, although many are not free for business use. Also, I think the web site could use updating to 2006 statistics and be not quite so "scary" — except that I cringe every time I hear someone say that they don't worry about adware and spyware, especially when they follow that with "my computer's running slowly and I don't know why..."

What did I like? Almost everything. We agreed on many recommendations and he even added a few to my arsenal.

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Copyright © 2006 Terry A. Stockdale. All rights reserved.