I use "Ad-Aware" by Lavasoft. I have been using it for over 2 years, and have just upgraded to LAVASOFT 6. The very first time I used it, the program found 32 spyware files! Now it finds 2-3 a day. It is free and fast. It scans the entire computer, by drives, then individual files. It then tells you which files are spyware, where they are located, and asks if you want to delete them. It also keeps track of the deleted files, with the totals of how many times each particular file was "inserted" on your computer. There are some files (same ones everyday) that are put there every time I use my computer. I use it every day. I "clean up" my computer after each online session. However, when I turn it on the next day and go online, some of the same "files" are back. They are not there when I sign on to AOL, but are there after I have accessed a "WWW.(insert site here).com" site. AOL says they have no control over this, and are not responsible.

There is another free program called SpyWare Scanner, version 2.0.9, by Aluria. However, although the program is also free, it is much slower, and in order to remove the spyware files, you must "purchase" the software "add-ons" that allow you to do so.

Hope this has been of some help.