If you want to know what antispyware is and what the best programs of this type are, the first thing we must do is know how we got to this point, a point that goes back to the early 90s, when computers began to arrive in a large number of homes.
Almost from the moment the first computers began to arrive in many homes, the first computer viruses began to circulate , viruses that have evolved to perform different functions, so it has been necessary to create a category to encompass them all called malware.
What is malware
When we talk about malware, we mainly have spyware, adware, ransomware, Trojans and viruses , although there are more variants that are not commonly used in our times.
Phishing , for example, is not malware , since it is not software that can reach our computer but a technique to try to steal our personal and banking data.
spyware
As we can deduce from the name of this malware, this type of software is dedicated to collecting user data from the hard drive, passwords, installed applications, and also collecting usage statistics that are later sold to third-party companies to learn about users and target advertising campaigns.
Adware
This is one of the most annoying types of malware because it constantly displays ads on our computer, ads that are sometimes unrelated to how we use our computer. It usually appears through pop-up ads and, in many cases, offers misleading information designed to extract money from us.
Ransomware
Ransomware has become the most commonly used malware by cybercriminals who directly extort money from companies or customers through ransom payments. This type of attack encrypts all the content stored on a computer. The attackers demand money in exchange for the password that decrypts the data. The problem is that there's no guarantee that after paying, the hacker will actually provide the password.
The solution is to make daily backups and, of course, always have an antivirus program on hand that is capable of finding this type of malware, which has become a major headache for cybersecurity companies.
Trojans
Trojans arrive on computers disguised as other applications that appear legitimate but have a completely different purpose, since their functionality is to remotely control the computer.
Thanks to this type of malware, a large number of computers can be remotely controlled to take down web pages by making a large number of requests simultaneously (DDoS attacks).
If the server hosting that page is not prepared for this type of attack, having so many simultaneous requests will eventually cause it to crash and become inoperative until the attacks stop.
Virus
Computer viruses were the first manifestation of software that could affect a computer's operation with just a few lines of text. They could not only affect performance , but also delete device contents, erase partitions, modify the system boot process, and more.
What are the best spyware
Once we understand the different types of malware we may encounter on a daily basis, we will focus on spyware and how to prevent our computer from becoming a potential source of information for thieves.
The first thing we must understand is that most well-known antivirus programs integrate protection not only against viruses , but also against malware, spyware, Trojans, and even ransomware, although they are not as effective against this type of malware since it is created specifically to attack the servers of particular companies.
Windows Defender
Using antivirus software is something everyone should do, even if their internet and computer skills are very basic . Even with a little knowledge of how the internet works, we're aware of the risks of downloading applications from websites with links, the risks of opening email attachments from strangers, and so on.
Microsoft's Windows Defender was created for people with limited technical knowledge. Windows Defender is the antivirus software included with Windows 10, a completely free antivirus program considered by security experts to be one of the best on the market.
The native antivirus of Windows 10 protects us, like the rest of the antivirus that we can find in the market from malware, spyware, Trojans, viruses and ransomware.
In fact, it allows us to prevent applications from making unauthorized changes to the folders we select (folders where we store the most important data), so no ransomware can access that data and encrypt the files without the user's consent.
Spyware Blaster 6
SpywareBlaster offers protection against spyware, adware, browser hijackers, and other potentially dangerous software by blocking the installation of ActiveX codes used by this type of malware.
Furthermore, it also blocks the installation of malicious cookies that collect our information. Best of all, it works seamlessly with Windows Defender , so we can have both applications running simultaneously.
SpywareBlaster 6 is priced at $14,95 for an annual license and is compatible with Windows 2000 and later (XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10).
Spybot
Spybot – Search & Destroy is another tool we have at our disposal to prevent spyware from wreaking havoc on our computer, as it identifies and blocks any information sent from our computer.
The basic version protects your computer from unauthorized data theft, and also offers protection against viruses, malware, and other threats that circulate daily on the internet. The Home Edition is priced at €11,99 and is ideal for any home user.
SUPERAntiSpyware
Unlike traditional antivirus programs that slow down your computer (something Windows Defender doesn't do, by the way), SuperAntiSpyware doesn't slow down your system and works seamlessly with Windows antivirus. It offers protection against over a billion malware threats, including spyware, adware, Trojans, ransomware, and more.
It uses artificial intelligence to provide a constantly updated detection engine. SUPERAntiSpyware is priced at $39,95 per annual license , and a 14-day trial version is available for download.
AntiSpywares for Windows
As I mentioned above, the best antivirus programs for Windows also offer protection against spyware. However, the applications I've shown you focus specifically on spyware, so it's always advisable to use one of these solutions that targets spyware, rather than one that tries to cover everything without being truly effective.
Be wary of free apps
As was already demonstrated with Avast antivirus, applications that allow us to keep our computer protected at all times completely free of charge are dedicated to stealing information from our computer to later sell it to third parties, so we should always be wary of them.