The detection software works by looking for specific patterns or “signatures” in files and other places in the operating system which malware leaves when your machine is infected or compromised.
This strategy leads to a race between the malware produces and good anti-virus / spyware detection software companies. I.e. the detection software needs to get the latest signatures as quickly as possible to stop an out break before it spreads.
To propagate and install themselves viruses, spyware and other malware depend upon flaws and weakness in your system and or it relies on you to click to allow it load itself onto you system. Thus you can do a lot to stop your system becoming infected by patching your system (to remove flaws in the operating system) and by observing good computer practices. I.e. not visiting dubious sites, clicking on and opening file attachments in emails. For example, a number of pornographic sites will for example try and download rogue diallers which will reprogram the way you access the Internet so that you access it through a premium rate service which will be many many times more expensive than your normal access method (i.e. dial up). You will not notice this problem until your next telephone bill.
Note: Do not install more than one of each type of software, i.e. only one anti-virus software and one spyware removal software. This is because they may interfere with each other.
Anti-Virus Software
The following companies provide anti-virus software, some of this software is “free for personal home use” so check the licences carefully:
If you cannot decide which anti-virus software you should choose look at the following vendors again not listed in any particular order:
Microsoft Windows:
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AVG – Grisoft
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Norton Anti-virus (Symantec)
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McAfee
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Sophos
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F-Prot
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Panda
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Trend
The following are examples of the types of anti-virus software for the PC.
Apple Mac:
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Norton Anti-virus (Symantec)
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McAfee
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Sophos
The following are examples of the types of anti-virus software for the Mac.
Spyware Removal Software
The following companies provide spyware / adware removal, some of this software is “free for personal and or home use” so check the licences carefully some you have to buy:
Microsoft Windows:
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Spybot search & destroy (www.safer-networking.org [1])
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Ad-aware (Lavasoft)
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Pest Patrol
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Spy Sweeper
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Antispyware (McAfee)
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Anti-spyware (Trend)
The following are examples of the types of anti-virus software for the PC
Apple Mac:
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MacScan
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Internet Clean up
delicious [2] | 
digg [3] | 
reddit [4] | 
furl [5] | 
yahoo [6]