Free anti-parasite software

• LavaSoft Ad-Aware is the original anti-adware tool. It has a good database of adware and spyware.
• Spybot Search & Destroy is an impressive one-man effort from PepiMK Software. Its large database targets premium-rate diallers as well as adware and spyware; it can also remove usage records and keyloggers.
• SpywareBlaster by JavaCool takes a different, complementary approach. Instead of detecting or removing its targets, it inoculates your computer by telling it never to execute certain software. This stops you downloading some types of parasite, and stops others from working. However, like the script on this page, it can only target ActiveX controls, so it is not a complete solution.

Commercial anti-parasite software

• Aluria’s Spyware Eliminator aims to remove parasites cleanly. Free trial available.
• Webroot’s Spy Sweeper is a newer application. Free trial available (no updates); there is also a limited scanner-only 'SpyAudit' download which is not worth bothering with.
• PestPatrol is an established anti-trojan application that now targets unsolicited commercial software as well as more traditional hacker tools. Free trial available.
• ITCompany's SpyRemover is a commercial program based around code from Spybot.

Questionable anti-parasite software

Since the issue of adware and spyware has become better known, many companies have been jumping on the bandwagon and offering anti-parasite software. Not all are as trustworthy as one would hope, for a company offering to take care of your computer’s security.

• TrekBlue offer a spyware removal program called Spyware Nuker, which is advertised through junk e-mail from its affiliates and misleading fake-dialogue-box web advertising. TrekBlue are the same company as e-mail marketers ‘TrekData’ and ‘Blue Haven Media’, who are linked to the 'InContext' spyware (aka AdGoblin) and distribute this and other spyware through ActiveX drive-by-download on web pages. (They also used to work for Lions Pride Enterprises, who made and controlled the ‘wnad’ spyware).
• WarNet offer software including an adware remover. However, WarNet is owned and run by the same people who own and run C2 Media, producers of the infamous lop parasite.
• SpywareLabs produce a parasite detection program called Virtual Bouncer, with a removal option requiring payment. It which is distributed by the same bundling and drive-by download techniques as the parasites it claims to remove, so definitely qualifies as unsolicited commercial software in itself. (It also has an update feature that can download and execute arbitrary code.)
• RedV offer an adware remover called AdProtector. However, the installer used to download this and the other RedV ‘Protector’ applications is itself adware, and RedV are the same company as Web3000, one of the earliest large spyware makers.
• Bulletproof Soft offer a commercial Spyware Remover; OnlinePCFix offer a utility called SpyFerret; Ideal World Online offer SpyGone. All have copied Spybot Search and Destroy’s definitions database without permission or attribution; additionally, SpyFerret includes actual program code taken from Spybot, and SpyGone is an unlicensed copy of SpyRemover.
• N-Light (previously Razor Media) offer a free scanner-only promotion for their software ‘SpyAssault’. However this has installed the commercial trojan FavoriteMan/Ss32. Razor Media were also responsible for the DailyWinner parasite.
• SpyBan is distributed by NICtech Networks, the marketing company behind the Look2Me parasite that SpyBan itself installs.
• SpyBlast is a parasite itself.
• SoftDD offer a free ‘trial version’ of ‘Spy Guardian Pro’, which always tells you you have spyware installed (even on a completely clean machine), but won’t tell you where, asking you to buy the full version to find out.
• InterEsoft are promoting the previously unknown commercial program 'NospyX' through heavy spam campaigns.