Removing Spyware and Adware is a way of life these days. If your computer gets infected what do you do?

There are several programs that can help you to locate and remove the spyware components of software that may have found its way on to your computer. Utilities like Spybot Search & Destroy

http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html

and AdAware

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=506

are highly regarded and free. But either can cause issues if improperly used -- and there are some programs (like Wild Tangent) that can be uninstalled only with great difficulty if Spybot or AdAware are allowed to remove their spyware components.

So, for the safest and most thorough scan and removal of spyware you should follow this procedure.

First, run Spybot and AdAware and write down every questionable program either anti-spyware application finds (but not the "user tracks" that Spybot finds or the "negligible threats" noted by AdAware) and then close out of the anti-spyware program.

Then, check in Add/Remove to see if these progams are listed as uninstallable. If any are, reboot your computer into Safe Mode, return to Add/Remove, and uninstall any spyware contaminated program.

Then, reboot and run Spybot S&D and AdAware again and see what they now find. If nothing has changed, no additions, let the anti-spyware apps remove whatever remaining spy components they find.

Remember to keep Both Programs up to Date