The Google Toolbar now blocks and eliminates pop-up ads as does the AltaVista Toolbar, the Alexa Toolbar, the MSN Toolbar and the Yahoo Toolbar. These toolbars are free.

SAFEGUARD YOURSELF

1. Know whom you're dealing with. If the Web site of a seller or charity is unfamiliar, check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau. Get the physical address and phone number in case there is a problem.
2. Don't believe in easy money. If a Web site or e-mail claims you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little risk, it's probably a scam.
3. Think twice before entering contests operated by unfamiliar companies. Fraudulent marketers sometimes use contest entry forms to identify potential victims.
4. Guard your personal information. Don't provide your credit card or bank account data unless you are paying for something. Your Social Security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
5. Avoid downloading programs from unfamiliar Web sites. Illicit sites contain viruses that destroy computer files or connect your modem to a foreign telephone number, resulting in expensive phone charges.
   - Source: National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch.
6. U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team - Established in 2003 to protect the nation's Internet infrastructure, US-CERT coordinates defense against and responses to cyber attacks across the nation.

1. AVG Anti-Virus - Free anti-virus software.
2. Ad-aware - Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware and scumware components and lets you remove them safely.
3. Check your PC for spyware
4. LavaSoft's Ad-aware - Anti-Spyware program.
5. PC Hell - Spyware and Adware Removal Help and Resouces.
6. PC Pitstop - Free PC diagnostics and tuneups. Special section to deal with 'Gator/Claria' applications.
7. Pest Patrol - Dectect and remove spyware and adware with the free scan available at this site.
8. Privacy Bird - AT&T Privacy Bird is a free utility that automatically searches for privacy policies at every website you visit. You can tell the software about your privacy concerns, and it will tell you whether each site's policies match your personal privacy preferences. The software displays a green bird icon at Web sites that match, and a red bird icon at sites that do not.
9. Spybot Search and Destroy - Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer.
10. Spyware Blaster - Prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
11. Spyware Center - Spyware slows down your computer, hijacks your Web browser, and sends your personal information to advertisers. Find out how to combat this threat.
12. Spyware Guide - The Spyware Guide was created to provide an all inclusive and updated resource on spy ware applications, what they do and how theyÕre used. These resources include: which software applications can detect and defeat spyware, an extensive database of all known spy software and adware applications and contact information as well as other privacy related products.
13. Webroot Software - Automatically detects and can remove all common forms of malicious programs including Trojans, system monitors, keyloggers and adware.
14. Windows AntiSpyware - Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) is a security technology that helps protect Windows users from spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
15. Yahoo Security Center: Spyware

1. Guidescope - This free service helps you take control of the Web by blocking out ads you don't want.
2. MessageSubtract - Did you know that spammers can now send pop-up advertisements right to your Windows desktop, even when no browser is open? For the first time ever, Windows PCs are open to spammers, just by being connected to the Internet. Stop pop-up spam now with MessageSubtract.
3. Pop-Up Stopper - Pop-Up Stopper Free Edition features a powerful, yet easy to use, interface which allows quick access to its wide variety of features.
4. WebWasher - WebWasher is a free utility that filters out unwanted advertising and protects the surfer's privacy by filtering cookies.
5. More >>

1. MailWasher - MailWasher is a free (for 30-day trial) E-mail checker with effective spam elimination. Discover the safe way to stop unwanted viruses and e-mails before they get to your computer.
2. SPAMfighter - SPAMfighter is a free (for 30-day trial) plug-in for Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, that automatically and efficiently blocks spam.
3. SpamNet - SpamNet Outlook add-in saves you time and frustration by stopping spam automatically. The service offers a free 30-day trial.
4. More >>

1. ZoneAlarm - If you have DSL or a cable modem, your IP address is permanent. Although this has benefits, it also carries the serious shortcoming of rendering your PC vulnerable to attacks. A firewall, in this respect, becomes not just desirable but a necessity. ZoneAlarm is a top choice, and best of all, the basic version is free.

Antispyware vendors come under fire - Some antispyware companies are using deceptive practices and "hijacked" Web browsers to scare Net consumers into buying their products, a leading Internet public interest group told federal regulators.
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1. Browser Hijacking - Explanation, prevention, and solutions.
2. HijackThis - Site offers help and discussion forums.
3. How to Clear a Hijack - A Hijacker is any software that resets your browser's settings to point to other sites. Hijacks may reroute your info and address requests through an unseen site, capturing that info. In such hijacks, your browser may behave normally, but be slower. Search Hijackers change your search settings. Homepage Hijackers will change your home page to some other site. Error Hijackers will display a new error page when a requested URL is not found. Hijacking has become very common, as these examples illustrate. This document explains how to clear such hijacks of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) manually and how to prevent it by disabling scripting.
4. Home Page Hijacking - Has Your Browser Been Hijacked? - There is a new type of advertising/marketing that sneaks on to your system without you knowing it. It is called 'browser hijacking.'
5. StartPage Guard - You can specify your preferred home page, and StartPage will not allow a rogue program to change it.
6. SpyWareGuard - Stop browser hijacking activity in real-time

IDENTITY THEFT RESOURCES:
1. Identity Theft: Take Charge - Fighting Back Against Identity Theft - Was your identity stolen? This guide from the Federal Trade Commission tells you what to do when bad things happen to your good name.
2. How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing Scam' - Phishing is a high-tech scam that uses spam or pop-up messages to deceive you into disclosing your credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, passwords, or other sensitive information. This Federal Trade Commisson Consumer Alert offers ideas how to deal with this growing Internet problem.
3. Anti-Phishing Working Group - Phishing attacks involve the mass distribution of 'spoofed' e-mail messages with return addresses, links, and branding which appear to come from banks, insurance agencies, retailers or credit card companies.
4. Identity Theft - This site by the Federal Trade Commission offers contacts for reporting theft and monitoring your credit reports.
5. Identity Theft Resources - This site by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse offers articles, advice, court cases, and more.
6. More >>

   OTHER RESOURCES:
   

7. Consumer Tips: How to Opt-Out of Cookies That Track You - Methods to manage your cookies when you browse the Web.
8. Center for Pest Research - Analyses from pest reports submitted by PestPatrol users, information on pest objects (registry entries, directories, files), descriptions of pests, and more.
9. Email Abuse - This site is dedicated to informing users of this potential abuse and providing them with the tools to avoid becoming a victim and to fight back at Email Abusers.
10. JunkBusters - JunkBusters is a comprehensive collection of information about all types of junk messages - E-mail, telemarketing calls, junk mail, junk faxes, Web and pop-up ads, etc. - and how to stop them.
11. Kim Komando Computer Tips - Tips for smoother and safer computing.
12. Netscape Virus Center - Latest news and newest resources to deal with computer viruses.
13. OnGuard Online - Practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
14. Protect Yourself from Unwanted Links - Fight spammers, spyware, and unethical advertisers. Find out how to stop their sneaky back-door connections to your computer.
15. Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites - "Rogue/Suspect" means that these products are of unknown, questionable, or dubious value as anti-spyware protection.
16. Safe Surfing: Part One - PC Pitstop site shows you how various Web sites and software publishers target your children and teenagers with threats such as spyware and adware.
17. Safe Surfing: Part Two - PC Pitstop site looks at what you can teach your kids about how to surf more safely in spite of the dangers. Featured are danger signs that can provide a tip that something is amiss, and show how to respond in a way that can protect your kids and your computer.
18. Safety on the Internet - This site is dedicated to helping the average PC user make full and safe use of the Internet. It is a collection of pages outlining defenses against the various threats and annoyances and the steps that can be taken to ensure that we continue to enjoy the Internet.
19. Top 25 Spyware and Adware - PC Pitstop site provides weekly updates about which spyware is the most prolific and which spyware threats are growing over time.