How do spyware scanners work?
Of course, this depends on the scanner, but in very basic terms, they work the same as virus scanners. Spyware scanners are equipped with a database of known spyware programs to scan for (which has to be updated regularly, just like a virus scanner). Perhaps the biggest difference is that where virus scanners typically concentrate on scanning files on your hard drive and the contents of your memory – spyware scanners also scan your registry, cookies and temporary internet files looking for signs of installed spyware. While we’re on the topic, I have to weigh in with a very unpopular opinion that spyware has been blown way out of proportion. There’s a big difference between a program that maliciously damages, copies, interferes with or alters data on a computer or network (the traits exhibited by viruses, worms and trojans) and serving ads or reporting internet activity as an ‘agreed upon’ condition of using free software (the usual traits exhibited by adware and spyware). There are exc
