As with viruses, spyware has caused such controversy that a number of software programmers have developed utilities to eliminate it.

Such is the feeling surrounding the issue that many of these are either shareware or completely free.

Perhaps the most complete freeware tool is Spybot Search and Destroy. This not only sniffs out and removes any hidden fiends, it can also immunise your system against over 400 different spies.

Regularly updated data files help keep you protected, and the package even supports over 30 languages.

Note that this is the release of the long-awaited Vista-compatible Spybot 1.5 release. Along with the brand new user-interface, there are all sorts of other improvements to fight and protect against the latest spyware.

Spybot 1.6 now contains support for the latest browsers (Firefox 3, Opera 9.5), as well as improved file scanning and more.