If you are facing a spyware problem you are likely not in a good mood. We don’t blame you. Here is a fact you’re going to have to get used to, it is unlikely a single solution will do the job. Here is what we do.

1.Download Several Programs (malwarebytes, adaware, spybot)
2.Burn all installers to CD
3.Reboot the computer into safe mode (I normally use with networking so it can update)
4.Install the first, update it and scan/remove
5. Reboot the computer back into safe mode and rinse/repeat

9/10 times we find different stuff with each program so if you really want to know a PC is clean take the time to scan with multiple programs, often a single one won’t fix the problem entirely. That said, using multiple programs and following this method usually will.

That is really all that there is to it, worst case, you will have to take your hard drive out of your computer and scan it from another one, but in our experience this really is the method that works, it isn’t the most efficient, but hey, nobody’s saying you have to sit in front of the screen and watch the paint dry.

Boot the system up, install and update the program, and begin the scan. Come back a little later to finish it up and start the next. It really shouldn’t interrupt your day.

For years and years I have always stood behind AVG, as the best possible anti-virus solution ever! In the beginning it was two fold, both the fact that it was free and that it was also the best. Over the past few releases I have noticed many new features, most of which are good, but in general slow the software down a lot.

One of its biggest advantages when it came out was that it didn’t bog your system down like Norton and Mcafee did at the time. Simply switching out a customers anti-virus program made it seem like a whole new PC. Not so much anymore. I’ve been running the latest version of AVG on a stacked Windows 7 laptop and I have to say, aside from the annoying toolbar they want to install, and most of the good stuff going to paid it just doesn’t make the grade anymore.

What was great before is you almost never knew it was even on your system, now even with 8GB of Ram and a 64bit processor I can always tell when the scans are running. (boo)

I am not saying it doesn’t scan well anymore, its fine for that, but it just ain’t so hot anymore. I fear I will be switching someday soon, I am just not sure yet.

Potential new suitors for my love, Avira and Avast.

Not that were against them making money but In our opinion they may have gone overboard on the features in an attempt to build enough value for all us cheapskates to finally buy it. Me, Id rather they sell advertising space on their dashboard.

It’s hard to image leaving after so many great years who will get our children?

What do you think? What do you use?

Yes loyal members we have finally added what so man of you have been asking for! Be Your Own IT now offers some smaller basic exams, in addition to two (for new) certification exams that you can take. If you score more than an 80% on the longer exams you will be presented with your very own certificate!

Sure it’s not Comptiaa or whatever but it’s still pretty nice and if you are looking for a job it could help!

In addition you also get some pretty sweet badges that you can put right on your blog, facebook, myspace or website to show off you skills!

See the quiz center here

Sure we all know what WinZip is, and the fact is most of us already have known what WinRar might be as well.  Why the heck would we be writing about software that has been around for what seems like forever? There are a lot of different compression software options out there and they all really have the same purpose, compression.  Why would people need this for?  Let us tell you

It seems like the battle against spyware is a never ending one, an epic battle with new enemies and new ways to fight them everyday.  Caught inthe middle, you’re PC! Held hostage is your productivity, your peace of mind, your freedom. Ok, maybe we made it sound a little more out of control than it really is but the reality is that every day, on every computer repair shops desk is at least one computer that is totally infected by spyware.  The methods have changed, the