Best 10 spyware eradication programs that are completely free

This list of free spyware removal software includes the best ones to consider while trying to get rid of adware, keyloggers, ransomware, and other malware.

Have you ever questioned whether or not you’re being watched? Surveillance on you may be conceivable from your creepy neighbor or even from the government, but there is another sort of spying that you should be aware of: malware.

Spyware is a harmful file that lurks on your computer and captures a variety of different forms of computer activities. It is possible for spyware to steal your financial information, passwords, and even record what you write into your computer’s keypad. And, perhaps most concerning of all, spyware is often engineered to be difficult to detect, making it possible that you may not even be aware that it is present if you are not using the proper antivirus software.

The good news is that security software vendors have flooded the market with high-quality products that not only identify but also completely eradicate all sorts of known spyware and malware. Fortunately, many of these resources are made available to users absolutely free of charge.

It is best to download, install, and run a spyware removal application on your computer to assist ensure that it is clean and clear of spyware and other malware. The following are the ten greatest free spyware removal tools now available for Windows, Mac, and Android devices, as determined by my multi-point testing methodology.

10 of the most effective free spyware eradication tools

According to our study, the best free spyware removal tools are as follows:

Panda Free Antivirus is a free antivirus program that protects your computer from viruses and malware (Panda Dome Free)
AVG Free Antivirus is a free antivirus program developed by AVG Technologies.
SUPERAntiSpyware
Adaware Antivirus and Comodo Anti-Malware are both free. BOClean Spybot Search and Destroy is an anti-spyware program.
Fixer at no cost
Malwarebytes Adwcleaner Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit Norton Power Eraser Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit

When I was looking for free spyware removal software, I considered a few important factors:

Expenses (free was a base requirement, but some tools may have hidden costs)
Requirements for registering (e.g., do you need to submit an email address to use the software)
The operating systems that are supported
A full summary of each of the 10 free spyware removal tools selected for this list is provided below, as well as an assessment of how well each one performs in terms of the simple but required grading criteria.

Panda Free Antivirus is a free antivirus program that protects your computer from viruses and malware (Panda Dome Free)

Panda Anti-Virus and Spyware Removal Software

As previously stated, Panda is one of the best antivirus programs available on the market, and it has a strong brand name. According to independent testing lab AV-Comparative, it has gotten good scores for its ability to detect dangerous software, receiving a perfect 100 for this capability. On the other hand, it earned a dismal 60 percent when it came to returning false positives, indicating that the software used an overly aggressive approach when finding suspected malware.

The following is how Panda Free Antivirus performs in relation to the ranking criteria:

Cost: There are no hidden fees because it is a free service for life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: There are none (asks for optional account creation that can be rejected)
The following operating systems are supported: Windows XP through Windows 10, Android 4.0.3 and above
The most intriguing aspect of Panda’s free antivirus software is that it is one of the most comprehensive tools available. Aside from the standard features like real-time monitoring, scanning, and scan scheduling, you also get a limited (but still free) VPN as well as the ability to scan any SD card or USB drive that you insert into your computer or mobile device.

An anti-theft and lost phone locator function is also included in the Android version, which makes use of your GPS to assist you in tracking down your smartphone if it goes missing.

Panda Free Antivirus (Panda Dome Free) should be a top option for anyone seeking for free spyware removal solutions due to the fact that it is free, does not require any type of registration, and includes functions that are typically only found in premium software.

AVG Free Antivirus is a free antivirus program developed by AVG Technologies.

free spyware removal tools from avg

The AVG Free Antivirus program, which is one of the most well-known names in the security software business, has been available for more than a decade. In that time, the company has released a vast number of upgrades and features, many of which are only accessible through a subscription-based service. However, AVG is still available for free, and it can assist you in removing spyware, malware, adware, and other dangerous items.

Here’s how AVG performs in comparison to my criteria:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: There are none (asks for optional account creation that can be rejected)
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 7–10, Mac OSX 10.8 Lion+, and Android 2.2+ are all supported.
AVG Free Antivirus provides protection for a variety of devices, including Android smartphones and Mac desktops. Along with virus scanning, you’ll also get web protection, which may be delivered via a specialized Chrome extension or a standalone AVG safe web browser, respectively. Additionally, AVG’s free utility enables users to execute a variety of scans, including deep scans, boot-time scans for threats that activate before Windows starts, scanning for specific files or folders, and screening for USB drives or DVDs.

Independent testing labs rate AVG Free as superior to the competition in terms of both its capacity to detect dangerous files and its ability to prevent returning false-positive results.

As an added benefit, AVG Free detects and warns you about any negatively rated browser extensions that you may have installed on your computer. Due to the possibility of spyware or malware is disguised as an extension with a low rating, this is a useful function. As a result of Chrome’s crackdown on dangerous extensions in 2018, it’s a good idea to consider using a free application that alerts you when spyware has been installed in your browsers to protect yourself.

SUPER Anti Spyware

anti-spyware and anti-spyware removal software

THE MAIN PURPOSE OF SUPERAntiSpyware is rather self-explanatory. This utility was created primarily for the removal of malware, with a particular emphasis on spyware-related varieties. It is claimed on the company’s website that SUPERAntiSpyware is meant to eliminate malware such as spyware, adware, Trojans, worms, ransomware, keyloggers, hijackers, rootkits, and other types of malicious software.

SUPERAntiSpyware performs admirably against the following criteria:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: None
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 8 – Windows 10 are the most recent versions of the operating system.

SUPERAntiSpyware is an incredibly effective anti-spyware program that does exactly what it claims to do. As a matter of fact, it discovered adware on my computer during a rapid scan that had previously been missed by Panda Free Antivirus during that software’s quick scan. The tool also discovered and attempted to erase over 300 tracking cookies, which was also something that Panda’s tool failed to do successfully.

SUPERAntiSpyware’s free edition, on the other hand, does not provide real-time protection, scan scheduling, or automatic updates, in contrast to Panda’s free version. For this, you’ll need the paid edition, which the software business provides with a 14-day free trial period prior to purchase. Panda is therefore a superior choice if you wish to automate your spyware removal and monitoring, even if Panda fails to detect and remove some important files.

Free Adaware Antivirus Software

adware and spyware removal programs

While not widely recognized, Adaware Antivirus Free is a reliable application for removing spyware and other malware from your computer. The premium antivirus solutions offered by Adaware are excellent; however, the free utility provided by Adaware contains an antivirus scanner and uninstaller, download protection, and real-time antivirus protection to help prevent future infections.

Here’s how Adaware Antivirus Free stacks up against my evaluation criteria:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: For the free version, you’ll need to join up and enter an activation code.
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 7 to Windows 10 are supported.

The fact that you may install Adaware Antivirus Free without real-time protection is another reason why it should be taken into consideration for spyware eradication. Due to the fact that Adaware can only function as a virus scanning and removal tool, it actually helps to prevent software conflicts with other antivirus applications. A greater presence of real-time virus protection software on your system is typically required, and most real-time antivirus programs cannot coexist on the same machine.

Despite this, Adaware requires you to enter an activation code and provide an email address that will be used to later spam you with adverts in order to sign up for the full version of the software, which is not free. During testing, it was discovered that you could still run the program without having to activate it.

You will receive full, customized, and speedy scanning as well as real-time protection and scan scheduling, regardless of how you intend to utilize Adaware.

BOClean is a free anti-malware program by Comodo.

boolean spyware removal tools are available online.

Despite the fact that it is a rather straightforward tool with few additional functions, Comodo Free Anti-Malware BOClean provides effective spyware removal as well as some real-time protection against new infestations. In addition, independent testing laboratories and other software review sources have given the software high ratings.

The following are the most important statistics of Comodo’s free anti-malware tool:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.

There are no sign-up or download requirements. However, it attempts to install any extra apps, alter the DNS server, and make other unneeded changes to the system.
The following operating systems are supported: Windows XP – Windows 7
As a security organization, Comodo has a wide range of customers and partners. BOClean, the company’s cleaning product, is relatively straightforward to use and effective enough for the majority of customers. One of the most significant issues you’ll encounter with BOClean is that Comodo attempts to make a great number of changes to your computer when the software is being installed.

If you choose to install the Comodo web browser, you will be prompted to change your DNS settings to Comodo DNS, change your browser’s home page to Yahoo!, and make a few other unneeded changes during the installation. Moreover, while Comodo’s tool will operate with Windows 10, it is not rated for anything other than Windows 7, which means it is a bit of a danger in and of itself.

In addition to malware screening and eradication, BOClean provides secure shopping as well as the ability to unlock applications that BOClean has previously restricted after security scans, among other features and benefits.

Spybot Search and Destroy is an anti-spyware program.

Spy bot spyware eradication programs are available.

Spybot offers a large collection of antivirus and antimalware solutions at its disposal. In addition to the free version, the company’s Spybot Search and Destroy program is available in many paid versions with numerous functions, whereas the free version is extremely limited in contrast. The free version of Spybot Search and Destroy provides anti-spyware (but not more comprehensive antivirus) protection, active blocking of undesirable programs and harmful URLs, a startup management tool, and a rootkit scanner.

According to my evaluation criteria, the following is what you can expect from Spybot Search and Destroy:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.

There are no sign-up or download requirements. However, it attempts to install any extra apps, alter the DNS server, and make other unneeded changes to the system.
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 7 – Windows 10
The most significant restriction of Spybot Search and Destroy’s free version is that it does not provide a wider range of antivirus protection than is provided by the paid version. It restricts your capabilities to simply spyware removal. If you’re explicitly looking for spyware removal, this, of course, makes it a viable alternative to investigate further. When it comes to long-term and more comprehensive protection, one of the other alternatives indicated above may be a better fit for you.

Additionally, Spybot Search and Destroy Free is incredibly slow to scan and generates a large number of false positives as a result of its design. It is necessary to have a thorough understanding of your file system before you begin deleting anything that Spybot offers after scanning your computer.

FreeFixer

Spyware eradication programs are available. Power Eraser by Norton

Free Fixer is a program that lives up to its name fairly effectively. This antivirus program is a freeware alternative that is designed to assist you in the removal of a variety of unwanted programs. Spyware, adware, viruses, and other computer-infecting bugs are included in this category. However, don’t anticipate a plethora of additional tools and features to be included with this one. Because FreeFixer’s main objective is virus removal, you won’t find any real-time protection against future infections in this program.

The following are the fundamentals of FreeFixer:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
There are no sign-up or download requirements.
Windows 2000 through Windows 10 are supported as of operating systems.

It is possible to plan to scan with FreeFixer; however, the scheduling is limited to once a day at the most. You’ll have to choose that choice during the installation process because you won’t be able to implement it in any of the settings once the installation is complete.

The fact that FreeFixer does not search your entire file system will surprise you. Instead, it concentrates solely on the locations where potentially malicious programs are most likely to be found and installed. It also provides a system file checker for admins, which allows them to check for protected files and delete files based on their exact file paths.

A word of caution: FreeFixer does not allow you to quarantine files. Purchasing FreeFixer Pro will provide you with the option to isolate files before deleting them entirely. That does not rule out the possibility of being able to select which items to delete first. However, any potential viruses that FreeFixer discovers will not be quarantined and, as a result, may continue to create problems if you do not remove them immediately (and the viruses may actively work to prevent scanning and deletion).

FreeFixer, on the other hand, positively identifies files across a wide range of categories. It will notify you if something is on the whitelist or not. Because a large portion of the removal is left to your discretion, it is not the greatest option for individuals who require the tool to make better-educated decisions about what to delete.

Norton Power Eraser is a powerful tool for erasing data.

Spyware eradication programs are available. Power Eraser by Norton

Norton Power Eraser is a highly targeted anti-virus program. Power Eraser, in contrast to some of the other free spyware removal alternatives, was created specifically for the purpose of locating and removing what Norton refers to as “crimeware.” The program will delete any malware that is designed to steal data, which means it is not the greatest choice if you are looking to remove relatively benign spyware, such as tracking cookies and some adware.

The following is the most important facts about Power Eraser:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: None
The following operating systems are supported: Windows — No specific version requirements have been stated, although it is compatible with Windows 10.

Despite the fact that it is limited to only scanning and removing malware, it is vital to remember that this is a Norton product. The outcome is a product of exceptional quality, with a few noteworthy characteristics. You have the option of performing a standard rootkit scan, a scan for unwanted programs, or one of three specialist scans (reputation scan on files and folders, system scan, and a multi-boot scan for computers running multiple Windows operating systems).

Because it is so specialized, you will find that scan times are relatively short. You can undo any modifications you’ve made using Norton Power Eraser, which comes in handy in case you mistakenly remove an important file. You may also use the tool to establish a system restore point, which allows you to go back in time and undo all of the modifications made throughout the scanning and removal process.

Malwarebytes Adwcleaner is a malware removal tool.

ad wcleaner is a spyware eradication tool.

Malwarebytes provides a number of free programs that are effective in removing various types of spyware. Its Adwcleaner program is one of the best on the market, despite the fact that, as the name implies, its sole aim is to detect and remove adware. In light of this information, if you’re suffering with an adware problem, making the option to use this program is very straightforward.

According to my criteria, Adwcleaner scores well in the following areas:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: None
The following operating systems are supported: Windows 7 through 10

Adwcleaner is a spyware removal tool that is almost as basic as they come. The program allows you to search for adware, quarantine files, and see your scanning log if necessary. A few additional options allow you to fine-tune the behavior of the software. Additionally, there is the option to create a debug log, in addition to a comprehensive list of activities that may be performed by the application during the repair process, such as the ability to reset your firewall, proxy servers, and Chrome policies, among other things. The fact that this program does not require any installation is maybe the most intriguing aspect of it. All you have to do is download and execute the software.

Adwcleaner is a lightweight program that runs rapidly on any operating system because it is simply hunting for adware variations. The program will locate files that are most likely not necessary to delete, such as extensions, but you will have to make the ultimate decision on which files to delete when it has completed its search.

Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit is a malware removal tool.

spyware removal software and anti-rootkit software

You should never have to use Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit, if at all possible. However, if you have any especially nasty rootkits implanted in your file system, it may be required to perform this procedure. Given that some of the programs listed above will not be able to completely remove the infection, Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit may be worth installing.

The following are the fundamentals of this tool:

Cost: There are no hidden fees or costs for the rest of your life.
Requirements for signing up and downloading: None
The following operating systems are supported: Windows — No specific version requirements have been stated, although it is compatible with Windows 10.

Anti-Rootkit, in contrast to Malwarebytes Adwcleaner, requires the installation of an additional program. This is primarily due to the fact that the tool must go very far into the operating system in order to attempt to mimic and take control of important components of your Windows installation.

The scanning process for Anti-Rootkit takes a little longer than you might imagine. Part of this is due to the fact that it is thorough and checks a large portion of your file system. It should be noted, however, that this program is no longer up to date. Since 2017, Malwarebytes has not updated its database of known rootkits, according to the time of this writing. Because the program is currently in beta, it is not recommended that you expect perfect results.

What exactly is spyware? What sorts of spyware are there to choose from?

Spyware is a general phrase that refers to any type of software that is meant to infiltrate your computer and then steal information. That data is frequently provided back to third parties in an unauthorized manner, and it is typically transmitted over your internet connection without your awareness.

When it comes to spyware, there are several distinct forms that customers should be aware of and be cautious about. These may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Adware: This type of software frequently generates pop-up windows on a user’s computer.
Keyloggers: These devices secretly record and transmit anything that is entered on a keyboard.
Pornware is similar to adware, but instead of displaying advertisements, it displays porn pop-ups on a computer that has been infected.
Hijackers: These malicious software programs alter the settings of a user’s web browser, including the home page.
System monitors: These programs keep track of and communicate information on the activity of a computer system as a whole.
Cryptominers: These individuals take advantage of system resources in order to mine cryptocurrency.
Rootkits: A type of malware that allows another person to obtain access to and control over a compromised device.
Cookies that track your movements: Tracks and saves information about your online surfing behavior across the internet.
Trojan horses: Malicious software that disguises itself as genuine software in order to infect a computer, typically resulting in the creation of backdoor access.
A number of real-time antivirus solutions will automatically detect and prevent all varieties of spyware, as well as any communications that malware attempts to send or receive. For example, Panda Antivirus is a real-time antivirus program that has received high ratings from independent testing labs and that effectively prevents harmful software before it has a chance to do any damage to a user’s computer or other devices. Furthermore, Panda offers a free program that may be used to detect and remove malicious malware.

Overall, there are a great variety of applications available that are specifically designed to remove spyware or any other form of malware in general from your computer. The fact that free tools are frequently stripped-down, free versions of more extensive expensive software should not be underestimated. The expectation is that you will use the free tool to clean up your computer and then upgrade to the premium software after that (not required).