I say: Adware/spyware - maybe I'm just paranoid, but if, like me and millions of other informed net users, you find the idea of supposedly-free programs furtively connecting to their creator's servers and sending back God-knows-what information about your surfing habits, with the likelihood of simple techniques then being used to connect this data to your personal identity, you'll appreciate why this program is a MUST HAVE.

Recently spyware has been more in the news, replacing viruses as the most likely malware to damage your computer and/or your bank balance.

Ad-Aware has been the front-runner of anti-spyware apps for many years, and whilst it may have lost some ground to Spybot S&D and other newcomers in the field, it remains an essential app to have in your toolbox. Unlike anti-virus apps, which can misbehave if you have more than one running at the same time, there is added safety in running three or four anti-spyware scanners, so if you don't already have this, GET IT NOW.

They say: "Ad-Aware Personal provides advanced protection from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, Trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers, and tracking components. This software is downloadable free of charge.

Scans fixed and removable drives, memory and Windows registry
Detects known and unknown variants of malware by using the Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology
Removes aggressive spyware and malicious content
Takes advantage of a fully featured quarantine support
Logs information about scans and malicious content removals

Users of Ad-Aware Personal can efficiently remove behavior-tracking spyware; thus protecting your privacy on the Internet
Enhances your computer's performance by protecting against bandwidth stealing programs
Provides greater computer security by removing keyloggers and other programs, which put passwords, credit card numbers, and other vulnerable data at risk online
Allows you to stay abreast of spyware, not just a step behind, thanks to the Code Sequence Identification (CSI) technology"