Reputable reviews are available online for established spyware removal toolshttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2327114,00.asp. CNET lists many of these with their ratings, linking to product-specific pageshttp://reviews.cnet.com/1770-5_7-0.html?query=spyware+reviews&tag=srch%3Ba.

A more dangerous set of spyware includes password loggers and keystroke loggers. The former records and transmits your passwords to a third party without your knowledge or consent, while the latter do the same with every keystroke on your computer. This type of spyware can steal financial information such as credit card numbers, and other private information, allowing criminals to steal your identity, and empty out accounts, you access online.

AdAware Anniversary Edition 8.0.7 - While lauding this spyware removal tool, CNET editors note that the free version is missing several key features available in the paid versionhttp://download.cnet.com/Ad-Aware-Anniversary-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html

SpyBot Search and Destroy 1.6.2 - CNET editors recommend this as a second line of defensehttp://download.cnet.com/Spybot-Search-amp-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?tag=mncol

[[avast! antivirus]] 4.8 Home Edition - This free spyware removal tool gets high marks from PC Magazine's editors and writershttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2282699,00.asp.

Trend Micro HiJackThis 2.0.2 - This powerful scanner can identify even hard to find malware. However, the list of potential malware suspects includes many items that are not malware. Users will need to search the internet to identify which entry needs to be removed, and which must be left alone. This is a powerful tool which should only be used for deeply infected computers, by someone who knows what he or she is doinghttp://download.cnet.com/Trend-Micro-HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10227353.html.

Webroot Spy Sweeper 6.1 - CNET calls this a "rock solid anti spyware tool" which can also identify and remove rootkits, an especially nasty type of spyware. However, the trial version does not remove spyware so unless you plan to buy the paid version, downloading the freeware is not usefulhttp://download.cnet.com/Webroot-Spy-Sweeper/3000-8022_4-10192729.html.

Threatfire 3.5 - This spyware removal tool differs from most spyware removal software in that it searches for suspicious behavior, rather than using a database of known malware. This is especially helpful when your computer is assaulted by a spyware too new to have been put into most malware databaseshttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2301045,00.asp.

Spyware Doctor 6.0 - CNET editors report version 5.1's product's free trial did not function well, and the paid version did not cleanly remove spyware, and flags harmless cookieshttp://reviews.cnet.com/security-and-encryption/spyware-doctor-5-1/4505-3688_7-32784959.html. However, PC Magazine editors gave version 6.0 a much better 4.5 starshttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326198,00.asp.

VIPRE 3.1 - This paid product ($29.95-$49.95 depending on how many machines in one household are to be protected) gets high ratings from PC Magazine's editors and writershttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2326526,00.asp.

AVG Anti-Virus Free 8.0 - This free antivirus also handles spyware. While there is no company tech support, user groups are a possible resource.http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2291382,00.asp

Windows Defender gets mediocre marks from CNET editors who do recommend using it in addition to other spyware removal tools, mostly because it is freehttp://reviews.cnet.com/antivirus-and-filtering/windows-defender-version-1593/4505-3681_7-32784956.html?tag=mncol;lst.

Symantec Norton 360 3.0 ($79.99) gets CNET editors' 5 starshttp://download.cnet.com/Norton-360/3000-8022_4-10651162.html.

Trend Micro Internet Security 2010 ($49.95) gets CNET editors' 4.5 starshttp://download.cnet.com/Trend-Micro-Internet-Security-32-bit/3000-8022_4-10567655.html.

ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite 2010 ($49.95) gets CNET editors' 4 starshttp://download.cnet.com/ZoneAlarm-Internet-Security-Suite-2010/3000-8022_4-10291278.html.

McAfee Total Protection 2009 ($79.99) is another popular choicehttp://us.mcafee.com/root/landingpages/affLandPage.asp?affid=0&lpname=16809&aco=0&cid=63609. However, PC Magazine rates it only 2.5 stars due mostly to its sluggish user interface and how it slows down the computerhttp://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2332734,00.asp.