McAfee VirusScan 2006 (v10.0.27) nabbed an impressive 95% of adware and spyware in our tests, 99% of all viruses in the AV-Test.org zoo collection tests, and 100% of in-the-wild viruses. McAfee VirusScan has a relatively small install size, at just over 52Mb, and supports Windows XP, 2000, ME, or 98. McAfee now offers daily signature updates - a huge plus from the weekly updates offered in the past. McAfee VirusScan 2006 offers exemplary protection at an affordable price.

It's not just viruses that plague today's Internet users. Spyware surreptitiously monitors your computer and Internet use, while adware can bombard your PC with unwanted advertising. Both pose a drain on your bandwidth and can lead to loss of security. Following are a selection of the best dedicated adware and spyware scanning tools to ferret out these often hidden menaces. If you go the standalone route, make sure you back it up with antivirus software and a firewall.