I was going to review a couple of new storage tools this week, but I was sidetracked by a very interesting (and pretty long) e-mail.
I have to edit it for space (I'll put the whole thing on my blog), but it raises an interesting point.
Question: I really think you should practice what you preach. You are always telling people in the newspapers don't go out and get anything that's free because nothing is free in the world of computers.
Yet time and time again you send people out for free antivirus and programs like Spy-bot, which are considered freeware. From research we have conducted at my company we have found that Spy-Bot Search and Destroy, Ad-Aware and other so called freeware programs actually gather information from your computer and send it out to people who can use the information in mailing lists, etc. They end up getting a monetary gain from those silly enough to use the program. They might remove some of the spyware infections, but at a cost to the users in a loss of personally identifying information that can be used to spam them or even cause them greater harm. I suggest you either stop telling people to use freeware products before someone comes back on you about it and sues you. Consider this a warning.
Answer: Point taken on my comment about "nothing is free" on the Internet. I should have limited that to, "Nothing is Free Unless Jim Says It's OK."
As for your assertion that SpyBot, AdAware or free anti-virus products like AVG, AntiVir or Avast are secretly gathering information from your computer and sending it out, that is patently absurd. All of these utilities have been checked out from top to bottom, and none pays the bills by violating your privacy.
Many of these tools are written by people just for the interest of the public good. (I know that's hard to believe.) That's how SpyBot, CWShredder and many others began. Pay versions of some of these emerged (like AdAware), but the free versions live on.
There's nothing wrong with paying for utilities like Webroot's SpySweeper; it's just not the only way. In most cases, heavily infected PCs will require a technician. Just be wary if they want to sell you lots of security products.
WEEKLY WEB WONDER: Subratam.org is a good forum to discuss spyware and tools.
James Derk is co-owner of CyberDads, a computer repair company, and a computer columnist for Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is jim@cyberdads.com.