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The largest consumer Internet service providers (ISPs) have added spyware protection in the latest versions of their software to help keep consumers safe from online pests.

Once upon a time it was anti-spam tools to help keep the e-mail inboxes of their subscribers clean, now the attention had shifted to spyware. As with most ISP features, there is little to differentiate the spyware protection offerings among the major ISPs.

MSN
Microsoft's MSN ISP offers McAfee Security's anti-virus and personal firewall services as part of MSN Premium subscription service for broadband users in the United States. McAfee is a Network Associates Inc. product.

MSN Premium subscribers receive McAfee VirusScan and McAfee Personal Firewall Plus desktop-protection services as part of their subscription to MSN Premium. MSN Plus and MSN Dial-Up Internet Access subscribers can access trial versions of the services and purchase them through the MSN site.

McAfee Personal Firewall Plus helps prevent potential hackers and other Internet threats from entering and infecting users' PCs by acting as a protective barrier between the PC and the Internet.

EarthLink
EarthLink unveiled spyware protection in October 2003. The EarthLink software is called Spyware Blocker and it works just like some of the freeware removal programs, such as Spybot S&D. EarthLink subscribers choose when to run the program, at which time it scans their system. It detects and removes all common forms of spyware from their computer, including adware, system monitors, keyloggers, and Trojan horses.

America Online
AOL introduced AOL Spyware Protection as part of its AOL 9.0 Optimized software. The AOL product is actually software from Aluria Software, which makes Spyware Eliminator, pop-up stoppers and optimizers. Unlike EarthLink, the AOL Spyware Protection automatically scans the user's computer once a week.

Members also can manually initiate a spyware/adware scan by clicking on the AOL Spyware Protection icon on their desktop, or they can set up automatic spyware scans at more regular intervals, such as daily/weekly or at a specific day and time. The database for AOL Spyware Protection is regularly updated to help members find and disable the latest spyware and adware applications.

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