I have so many clients with spyware issues, it’s just utterly amazing. More amazing is that the majority of it can be avoided if not even completely avoided. If you pay attention to install screens, are cautious with the sites you visit, do not install P2P, and keep your Windows OS updated, you can actually keep it off your system. I have. But some people like the freedom of running naked in the streets and, well, you’ll eventually get hit by a car.

So what to do once infected? You can try to clean it off using anti-spyware software, but in most cases are you’ll still have stuff on your drive. In those cases, I do a clean install of the OS and then put on all the proactive protection. But if you want to do something even more radical and more costly than my $75 charge, then here’s something else that doesn’t even require hiring a professional like me that you can do! Tamlin Magee of The Inquirer writes:

But a radical new way to deal with spyware problems has been discovered by “Internet industry executive” Lew Tucker – who just bins PCs that get infected with spyware, according to the New York Times!

Mr. Lew Tucker (pun opportunity: loot chucker), the proud owner of a PhD in computer science, has had enough with viruses and adware: “I was spending time every week trying to keep the machine free of viruses and worms.” According to Mr. Tucker, it was far cheaper and faster to just throw his old PC out and go buy a new one. Faster? Certainly. Cheaper? Probably not.

[Man with spyware fixes problem by buying new PCs]