Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating: 
Summary: Makes it safe to turn on your PC again
Comment: Getting sick of the neverending battle against spam, pop-ups, spyware, and viruses on your PC? Don't throw up your hands. This book tells the home PC user how to do everything possible - and I mean everything - to go on the offensive against online threats and take control of your computer again.
For a computer-user guide, this book is refreshingly direct and easy to read and use. It's humorously written and is plain-spoken without talking down to you. There's technical information about topics like browser security and where viruses come from, but it doesn't barrage the reader with jargon or unnecessary details.
The directions on using utilities and configuring settings have plenty of screenshots and are easy to follow. The author talks you through diagnosing and fixing ad-ware and virus infections, so you don't have to worry that you'll accidentally delete something crucial. A CD containing essential anti-virus software and anti-spyware programs, like Ad-Aware and Spybot, rounds out the package.
Even if you feel like you already know how to keep your own computer safe, this book makes a great gift for family or friends who are overwhelmed by spyware or keep unwittingly sending you virus-laden emails. It's a computer book that even your parents can understand and use, and it's one they really need. Too bad it wasn't available when I bought my mother a new PC earlier this year; I'm sending her a copy right now.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Helped solve my spyware problem
Comment: I had a problem with spyware displaying ads on my PC. I read through the section on spyware, and using the software included on the book's CD, I was able to remove it completely.
The books doesn't just tell you how to remove problems like spyware and viruses, it explains how to avoid them in the first place. I especially appreciated the section on spam, which offered some clever techniques for keeping your email address safe from spammers.
The authoer includes a bit of humor throughout the book, and doesn't pull any punches. I found the background info about how spammers operate and how spyware and viruses propagate to be especially interesting.
Overall, it's an excellent how-to guide aimed at a general audience.
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