In today’s NY Times: Barbarians at the Digital Gate

— How spyware, a program that creeps onto a computer’s hard drive unannounced, is wrecking the Internet.

The parasitic files that have beset Mr. Self and other frustrated computer users are known, in tech argot, as spyware and adware. The rapid proliferation of such programs has brought Internet use to a stark crossroads, as many consumers now see the Web as a battlefield strewn with land mines.

Yes, the adware/spyware thing is in fact out of control, but the fact is that there’s a VERY simple solution.

1: Kill whatever browser you’re using now and switch over to Mozilla (or the last version of Netscape, which is built on Mozilla). I think 1.7 is the latest build, unless you feel like helping them beta Firefox. Mozilla gives you incredible privacy control, letting you not only stop damned near ALL spyware before it gets onto your system, but also letting you kill ALL pop-ups. In addition, it’s just a better, faster browser, and the e-mail client that comes with it is the best thing on the market. Did I mention that it’s free?

2: Go download Spybot S&D. Right now. Spybot scans your system, finds and removes any unwanted spyware and adware, and vaccinates your system against all known spyware/adware products. Period.

Of course, now that I’m using Mozilla, I just about don’t need Spybot, but still, it’s awfully nice to have it and run it every week or two.

Do it now, dammit.