How well does Yahoo or Google toolbar prevent spyware?

[techs]

I own a computer shop and want to give my customers something for free that will prevent spyware and is easy to use. For WinXP and Win2000 I use MS Antispy but for WinMe and Win98 I tried using SpywareBlaster but the update procedure is awkward and people don't do it.
What are your experiences with the toolbars from Google and Yahoo and is there something else thats free that you can recommend?
thanks

 

[Tu13erhead]

AFAIK Google toolbar doesn't do anything to prevent spyware other than block popups..

 

[Sead0nkey]

Give them firefox. It's not a cure all but will help more then a toolbar.

 

[KeepItRed]

Originally posted by: Tu13erhead
AFAIK Google toolbar doesn't do anything to prevent spyware other than block popups..

lol Exactly.

Just get Mozilla Firefox, techs.

 

[cheesehead]

Mozilla Firefox is a nigh-unbeatable browser.

 

[Slowlearner]

Prevent spyware? Both Adaware and Spybot S&D are useful in removing spyware - both need to be used, and spybot does have something called immunize the system - I dont how well that works.

 

[Medea]

Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Prevent spyware? Both Adaware and Spybot S&D are useful in removing spyware - both need to be used, and spybot does have something called immunize the system - I dont how well that works.

From Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware from Your Computer:

Using Spybot - Search & Destroy's Immunize Feature

Spybot - S &D also has the ability to immunize your computer from downloading and running known malicious ActiveX controls or other programs from known malware sites.

Advanced Tip: ActiveX controls are blocked by adding the CLSID, which is the number between the curly brackets { 000..etc } under the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ActiveX Compatibility. You then make a dword value called "Compatibility Flags " and make it the hexadecimal value of 400. This is called the killbit and will stop the program from being able to run on your computer.

Known malware sites are blocked by Spybot - S&D installing a Browser Helper Object (BHO) called SDHelper.dll into Internet Explorer. Spybot will also add its known list of malware sites into your Restricted Sites section of Internet Explorer which removes all permissions to run web programs from that particular site.

Also, you should enable TeaTimer in Spybot. It works the same as MSAS and WinPatrol, i.e., it's a real-time protector that alerts you of BHO installation attempts and certain changes to the registry.