SpyBot S&D has a 'resident shield' that acts much like a firewall, and detects attempts to install spyware...but it must be enabled-it is not automatic. It helps to read all help files and menus on these programs, whether you understand every thing they say or not....some of it eventually begins to make sense. Anti-virus programs can check for updates automatically...but it is possible to accidently tell your firewall not to allow this..*wry grin*...ya' gotta be careful...