Hi,

SpyBot Search & Destroy does have some cool features,
such as locking your IE start page, IE control panel and the hosts file.
Go to "immunize" and look at the bottom of the page.
Naturally you want to be 'clean' first.

AdAware has some plugins that will give you lots of info about
the Layered Service Providers on your box and allow you to
disable 'messenger'.

I think that Spyware Blaster allows you make snapshots
of your system settings, but I do not quite understand that feature.
Will have to get the app.

Then there is also www.grc.com. 'Shields Up' and 'Leak Test' are worth
checking out.

The tools are on the net!!!

g8way2u