The battle between spyware and antispyware software rages on, as the antispyware developers struggle to stay on top of ever-evolving threats to computer users' privacy. We put together our first Spyware Obstacle Course in November 2004 to help users choose the best antispyware app for their systems. However, the evolving nature of the problem and some new solutions prompted us to set up the obstacle course for a second run.

This time around we've upped the ante. We've chosen a different problem program bundled with even more vicious spyware. Instead of the Unsavory Six from our last obstacle course, we now have the Evil Eight. These represent both widespread and newer spyware threats. Our antispyware contestants consist of some of the same big-name programs, with a couple of new entries that have become popular. The roster, in alphabetical order, is: