Q I use Firefox as my web browser and also have Spybot Search & Destroy installed on the computer as part of my security setup. I have been told that Spybot is not compatible with Firefox. Is this correct?
Rev Mike Vincer

A Firefox is compatible with Spybot Search & Destroy, but some of Spybot’s advanced features might not work. The program has an ‘immunise’ mode that can prevent the home page in Internet Explorer being changed without permission. This is one of the things that is often changed by a piece of spyware, to redirect you to a customised spam page.

Spybot can ‘lock’ your homepage so this won’t happen, but it won’t be able to do so for Firefox. However, all of Spybot’s other features will work, as they are unaffected by the type of web browser you use. Firefox is generally considered a more secure browser than Internet Explorer, so on the whole we would recommend sticking with both Spybot and Firefox.

Also, extensions are available for Firefox that can help you block out advertising altogether – take a look at Adblock Plus, for instance.