I wrote earlier about the Microsoft spyware known as Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) and method to stop Microsoft from phoning home.

I now use and recommend Shavlik NetChk Protect. The software is free for individual users. It bypasses WGA to patch Windows, Office, and a host of other software, and even includes a spyware scanner if you want to use that too. Download the free evaluation version, which is good for a year. The company plans to launch a standalone free consumer version by the fall.

NetChk Protect can be overwhelming. It is a large download with lots of features because it's built as business software for patch management across many computers. Read this Windows Secrets edition for directions on installing it just for your own PC.