Anti-Spyware Programs Remove Spyware from your Computer much like Anti-Virus Programs work

Deleting or Restoring Program Files

Once a spyware program, setting, or file is detected the anti-spyware program will delete that problem or restore the setting or file back to normal. By deleting malicious settings spyware programs will lose their control over your settings in the all powerfull registry. Since some spyware programs hijack or modify essential programs that your computer uses to access the internet, ones that are part of the operating system anti-spware software will restore those files back to their uninfected state. Also anti-spyware programs will delete programs that have been detected as spyware, just like anti-virus programs delete malicious programs that are detected as viruses.

Objects

Another way that Anti-Spyware programs combat spyware is to deactivate and destroy Browser Help Objects and ActiveX Controls. Basically these are bits code and data that are "add-in"s to your browser. Normally they are used to extend your browser to add functionality for specialized tasks or sites. They can also be used by hackers that create spyware to gain almost complete control over your browser.