"What is even more insidious than a virus? Answer: spyware."
-Australian IT, Feb. 2004

What is SpyWare? SpyWare is a general name for pieces of software that you download (voluntarily or not) that can collect information about your Internet habits. AdWare is usually less invasive but more annoying, sending pop-ups to your screen. Another type, Malware, is specifically designed to harm your computer or steal information.

How do I know if I have Spyware? If your computer is producing pop-ups frequently that are unrelated to the website you are visiting, you may have some SpyWare. The same holds true if you have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of Spam (unsolicited email) you receive, SpyWare may also be the culprit. Beware if your system or Internet connection seems to be slower or if you notice the hard drive spinning when the computer is not in use. If your browser's home page has changed or you have toolbars installed (with few exceptions) you may have SpyWare.

How did I get SpyWare on my machine?

• You visit web sites.
• You download freeware and/or shareware applications including this list.
• You swap or share music or photos with other users.
• You open spam email messages, or messages or attachments sent from someone you don't recognize.
• Other people use your computer.

What can I do about SpyWare? Your first course of action should be to try one or more of the removal tools available on the Internet. Beware! Pop-up ads that claim to have detected spyware on your machine may be SpyWare themselves. Below are the select tools that TechSolutions uses every day to remove SpyWare from our clients' machines. Some spyware needs to be removed manually and others can cause damage that needs to be repaired. A TechSolutions technician is specially skilled in spyware removal and would be glad to help you regain full use of your computer.

SpyWare Removal Tools:

	Ad-Aware from Lavasoft is a free program that is very user-friendly (just follow the directions). A more robust version is available for purchase from their website www.lavasoft.com
	SpyBot Search & Destroy is another free utility that also has the ability to inoculate your computer against known SpyWare, Malware, and AdWare.
	SpySweeper is a free trial that will clean SpyWare from your machine as well and protect it from future bouts. The full version is available at www.spysweeper.com
	Microsoft has released a competent beta 2 version of Windows Defender. This version will attempt to qualify your current Microsoft software as legal, which can be time-consuming. You can also schedule scans of your machine to keep it as pristine as possible.

 

How do I keep this from happening again? There are a few simple things you can do right away to help prevent further infection:

• Update your operating system regularly
• Increase your browser security settings
• Only download software from sites you trust
• Use anti-virus protection and a software firewall
• Get anti-spyware software protection
  

 

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