Protecting your computer from Spyware

Spyware, also known as Malware and Adware, is a fairly recent plague on the Internet. Spyware is defined as software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today.

Aside from the questions of ethics and privacy, spyware steals from the user by using the computer's memory resources and also by eating bandwidth as it sends information back to the spyware's home base via the user's Internet connection. Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements may not always be read completely because the notice of a spyware installation is often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers. (source: Webopedia online) Spyware is also one of the biggest causes of pop-up ads on ones computer, which tends to be one of the first warning signs that users notice, along with a change in the users default home page.

There are some things you can do to protect yourself. First, be aware of any programs that you download from the Internet. When downloading a program, do a little research on it before you do so, so make sure it is "spyware free". If you think you may have spyware on your computer, follow the instructions below for removal.

First, you need to download a program that we recommend called Ad-aware. This is a freeware spyware detection and removal system. You can download the latest version of Ad-aware here. You want to download the Ad-aware standard edition full install.
When you go to download the program, a pop-up menu will appear, click on the 'open' button. Once the download is finished it will bring up an install screen. There will be a 'Next' button at the right lower hand corner of the screen. Click on the next button, and repeat that until the installation begins.
Once the installation is finished click on the Finish button.
Now on your Desktop you will have an icon called 'Ad-aware'. Double click on that icon to open it.

It is recommended that you update your Ad-aware to attain the latest spyware definitions, (Note: you must be connected to the Internet in order to update)
Click on the 'Check for updates now' button.

Click on the 'Connect' button.
Click on the 'OK' button, then let the download finish. Click on the finish button at the lower right hand corner of the window.
After the update is finished click on the 'Start' button at the right lower hand corner of the program.
In this screen it will give you 3 options, put a check in the one that says 'Perform smart system-scan' and then click on the next button.

Let the scan finish, (this could take several minutes depending on how many files are on your computer)
Once the scan is finished click on the 'Next' button.

In this screen it will give you a list of items it has found to be spyware related. Right click on one of them and click on 'Select all objects' then click on the next button at the lower right hand corner of the screen.

It will say '# objects will be removed. Continue?' Click on the ok button and let that finish.

NOTE: You may have to reboot your computer in order for Ad-aware to finish removing some programs. This is typical. Just follow the instructions and let Ad-aware finish scanning and removing everything.