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1 All You Need to Know About Spyware What is spyware? Recent studies from a joint project between Dell Computer and the Internet Education Foundation have found that an estimated 90% or more home computers in the U.S. have been infected with spyware at some time. Spyware is a piece of software installed on a computer that is used to monitor its activities. The software will collect personal information from the computer and track all the websites that it visits on the Internet. This information is sent back to the producer of the software to be used in marketing and advertising of items that will appeal to the user of the computer. It may also go as far as changing the configuration of a computer or adding components to accomplish its marketing task. Sometimes the effects are agreeable to the user but in most cases they are annoying and may cause unwanted results. Identifying Spyware Identifying spyware is not always easy and sometimes just not possible. There are strange behaviors and other symptoms, however, which are significant signs that a computer has spyware installed on it. Here are the most common things to look for when identifying spyware: Pop-ups Sluggish Computer Slow Web Page Loads Increased Computer Crashes New Toolbars Appear Browser Homepage and Search Settings Change Unfamiliar/Suspicious Named Software Unexplained Favorites Added New Icons Appear Programs and Windows Components Fail To Start Links Inside of Programs No Longer Work Removing Spyware There are many different tools that can be installed to help in identifying and removing spyware. To stop the ill effects of spyware on a computer, removal is necessary. Software such as pop-up blockers are only a band aide for the real problem. Here is list of the more popular, free spyware removal tools to help clean a computer of the software and where to download them:

2 Lavasoft Ad Aware Spybot Search & Destroy Pest Patrol New spyware removal programs are always being produced. Spyware Info is a good website to keep up with all the new releases ( Another good site for this is Spyware Guide, which also provides an online spyware scanner tool to help detect and remove any unwanted spyware programs ( You should run any of these spyware removal products several times and also run a virus scan on the computer suspected to have spyware installed on it. Antivirus software and virus scanners can clean items missed, or are not scanned, by spyware removal tools. There are a few choices on the Internet for free virus scans or antivirus software. Here are examples: HouseCall AVG Anti-Virus You can also find more free anti-virus software from download sites. They are great for finding free anti-virus software, spyware removal tools and a variety of spyware prevention tools such as firewalls. Listed below are a few good suggestions: ZDNet CNet s Donwload.com Tucows Spyware Prevention To help ensure a computer remains spyware free, there are several prevention measures that should be taken. Computer settings should to be checked, spyware prevention software should be installed, software should be kept updated, and caution on the Internet should be taken. All of these prevention steps are listed below in detail: Security Settings Make sure the computer s Security settings restrict access to unsigned and unsafe ActiveX controls. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools at the top and select Internet Options.

3 2. Select the Security tab at the top of the screen. 3. Select the Web content zone labeled Internet, and click the Default Level button in the bottom right so that zone level is set to Medium. See below. 4. Click the Custom Level button and verify the ActiveX control settings are the same as shown here:

4 Install a Firewall A good firewall program will help keep unwanted software, like spyware, from being downloaded to a computer to begin with. It will provide the user with a warning when access to the computer from an unknown origin is being attempted and can thus be a wall against any unwanted access and downloads. Keep Software Updated Antivirus, firewall, and spyware removal software need to be keep updated for them to perform optimally. New security holes are always been found and exploited and without upgrades to existing software, they cannot be combated. You should also run Windows Update for any essential security updates. The easiest way to get to the Windows Update site is through Internet Explorer under the Tools menu. Final Note: Be Cautious Whenever installing new software on a computer, additional programs can be bundled in with the package. Sometimes these programs can be disguised as useful tools but are actually spyware. Do not choose

5 to include these programs with the installation of new software if they seem suspicious or are not needed. Always read the user/license agreement with the software. It can provide some insight as to what is actually being installed and will sometimes even state the intent of the program as spyware. Beware pop-ups asking to change the Internet browser s home page. This is a common mask for spyware to be accepted onto a computer.