Virus? Slow PC?

What is Spyware or Adware?

Spyware and Adware are simply programs that get installed on your computer that degrade the performance and stability of your computer. Often they can give you popup's, add search bars, change your homepage, spam email or just track what web sites you might visit on the web. Most of these features are frustrating to a user since they cause your computer to stop working properly in various ways. Over the past few years it has become such a problem that we feel every computer user should have an idea of what it is and how to stop it. Since spyware and adware are normally created by a company that has something to sell (advertising) they are also quickly written and rarely ever put into some type of adequate testing platform leaving them full of bugs and/or errors. For example I'm sure you already know any one virus is BAD news and can keep your computer from running properly. We find anywhere between 1-1500 spyware and/or adware files on average per computer just during our normal cleanup and repair at the shop.

Now try and think about the stress that is caused when that many extra items are trying to work taking up the computers much needed resources. Basically these types of programs are unneeded and cause more problems than most viruses. Unfortunately, most of theses types of programs are put on with out you knowing while surfing the internet. Now, it comes down to being able to understand what is going on and how to keep it at bay. Here is a general list of things spyware and adware do:

#1 Slows down your computer since another program is using your cpu, memory, hard disk space and even your internet bandwidth they can cause your system to slowdown (especially when you have multiple ones running and most PC's do).

#2 System Instability - Since most spyware and adware isn't very well tested or debugged or a way to report the bugs they often result in system crashes, lockups, hangs, illegal operations, fatal blue screen errors and browser hijacking.

#3 Causes Popup Advertising - Ever have an Internet Explorer Window open for no reason with advertisement? Chances are that you are a victim of adware but also know that some web sites do embed a popup or two to advertise a co partner or product they have. Some being even good enough to make it around a popup stopper program you may have.

#4 Changes Web sites - Some adware can even replace parts of a web site robbing the writer of his true ads or links instead of showing what they intended. In the process it can prevent the page from loading correctly or cause a JavaScript error.

#5 Browser Hijacking - Browser Hijacking is when the software actually changes setting in Internet Explorer. For example changes your homepage to something else, even if you change it, it'll come back later. Adding favorites to your list that you didn't add or perhaps add a search bar that you can't make go away.

#6 Steals your privacy - Using a Trojan like method some spyware will monitor/record your browsing habits and send them off to the company that releases the spyware. Now they have a good idea of what type of product to popup on your screen as well as your friends/family's email address to send spam too.

How did I get infected?
It is very easy to get infected with spyware or adware on the internet but knowing where you got it can be impossible to track down. Here is a basic list of some known tricks the spyware vendors have up their sleeves.

#1 Installing free software via the internet - For example the biggest ones come from a peer to peer file sharing program like Kazza or a time sync program you've installed which will include the spyware in the setup or install process. It will often be referred to as EULA or third party software (that is if you ever read the license agreements). Even if you've read the license agreement they are often listed in confusing wording so you won't really understand what you are installing. Since you've agreed to install the software you've also agreed to installing the spyware/adware too.

#2 Visiting a web site - Some are tricks adapted into a web site you may be trying to view. You might get prompts to install something to get the page to view properly. Once again the install could just be adding more spyware to your computer. Some repeat the question over and over till you just pick yes to keep from seeing the question again.

#3 Misleading Email - Greeting cards are a known example of this. You may get an email stating you have a greeting card and have a link to view it. Once you visit the link the site tells you that you must have something installed to view it properly. Once again, this could be spyware.

How to Fight Spyware/Adware

There are several free programs out on the internet that offer to remove spyware and adware. Be aware that there are some scams offering to do just that however, turn out to be the very thing your trying to remove. Listed below are some known utilities that we use and know that work. Also note that since some spyware will alter or embed itself into a common windows file that when it is sometimes removed can cause unwanted results or system crashes or a browser that will not browse after removal. Windows ME and Windows XP users can rely on the system restore to rewind time back before the removal in case of a bad crash. See below on doing so before you start removing spyware or adware.

Using System Restore - Click Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and then System Restore. Choose to Create a Restore Point and click next. Give your restore point a name (anything you want). Then click create. You computer will make a backup file on how your system is configured at this point and time. Now when you remove the adware and spyware if something goes wrong you can restore back to the point before it was removed by going back into system restore and choosing to restore this time. This is not a fail proof method however, comes in big handy if removing it will keep you from surfing the internet for example. For bad cases of spyware or adware you might want to consider CompuMedik, Inc to remove it for you.