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Signs of a
Spyware
infection
If your
computer
starts
to
behave
strangely
or
displays
any of
the
symptoms
listed
below,
you may
have
Spyware
or other
unwanted
software
installed
on your
computer.
-
I
see
pop-up
advertisements
all
the
time.
Some
unwanted
software
will
bombard
you
with
pop-up
ads
that
aren't
related
to a
particular
Web
site
you're
visiting.
These
ads
are
often
for
adult
or
other
Web
sites
you
may
find
objectionable.
If
you
see
pop-up
ads
as
soon
as
you
turn
on
your
computer
or
when
you're
not
even
browsing
the
Web,
you
may
have
Spyware
or
other
unwanted
software
on
your
computer.
-
My
settings
have
changed
and
I
can't
change
them
back
to
the
way
they
were.
Some
unwanted
software
has
the
ability
to
change
your
home
page
or
search
page
settings.
This
means
that
the
page
that
opens
first
when
you
start
your
Internet
browser
or
the
page
that
appears
when
you
select
"search"
may
be
pages
that
you
do
not
recognize.
Even
if
you
know
how
to
adjust
these
settings,
you
may
find
that
they
revert
back
every
time
you
restart
your
computer.
-
My
Web
browser
contains
additional
components
that
I
don't
remember
downloading.
Spyware
and
other
unwanted
software
can
add
additional
toolbars
to
your
Web
browser
that
you
don't
want
or
need.
Even
if
you
know
how
to
remove
these
toolbars,
they
may
return
each
time
you
restart
your
computer.
-
My
computer
seems
sluggish.
Spyware
and
other
unwanted
software
are
not
necessarily
designed
to
be
efficient.
The
resources
these
programs
use
to
track
your
activities
and
deliver
advertisements
can
slow
down
your
computer
and
errors
in
the
software
can
make
your
computer
crash.
If
you
notice
a
sudden
increase
in
the
number
of
times
a
certain
program
crashes,
or
if
your
computer
is
slower
than
normal
at
performing
routine
tasks,
you
may
have
Spyware
or
other
unwanted
software
on
your
machine.
If
you
think
your
computer
is
infected
with
Spyware,
find
out
how
to
get
rid
of
Spyware
and
how
you
can
prevent
Spyware
from
getting
on
your
computer.
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of
page
What
you
can
do
to
remove
Spyware
and
other
unwanted
software
Many kinds of unwanted software, including Spyware, are designed to be difficult to remove. If you try to uninstall this software like any other program, you might find that the program reappears as soon as you restart your computer. If you're having trouble uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to download a tool to do the job for you. Several companies offer free and low-cost software that will check your computer for Spyware and other unwanted software and help you remove it. We have provided a list of 3rd party Spyware removal tools that you can download to help you with a Spyware infection. Keep in mind that removing unwanted software with these tools may mean you will no longer be able to use a free program that came with the Spyware. To remove Spyware from you computer follow these steps.
- Download on of the following Spyware removal programs.
Windows Defender (by Microsoft)
Lavasoft Ad-ware
Spybot Search & Destroy
- Run the tool to scan your computer for Spyware and other unwanted software.
- Review the files discovered by the tool for Spyware and other unwanted software.
- Select suspicious files for removal by following the tool's instructions.
If you think your computer is infected with Spyware, find out how to get rid of Spyware and how you can prevent Spyware from getting on your computer.
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Keeping your system clean
Spyware and other unwanted software can invade your privacy, bombard you with pop-up windows, slow down your computer, and even make your computer crash. Here are several ways you can help protect your computer against Spyware and other unwanted software.
- Use a firewall
While most Spyware and other unwanted software come bundled with other programs or originate from unscrupulous Web sites, a small amount of Spyware can actually be placed on your computer remotely by hackers. Installing a firewall or using the firewall that's built into Windows XP provides a helpful defense against these hackers.
- Keep your software up to date
If you use Windows XP, one way to help prevent Spyware and other unwanted software is to make sure all your software is updated. Visit Microsoft Update to confirm that you have Automatic Updates turned on and that you've downloaded all the latest critical and security updates.
- Adjust Internet Explorer security settings
You can adjust your Internet Explorer Web browser's security settings to determine how much or how little information you are willing to accept from a Web site. Microsoft recommends that you set the security settings for the Internet zone to Medium or higher.
To view your current Internet Explorer security settings:
- In Internet Explorer, click Tools and then click Internet Options.
- Select the Security tab.
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