Hate Spyware? How do I stop it on my computer?
Introduction
Do you feel your computer is running slower and slower? Has your computer frozen up unexpectedly and auto-restarted, losing your unsaved data? As a Computer Science major, I have gotten a lot of help requests from my friends for this kind of troubleshooting. They complain that they just bought a new computer a couple months ago with top-level features, but that already their new computers are useless.After I checked my friends' computers many times, I found that most troubles were caused by spyware, adware, or Trojans, and not by hardware quality. While surfing online, spyware, adware, and Trojans invade people's computer. Your computer will crash when hundreds of spyware, adware and Trojans are hiding and running together in your computer, because they exhaust your computer system resource's-your computer's CPU and memory.
What is Spyware?
"Spyware" is a general term for a program that surreptitiously monitors your actions, and transmits your private data without your knowledge. Your personal data could be sold without your permission.What is Adware?
Adware programs are usually pop-up ads-windows that automatically open that you do not request or desire to see. Adware consumes your system resources and slows down your computer performance, not to mention the time and hassle of constantly closing the pop-up windows.What is a Trojan?
A Trojan is a program that is sneakily installed and running in your computer. It allows an outside person to control your computer remotely without your awareness and authorization. Your personal information could be stolen, and your system could be destroyed by someone anywhere on the internet.How do spyware, adware and Trojan infect your computer?
Third Party Software
A
lot of freeware are supported by Third Party Software. When you
install freeware, it might ask you if you'd like to install Third
Party Software such as a toolbar or a search engine bar, or force you to
install Third Party Software by means of a license agreement. That Third
Party Software may very possibly bring spyware trouble to your
computer.
Fake link
Some websites provide fake links with attractive
titles, such as "Free download WinXP Service Pack," or pop up a message
window that says "We detected your computer is infected with spyware,
please download our anti-spyware." Never believe this kind of claim. It
might be just a spyware trick.
Email attachment
Spam
mail may bring all kinds of virus-infected files into your email box as
attachments. You will get infected if you accidentally click the virus
attachment.
Sneaky infection
Some websites contain spyware, adware or even
Trojans. Once you visit a malicious website, the spyware could be
installed into your computer automatically without your knowledge. Later
you will find that your computer settings have been changed.
How to prevent and remove spyware, adware, and Trojan
There is a lot of anti-spyware and anti-virus software on the market. Most of them are shareware, which means they are not free. Some anti-spyware themselves make and release spyware. Of course they can fix the spyware trouble that they make. You may never know which one is really workable before purchasing it.Fortunately, I found that there are 4 trustworthy anti-spyware packages available online for free. They are SpywareBlaster, Spybot-Search & Destory, Adaware, and AntiVir. All of them provide excellent protection for your computer. Now I will discuss where to download, and how to use these anti-spyware packages.
SpywareBlaster
SpywareBlaster 3.2 prevents spyware from installing in the first place! It can:
* Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests.
* Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
* Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.
In one sentence SpywareBlaster can prevent spyware infection, but it cannot scan and remove spyware from your computer.
You can download it from its official site:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
After installation, start the program, click "Download the Latest Protection Updates" to update your program, then Click "Enable All Protection", and then close the program.
SpywareBlaster is now working on your computer. Remember to repeat the above steps once a week to get the newest updates.
Spybot Search & Destory 1.3
Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.3 can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. It provides a user-friendly interface, and can remove spyware from the registry (root) level. It is very suitable for the user who has no computer science knowledge.
You can download it from its official site:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
After installation, start the program by clicking the icon on your desktop, and follow the instructions to complete initial process. Then click the "Search for update" button, check the desired boxes from the update list, and then click the "Download Updates" button to complete the update process.
Click the "Check for problems" button, and the program will start to scan your computer. If any spyware is found, check the box from the problems list and then click the "Fix selected problem" button.
You'd also better update this program once a week to deal with the newest spyware and adware threats, and also scan your system once a week.
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.05
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.05 performs a similar function as Spybot. It deals with the spyware and adware threats that Spybot does not cover. Keep both programs in your computer to keep your system protected to the maximum. Ad-Aware SE has been downloaded 106,827,195 times globally.
You can download it from DOWNLOAD.COM:
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5
The official download site of Ad-Aware is:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
After installation, start the program by clicking the icon on your desktop, click the earth button
at right upper corner, and then follow
the instruction to complete the update process.Click the "Scan now" button, and check "Perform full system scan". After the scan process is done, click the "Next" button, move your mouse to the Scanning Results list, and right click and choose "Select all Objects" from the pop up list. Click "Next" and then "Ok" to remove spyware objects.
Update this program once a week as well to deal with the newest spyware and adware threats. Also, scan your system once a week.
AntiVir Personal Edition
The AntiVir Personal Edition offers effective protection against computer viruses for individual and private use on a single PC-workstation. It performs an auto scan in your system in the background. It has caught Trojans in my computer a couple of times. It has blocked Trojans that tried to sneak into my computer. Personally, I think this program is more reliable than Norton Anti-Virus.
You can download it from its official site:
http://www.free-av.com/index.htm
After installation, start the program by clicking the icon on your desktop, click "Tools," choose "Start Internet Update" from the menu
, and
then follow the instruction to complete update process.Check on the hard drive you want to scan from the "Folders" list, and then click the "Scan" button
to start the scan process. If any virus or Trojan
is caught, choose the "Move To Quarantine" option.You'd better update this program once a week to deal with the newest virus and Trojan threats, and also scan your system once a week.
Other suggestion
It is very necessary to
install a firewall to block hackers and unfound Trojans that may destroy
your system. ZoneAlarm is a free and workable firewall for
individual and not-for-profit charity use. For further information, please
go to its official site:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp
Sygate Personal Firewall that I currently use on my computer could be your another choice.For further information, please go to its official site:
http://www.sygate.com/firewall/
You can also check the
suggestions of anti-spyware from Microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/spywareprevent.mspx
Last sentence
Today's Internet environment is much like an electronic wild
kingdom. Spyware and hackers are always trying to prey on the
weakest computer. So it is very important to have a basic knowledge and
tools to protect your computer. Otherwise your computer is just a victim
waiting to happen.
Hopefully my article will give you some ideas to help
solve your computer problems that you may be dealing with. If you'd like
to share with the public your experience with anti spyware, adware and
Trojans on this website, please leave your message here.
(c) 2005 hatespyware.com
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links:
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