How to find and Remove Spyware from Computer

Spyware is a malware that is placed secretly on a computer. It tracks the user’s behavior and reports information back to a central source. It refers to a category of software that, when installed on your computer, may send you pop-up ads, redirect your browser to certain web sites.

Spyware can monitor information about your computing habits, such as what websites you visit, or record your keystrokes, which in the end can lead to identity theft. For example, spyware can record the keystrokes that you use while keying in a credit card number and send this number to a cyber thief. Spyware is generally hidden from view and runs in the background. The moment you switch on your system, the spyware program starts.

Spyware: Hidden Threat to Your Computer

How does a spyware attack work?

Spyware can be installed on your PC without your consent. Typically, spyware finds its way onto PCs by “piggybacking” onto a file, such as a computer game, a music file, or a free software program, or it can be downloaded from the Internet when you visit a particular website. Paste such as spyware can often lurk silently on your computer until someone or something sets them off, or until they are found and properly removed.

There are a number of ways spyware or other unwanted software can get on your computer. A common trick is to covertly install the software during the installation of other software you want such as a music or video file sharing program. Sometimes the inclusion of unwanted software in a given software installation is documented, but it might appear at the end of a license agreement or privacy statement.

Masquerading as anti-spyware is one of the cruelest tricks. This type of software convinces you that it’s a tool to detect and remove spyware. When you run the tool, it tells you your computer is clean while it installs additional spyware of its own.

Browser add-ons also used to install spyware on the system Browser add-ons that add enhancements to the web browser, like a toolbar, additional search box. Sometimes, these really do what they say they do but also include elements of spyware as part of the deal. Or sometimes they are nothing more than spyware themselves considered Browser Hijackers.

How do you find that you have Spyware on your Computer?

There are several ways you can come to know that your system has been infected with spyware. 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.

• Endless pop-up windows
• Redirected to web sites other than the one you typed
• Unexpected toolbars appear in your web browser
• Unexpected icons appear in the task tray at the bottom of your screen
• Browser’s home page suddenly changed
• Certain keys fail to work in your browser
• Random windows error messages begin to appear
• Computer runs very slow

How to prevent Spyware from Installing on your Computer

To avoid unintentionally installing spyware, follow these good security practices:

• Don’t click on links within pop-up windows
• Choose “No” when asked unexpected questions
• Don’t follow email links claiming to offer anti-spyware software
• Beware of free downloadable software
• Adjust IE security settings to limit pop-up windows & cookies
• Surf and download more safely
• Use a firewall

• Don’t click on links within pop-up windows because pop-up windows are often a product of spyware, clicking on the window may install spyware software on your computer. To close the pop-up window, click on the “X” icon in the titlebar instead of a “close” link within the window.

• Choose “No” when asked unexpected questions - Beware of unexpected dialog boxes asking whether you want to run a particular program or perform another type of task. Always select “No” or “Cancel,” or close the dialog box by clicking the “X” icon in the titlebar.

• Beware of free downloadable software - Beware of popular “free” music and movie file-sharing programs,and be sure you clearly understand all of the software packaged with those programs.  Don’t download programs from sites you don’t trust, and realize that you may be exposing your computer to spyware by downloading some of these programs. 

•  Don’t follow email links claiming to offer anti-spyware software - Like email viruses, the links may serve the opposite purpose and actually install the spyware it claims to be eliminating. 

•  Adjust IE security settings to limit pop-up windows & cookie - Pop-up windows are often generated by some kind of scripting or active content. Adjusting the settings within your browser to reduce or prevent scripting or active content may reduce the number of pop-up windows that appear. Certain types of cookies are sometimes considered spyware because they reveal what web pages you have visited. Microsoft recommends that you set the security settings for the Internet zone to Medium or higher.In Internet Explorer, click–>  Tools –> Internet Options. –>Select the Security tab.

• Surf and download more safely. The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Only download programs from Web sites you trust. Read all security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download. Never click “Agree” or “OK” to close a window. Instead, click the red “X” in the corner of the window or press the Alt + F4 buttons on your keyboard to close a window.

• Use a firewall - While most spyware and other unwanted software come bundled with other programs or originate from illegitimate 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 provides a helpful defense against these hackers.

How to remove Spyware

• Run a full scan on your computer with your anti-virus software.
• Run a legitimate product specifically designed to remove spyware.
• Make sure that your anti-virus and anti-spyware software are compatible

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Tagged as: Antivirus, Spyware