KB 256

How to remove spyware

Article:256
Created:2003-10-14 12:40:50
Categories:
  Windows 95
  Windows 98
  Windows NT 4
  Virus Information
  Windows 2000
  Security
  Windows XP

Question or Symptom

Spyware causes various problems, including using your bandwidth, pop-up ads, hijacked searches, etc.

Resolution

"Spyware" is a program which runs in the background on your computer, often installed without your knowledge. Spyware programs do various things. They might watch the sites you visit to suggest others of interest, or report your browsing habits back to an advertising company. Aside from violating your privacy, spyware can cause several problems, including using your bandwidth, showering you with pop-up ads, and hijacked searches. You can get spyware in several ways, including from an email attachment, via peer-to-peer file sharing programs (like Kazaa and friends), or it could be installed surreptitiously when you installed other software.

Spyware is primarily a Windows phenomenon. Mac and Linux/Unix users could also be susceptible to spyware, but it is rampant among MS Windows systems.

There are many programs available which can remove spyware from your computer. The two below have excellent reputations:

One is called Adaware, available from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

The other is called Spybot Search & Destroy, available from: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Adaware and Spybot are complementary -- they will each find some things that the other does not.

BHODemon protects you from Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), by letting you enable/disable them individually. BHODemon knows about the most common BHOs - the good ones, and the not-so-good ones! http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Related URLS

 http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
 http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
 http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm