Library > Computing

Fighting Computer Spyware

Reducing Spyware:
Two programs can remove unwanted spyware and adware. They are: "Spybot" and "Adaware". Simply search for each at www.google.com, download and install each separately:

Getting and Installing Spybot and Adaware:
  1. Create a folder within "My Documents" called "SpywareCleaners".
  2. Search www.google.com for "spybot" and click on a link, such as "PC World", to download "Spybot Search and Destroy v1.#" (where # may equal, say, "3") to the folder you just created.
  3. Go back to www.google.com and search for "Adaware" and choose a site to download it, such as Download.com.
  4. Go into your "SpywareCleaners" folder and install Spybot. You just need to specify a "Compact installation" without a QuickLaunch icon.
  5. After the installation is complete, go back into that folder and install the other file for "Adaware".
Running the scanners:
Do NOT run them together. Run them at SEPARATE times. Important - Each scanner needs to be updated first:
  1. For "Spybot, double-click on your "Spybot - Search & Destroy" desktop icon & click "Search for updates" and then, "Download updates".
  2. When updated, click "Search and Destroy" on the left bar & in the main window, "Check for problems" to start scanning.
  3. When the scan completes, click "Fix Selected Problems". Click "OK" to allow repairs to be made.
  4. Lastly, click "Immunize" on the left bar and proceed to immunize by clicking the following "Immunize" button as well. Close Spybot.
  5. For "Adaware", double-click on your "Ad-aware" desktop icon & click "Check for updates now" and "connect" and "install" the update file.
  6. Click "Finish", "Start" and "Next" to perform the scan. When the scan finishes, click "next" twice to remove the objects and "Open Quarantine-list". Right-click on any of the quarantined file(s) and choose "Delete all archives". You may close Adaware.

The spyware-scanning procedures above may be repeated immediately and at any time to ensure success. In any case, they should be done every one or two months, or at least a few times a year.

The following two related links are very useful:  Antivirus Protection  &  http://www.bu.edu/pcsc/virus