adware and spyware removal tips
Many calls to the helpdesk are from customers who have been infected with some form of Adware or Spyware. The most common ways you can be infected is by visiting infected websites, opening infected email attachments, or installing certain “free” software.Symptoms you may experience if your computer gets infected are:
- Reduced speeds browsing websites and sending/retrieving email.
- Computer runs noticeably slower.
- You start receiving large amounts of spam.
- Pop up ads increase, and appear when you’re not browsing websites.
| Step # | |||
| You should end up with something similar to the below example Click OK and if required, insert your Windows 95 or 98 CD Reboot when prompted |  | ||
Reboot when prompted
Spyware will send information off to marketing companies, including any email addresses typed in on your keyboard, any websites you visit, and any personal information that can be obtained from your computer.
To prevent your computer from being infected with ad/spyware there are some easy steps you can take.
- Keep your system up to date by visiting http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Read carefully when installing new software, as many free programs will tell you they are going to install ad/spyware.
- Run Anti-Spyware and Anti-Adware software as described below.
anti-virus software
Anti-Virus software will not detect spyware or adware. They are designed specifically to detect viruses, you will require other software to detect and remove ad/spyware.
free software tools
There are two popular tools available, they are:
- spybot search and destroy
Search and Destroy is a free program. The developers fund the project from donations. It is regularly updated and can detect and remove most ad/spyware programs out there.
Instructions: Click Here to Go to the Spybot Setup Guide
- adaware SE personal
This is very similar to Spybot and is available free for home use (there is also a commercial version which is not free).
Instructions: Click Here to Go to the Adaware Setup Guide
Both programs are good at what they do, and as they are developed by different companies, one may be able to detect particular ad/spyware that the other doesn’t.
They can both be downloaded from http://www.download.com
Note: The helpdesk cannot provide support for these products, this guide is provided as is and for support you will need to contact the appropriate software vendor:
Adware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/customer_support/homeusers/
Spybot Search and Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/support/index.html
installing adaware
Make sure you have the latest version of Adaware (which you can download from http://www.download.com ), once downloaded start the installer by double clicking on Adaware installer icon, you should then be presented with a Screen that looks similar to this:
- Click Next to continue
- Read the License Agreement and if you accept it tick the box ‘I accept the license agreement’.
- Click Next to continue
- Click Next to continue
- Click Next to continue
- Click Next to continue
SPYW006- Click Finish to complete the Install Wizard
Using Ad-Aware
SPYW007- Make sure that your definitions file is up to date by clicking on the Check for Updates now link.
SPYW008- Click on the Connect button
SPYW009- Click on the Finish button
SPYW010- Click on the Start button to scan for Adware and Spyware on your computer
SPYW011- Select the option Perform Full System Scan
- Click Next to continue (This may take a while before it is ready to go to the next step)
SPYW012- This screen shows the scan in progress
SPYW013- This screen shows the scan in progress
SPYW014- The Scanning Results screen will display any found Spyware/Adware on your computer, before clicking Next you will need to tag (tick) the objects for removal
SPYW015- Right click on the Results window so that you get a menu shown as above
- Click on Select All Objects
SPYW016- All the boxes should now be ticked, click Next to continue
SPYW017- When prompted with the number of objects to remove, click OK
SPYW018- Some Adware/Spyware cannot be removed with a reboot, if prompted make sure you have closed any other program you have open, then click OK otherwise click Finish and close Adaware
Installing Spybot Search & Destroy
Make sure you have the latest version of Spybot (which you can download from http://www.download.com ), once downloaded start the installer by double clicking on Spybot installer icon, you should then be presented with a Screen that looks similar to this:
SPYW019- Select the appropriate language and click OK to continue
SPYW020- Click the Next button to continue
SPYW021- Read the License Agreement and if you accept it, select the option I accept the agreement and then click the Next button to continue
SPYW022- Click the Next button to continue
SPYW023- Click the Next button to continue
SPYW024- Click the Next button to continue
SPYW025- Click the Next button to continue
SPYW026- Click the Install button to continue
SPYW027- Wait for the Installer to finish copying files
SPYW028- Make sure Run SpybotSD.exe is ticked
- Click the Finish button
Using Spybot Search & Destroy
SPYW029- Click the OK button to continue
SPYW030- Click the Create Registry Backup button to continue
SPYW031- Click the Download all Available Updates button to continue
SPYW032- Wait for the Update to complete
SPYW033- Click the Check for Problems button to continue
SPYW034- Wait for the Scan to complete
SPYW035- Make sure the Problems are selected (Ticked)
- Click on the Fix Selected Problems button continue
SPYW036- Click the Yes button continue
SPYW037- In some cases Spybot will need to restart your computer, if you are prompted to do this, make sure you have closed all your programs and saved any work, and click Yes to continue.
SPYW038- Click the OK button to continue
SPYW039- Click the OK button to continue
SPYW040- Click on the Immunize icon on the left
- Click on the Immunize button at the top
- Once Immunization has finished you can close Spybot Search and Destroy.
