Spyware

[Bandana]

What is Spyware??? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

How do you get it?

What does it do to your computer??

What is the best way to get rid of it and prevent it??


[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: Spyware

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party.

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[Q3210]

Re: Spyware

So is it a good or bad thing to have?

[Bandana]

Re: Spyware

Thanks CEW [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]

My PC at home is super slow, it keeps turning itself off [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/eek2.gif[/img] and I get error messages that some application is running called SW [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

I had this kind of problem before and I did a complete re-format of my hard drive which seemed to fix it, but now it's happening again [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]


So is there another way to remove spyware, and ways to prevent it?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

[kia027]

Re: Spyware

there is a product that is free (when I used it last) called spybot -- it searches & destorys the spyware stuff

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/

[Diplomat]

Re: Spyware

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Q3210</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So is it a good or bad thing to have? </div></div>

Potentially, very, very bad.

[Diplomat]

Re: Spyware

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I had this kind of problem before and I did a complete re-format of my hard drive which seemed to fix it, but now it's happening again [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

So is there another way to remove spyware, and ways to prevent it?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

</div></div>

Formatting fixes every software issue [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] Definitely sounds like your PC "spies" need to be eliminated. Here's a llst of Free Spyware and Adware Detection & Removal Software. You should install one of them, do an immediate scan and removal, then configure for it to be done weekly.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Spyware

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What is Spyware??? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

How do you get it?

What does it do to your computer??

What is the best way to get rid of it and prevent it??


[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

</div></div>
Go to http://www.sysinternals.com and download Process explorer and install it.
It will show you the programs in your registry that are working. Including the spy ware,adn you can just go to control panel and remove them one by one.
Then all the pop ups will disappear. The majority of pop-ups are actually resident on your computer.so once youy remove them,unless you are reinfected you will have minimal problems.

[ILP]

Re: Spyware

i actually had a computer get taken over with spy/ad wear [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img]
bandit, i say spend the money and buy a good spy sweeper, especially if you do alot of things online (like I do). the money you spend for the spyware is minimal (in my opinion) versus the headache of having a compromised computer.

[Bandana]

Re: Spyware

Thanks guys, I still have not done a thing with PC...

Maybe next weekend... [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70392-silly.gif[/img]

[Seveen]

Re: Spyware

bandanna i used the freeware spybok that CEW referenced
my computer is running great now
it only took a few minutes
on the first run it found 194 problems [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[djrosen1]

Re: Spyware

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bandanna</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I had this kind of problem before and I did a complete re-format of my hard drive which seemed to fix it, but now it's happening again [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

So is there another way to remove spyware, and ways to prevent it?? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif[/img]

</div></div>

Formatting fixes every software issue [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img] Definitely sounds like your PC "spies" need to be eliminated. Here's a llst of Free Spyware and Adware Detection & Removal Software. You should install one of them, do an immediate scan and removal, then configure for it to be done weekly. </div></div>

In my experience, no one anti-spyware program removes everything. So far, Spybot and Ad-Aware are my favorite free tools, and I use both. I download Ad-Aware, install it, update it, run it, uninstall it, and then do the same with Spybot, 'cept because it has a nice background process, I frequently leave it on the machine.

The sysinternals tools are terrific, but they're not for casual users.

Another thing of which you should beware: a lot of spyware masquerades as anti-spyware. Be sure you vet any tool you're temped to use before you use it!

[Bandana]

Re: Spyware

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RambleOn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Be sure you vet any tool you're temped to use before you use it! </div></div>

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

is what mean vet?

[djrosen1]

Re: Spyware

Sorry. That is, verify that it's actually anti-spyware. Check it out.

Vet (definition #2)

[Bandana]

Re: Spyware

thanks [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]