Spyware/Adware

Not nearly as dangerous to your computer but more annoying is spyware and adware.  While most spyware and adware will not damage the data on your computer they could take that information and use it without your consent.

Whatis.com defines adware (always spelled lowercase) as any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for adware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps to hold down the cost for the user.

adware has been criticized for occasionally including code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge. This practice has been dubbed spyware and has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy advocates.

On the Internet, spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program. Data collecting programs that are installed with the user's knowledge are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared.

Spyware and Adware programs can be found in many places.  Spyware usually is installed along with other programs such as KaZaa, Limewire, iMesh or Morpheus.  Here is a short list of some common Spyware programs.

• Gator/Gain/Claria
• Spy Sheriff
• USave!
• 180SearchAssistant
• New.Net.Domain.Plugin
• BargainBuddy
• BDE
• Bonsai Buddy

Many of the problems that users see with their computer slowing down, internet being jumpy, home pages getting changed in your internet browser – most of these can be traced to some form of spyware or adware.  While spyware and adware can affect any OS, Windows users are the hardest hit.  This is due to the fact that Windows is the most widely used OS across the world.  Two programs that are good for removing this software on Windows systems are SpyBot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. Instructions for both of these programs can be found below. 

NOTE : Uninstalling adware/spyware can cause some programs to stop working, such as KaZaa.

Spybot – Search & Destroy - Download

To run the program, click "Check for problems." The program will begin scanning your hard drive.

When the scan is complete, a complete list of all the adware/spyware components in your system will be displayed. There will be checkmarks in some, but possibly not all of the boxes. You can check the unchecked boxes, and when you have checked all the components that you want to delete, click on the "Fix selected problems" button.

Upon completion, there will be green check marks beside all components that were successfully deleted. Some components may not have been deleted, especially those of programs that are currently running. If you have KaZaa open, for instance, you will notice that all ad/spyware associated with KaZaa will not have been deleted. You will be prompted to reboot your computer and scan again, but if you do this, some programs may stop working (read the NOTE above).

Ad-aware - Download

To run the program, click "start".

After the completion of the program, the "Scan complete" bar will have reached 100%, and you should click "Next".

You should place a checkmark by the items you want to delete (usually all of them, but this could potentially cause some programs to stop working, as stated above).