SPYWARE: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO I GET RID OF IT?

Has your browser acquired a mysterious new toolbar? Are new program icons suddenly appearing when you boot up your system? Do you get pop-up ads even when your browser is closed? These are some tell-tale signs that your computer is playing host to spyware.

Spyware is any software that gathers user information through your Internet connection without your knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are usually bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet, such as Kazaa, Comet Cursor and Gator. Once installed, spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and can do things such as record your browsing history, create pop-up ads, change your browser home page and even affect your PC’s performance and stability.

LTS recommends installing a spyware-removing tool such as Ad-Aware. Please contact your computing consultant if you need assistance.

Download, Install and Run Ad-aware 6 Standard Edition

• Download a copy of Ad-aware 6 Standard Edition from http://www.download.com (In the Search box, type Ad-aware and click Go)
• Ad-aware 6.0 should appear first in the results list
• Click "Download now" and save the installation file to your desktop
• Double-click aaw6.exe to begin installation.
• Accept the terms of the license agreement
• Accept the default destination folder
• Allow software to install and click Finish
• A shortcut to the program will be placed on the desktop

Launch the program and click "Check for Updates Now" to retrieve the latest spyware reference file.

Click "Connect" to contact the vendor website for updates.

Click OK to receive the latest reference file.

Click Finish when Web Update is complete.

Click Start to begin scan process.

Keep the default scan mode (smart system scan), and click Next.

When the scan is finished, click Next to review detailed results.

Ad-aware will report all instances of spyware found on your system. Click Next to proceed with the removal.

Ad-aware will ask whether you want to remove all the objects it found. Click OK.

When the quarantine and deletion of files is complete, close the program (click upper right corner "X").