How to detect spyware on your computer

by Andrew Bares

Is your computer running slower than usual? Does something seem odd or weird on your computer? Well your computer may be suffering from spyware, a electronic infection distributed through the internet, designed to extract information from your computer and just mess with your files. Of course you don't want this happening, so you need to do various things to clean up this infection.

1) Do you have virus protection software?
- If yes, go to #2
- If no, go to #5

2) What program are you using for your virus protection?
- If you are using any version of Norton, go to #3
- If you are using Microsoft Windows Live OneCare, go to #4
- If you are using any other virus protection program, use the program's help to run a SCAN.

3) Your software should automatically be running and eliminating the spyware, but you can also manually run it. First, start up the Norton program. You can double click the Norton icon at the bottom right of your screen, in the taskbar. If you cannot find it there, you can go to your start menu and locate Norton. If you cannot find Norton at all, then reinstall it, or skip to step #5. Once started, click Scan Now. Use the default settings for the scan. Once it's finished, review the results page and see if it says that it has eliminated any spyware. If it indicates that it has cleared the spyware, then you are done. If it hasn't cleared the spyware, continue onto #6 if you have Windows Vista, or #7 if you have another operating system.

4) Your software should automatically be running and eliminating the spyware, but you can also manually run it. First, start up the OneCare program. You can double click the OneCare icon at the bottom right of your screen, in the taskbar. If you cannot find it there, you can go to your start menu and locate OneCare. If you cannot find it there, then reinstall it, or skip to step #5 Once started, click "Scan for viruses and spyware". Use the default settings for the scan. Once it's finished, review the results page and see if it says that it has eliminated any spyware. If it indicates that it has cleared the spyware, then you are done. If it hasn't cleared the spyware, continue onto #6 if you have Windows Vista, or to #7 if you have another operating system.

5) You can either buy a virus protection program (I recommend Windows Live OneCare) and start back at #1, or you can download some free programs that will also work just fine. If you are running Windows Vista, go to #6. Otherwise, go to #7.

6) With Windows Vista, go to the start menu, and type in "Windows Defender" and press Enter. Then go and start a SCAN in Windows Defender. Once it's finished, examine the results and make sure it has removed the spyware. If it hasn't, continue to #7.

7) Now, you either don't have antivirus software, or your software hasn't cleared the spyware. Your next option is to download free spyware protection programs. I recommend downloading Ad-Aware, which can be found at http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2007/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10837062 where it can be downloaded for free. There is a purchase option, but it is not necessary for this. Once you install Ad-Aware, or your choice of spyware protection software, start it, and choose the SCAN option. Use the default settings, and let it run. Once it's finished, check the results page and see if that removed your spyware. If it did, then congratulations, your done! If not, then you may not have spyware, or, you may need a professional to fix your computer.

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