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Spyware and Adware

The evil twins

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Doing battle with badware

When you download and install software onto your computer, other applications may creep into your system as add-ons, without your knowledge.

Like viruses, these adware and spyware programs can sneak onto your hard drive with little or no warning, and hide their tracks in ways that make it difficult for even the most sophisticated computer users to find and delete permanently.

Along with keyloggers and usage trackers, adware and spyware are generally known as "badware" or "malware." Most of these programs snoop on your Internet browsing activity, redirect your computer to specific Websites, flood you with pop-up advertisements, or record your keystrokes -- which could lead to identity theft.

Ew! What is this stuff? And how bad is it?

Adware is rarely malicious, but it can be a nuisance, sending annoying pop-ups supposedly "tailored" to your interests. (You're more likely to be interested in getting rid of this irritating software, however).

Spyware may use your Internet connection to send personally identifiable information about you to a collecting device on the Internet. It is often packaged with software that you download voluntarily, so that even if you remove the downloaded program later, the spyware may remain. (And if you remove the spyware, the downloaded program may no longer work correctly). Spyware, too, can be a nuisance, and many people feel it invades their privacy.

Gather enough of these unwanted add-ons, and they compete with other applications for Internet bandwidth or processor cycles, slowing down your computer significantly. Over time, performance can be so degraded that you may have trouble working productively.

What's more, these intrusive applications can invade your privacy by sending information about you to strangers. They can even render your computer vulnerable to attack.

Am I infected?

Clues that your computer has been infected with malware include:

A barrage of pop-up ads
A browser that has been "hijacked" -- that is, it repeatedly takes you to Websites other than those you direct it to
A sudden change in your computer’s Internet home page
New and unexpected toolbars or icons on the system tray at the bottom of your Windows screen
Keys that suddenly stop working (for example, a “Tab” key that might not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)
Random error messages
Sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs or saving files

How did I get infected in the first place?

If you don't take the proper precautions, you will probably be infected. You're particularly at risk if you...

... install freeware programs or "peer-to-peer" (P2P) file-sharing programs like Grokster, Kazaa, iMesh, Ares, Limewire and others.
... use an out-of-date version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. (You should be using at least IE 6 -- or use Firefox instead!)
... allow Internet Explorer to run ActiveX controls. (Turn it off.)
... skip installing the latest security fixes from Microsoft. (Scan your computer for updates now!)
... skip running spyware scans -- maybe because it's a hassle or you're not sure what you're doing.

If any of those apply to you, your computer is probably infected with badware. So what do you do now?

Well, first, get rid of the infestation. And second, use safer habits on the Internet!

How to get rid of the malware

Ready to do battle? First, make sure your operating system and Internet browser are up-to-date with all security patches. (Microsoft users, check here for updates. Mac OS X users, open System Preferences and select the icon for "Software Update.")

Second, use a malware removal tool. Ideally, such a tool should detect intrusions, enable you to clean unwanted applications from your computer, and protect your computer from targeted installations. Some tools cover all three of these, others focus on only one phase -- so consider your needs before you download these tools.

Removal tools you can use

Following is a list of some of the cleanup tools available -- many free or at very low cost:

What to do during your cleanup session

Be sure you review the "Warning" below before you get started. And then read the tutorial that accompanies your removal tool.

Remember, no single detection/removal program catches all spyware and adware, so you might want to run a couple different cleanup programs, one after the other, in a single session. Sometimes more than one pass is necessary to remove all the unwanted material.

If you're still infested...

If you have been gathering spyware and adware for a long time, you may not be able to clean all such programs from your computer. Unfortunately, the only sure method of removing all malware is wiping the hard drive clean and re-formatting the computer. Needless to say, that's probably not a happy scenario for you -- but it may be the only solution if your infestation is too far advanced.

If it is necessary for you to reformat and reinstall your operating system from scratch, just remember to back up your important files first.

Warning before using cleanup tools

Use adware and spyware removal programs with caution. Many cleanup tools can remove legitimate system files your computer needs to run effectively. You must decide whether or not action is needed when a removal tool finds a application or file that it thinks is suspicious.

So if you are unsure whether a file is critical for your system, use Google to search for information on the file by name before you delete it. It is up to you not to allow removal of files that are needed by your computer's operating system.

Keep the following points in mind when you use removal tools:

No single detection/removal program catches all spyware and adware -- use a couple different programs in tandem with each other.
Before you use a malware removal tool, read its tutorial first;
Run the tool just to see what is found, without removing anything; and then, before you click "delete,"
Search Google for information about files identified by your removal tool. Some of them could be essential for your computer!

Tips to protect yourself in the future

Once you've gotten rid of badware, you can keep it from coming back by adjusting your Internet habits. From now on, try sticking to these strategies:

Update and run adware and spyware removal and protection tools. Do this regularly (at least once a week) to keep yourself from getting infected again, and clean up what's already there.
Make sure your operating system and Internet browser are up-to-date with all security patches. Configure your operating system so it checks for updates automatically. (Microsoft users, check here. Mac OS X users, open System Preferences and select the icon for "Software Update" -- it should be set to check automatically every week).
Think before you click. Don't click links in emails, Instant Messages (IMs), and online advertisements. Download free software only from sites you know and trust, and don’t install any software without knowing exactly what it does.
Read through the license agreement (EULA) before installing unfamiliar software. Yes, it's a pain. But if you can't find or can't understand the EULA, think twice before proceeding: the program's creator may be trying to hide something from you.
Don’t click on any links within pop-up windows. Even if the pop-up asks you if you'd like to "prevent pop-ups like this" in the future! Pop-up links often install adware, which brings more pop-ups. Thankfully, most recent browsers can be configured to suppress pop-up windows.
Don’t click on links in unsolicited emails that claim to offer anti-spyware software. Many such messages contain links that actually install spyware onto your computer!
Install a personal firewall to stop uninvited users from accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your computer is sending information out.