Adware and Spyware have become a major problem on our users systems and just about every other computer network in the world! They have now become a major hazard for computer users.
Windows XP and Internet Explorer (with Outlook Express as email client) are especially vulnerable due to the use of Active-X and other technologies that can be used by these programs.
An Article in the Denver post talks about Browser Hijacking and gives some tips.
Almost every day, I read articles about Spyware and Adware. Two Associated press articles are linked below:
Users Often Invite Spyware Trouble
Sneaky Spyware Becomes Scourge of Internet
If you are running windows and have been using internet explorer, I can guarantee you have some form of spyware or adware on your machine.
What can you do?
1. Switch to another browser. I personally recommend Mozilla which is the follow-on the Netscape. It is open source and typically problems found are corrected very quickly.
2. Load programs to find and remove adware and spyware. Note that these are different types of software and some programs do better on one or the other. Two programs we have been using that are freeware are ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. Some commercial programs are starting to incorporate anti adware and spyware into their software.
3. Watch out for any emails or web pages trying to get you to download software. many of these are trying to get you to download software damaging to your computer.
4. Get an Apple Macintosh as your next computer :-) Apple computers are not susceptible to the types of viruses, adware and spyware attacking windows machines. Here are links to Apple computer and to a good mail order house. In Colorado, Apple has two retail stores, in Denver at Cherry Creek and in Littleton at Aspen Grove. The people at these stores can answer all your questions!
email info being sent to high speed users with download sites and more info:
Download the latest versions of Spybot and Adaware. I am sending you to a web page with links to downloading both programs and others discussed below.
http://grandcountyinternet.com/ad-spyware/downloads.html
Once you have downloaded the programs, you need to install them. In the installation you can just choose the standard options except in Spybot, I recommend installing teatime for windows also. It gives added protection.
Once installed you will want to run each program.
Adaware:
When adaware opens click on the check for updates now. That will
start a new window, click on connect. When it comes up with new
updates available click ok to Download and install this file.
When it is complete click finish.
Then click to start scanning. Choose perform full system scan and click Next. It will now start scanning. When it is done, click Next, you will see everything it has found. You will want to quaranteen anything it finds so check them all off. If it finds a lot of items, right click on one and you can choose to select all items. Then click next. It will tell you items will be removed so click okay. If it found a lot of items, you should rerun it, until it finds no items.
Spybot:
When you first run Spybot, you will want to search for updates,
When it finds updates install them all. Then click on Immunize
and it will load all these into real time protection. Then run
Search and Destroy and click on Check for problems. The first
time it will find some or a lot, I can almost guarantee it. You
will want to fix all problems. Rerun the program until it does
not find any problems. Some spyware is very difficult to get
rid of.
After your next computer restart run both programs again. If the same spyware or adware continues to appear, you may have to boot in safe mode and run both programs.
Both Programs have a very good help manuals. It does not hurt to take a look at them. Note there is some very bad spyware out there and it cannot be removed thru these programs. Some of it requires professional removal and can get very expensive.
AVG Antivirus is free Antivirus software This version has gotten some pretty good reviews and does have a reasonably priced commercial version with multi computer licenses which mainly gives you technicals support.
Also to help eliminate infection, use Internet explorer as little as possible. Most bad software is designed to take advantage of Internet Explorer and also Outlook Express. We have be recommending alternates for years. Firefox (browser), Thunderbird(email), or Mozilla(combined browser/email), or SeaMonkey (Mozilla follow-on) are excellent alternates.
Also keep your Operating system up to date, especially Windows XP. Microsoft has stopped supporting all earlier versions of it's operating system as of last week. This means new updates to fix holes in those systems will not be coming anymore. In Windows XP go to control panels and Windows updates. You can set many different types of automatic updates or do it manually. With a fast connection, there is no reason not to get up to date immediately and stay up to date. Microsoft releases Windows XP updates the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
I know this sounds like a lot of work. But if your system is protected and you regularly scan you computer and download updates you can save yourself hundreds of dollars in professional help later. With a fast connection these updates take minutes and can happen while you are doing other things on your computer.
New computer in your future? Look at the new Apple computers with Intel processors. They can run Windows, Linux, in addition to Macintosh software. Macintosh software is very secure and users do not spend a lot of money on anti-virus, spyware or adware removal because there is none! I run everything in my office from Apple computers and have for over 22 years. All new Apple computers come with just about any software, and the hardware interfaces you will ever need. I do not make a commission but used to sell Apple in the good old days. But I do have a personal involvement, My support time for Apple computers Internet users is almost nothing.
Eden
Eden Recor
Grand County Internet Services
970-627-0034