3.6 Spyware Removal: Step by Step

In this section, you’ll find directions for using what I consider to be the top three free spyware removal tools to remove spyware. Remember, before you start these when they are on your machine, first make sure that you run the live update for them.

3.6.1  Adaware tutorial

·         During the installation process, if you want to use custom scanning options, uncheck the “open the help file now” and “perform a full system scan now.”

·         When you go to the manual updates, click on the link, or the icon at the top of the window to check for updates. It’s a good idea to update each time before you scan with Adaware.

·         Next, of course, click on connect and install updates.

·         Then click on the Gear icon.

·         Once you’re in the General Settings, change the default 14 day prompt for outdated definitions to 3 or 4 days. Why wait for new definitions?

·         Click on the scanning button to select the drives and folders you wish to scan.

·         Click on the Advanced button to check “Include environment information” then click proceed, then start.

·         Check the box for “Use Custom Scanning Options” then Next.

·         After that, click on start to begin your scan.

·         When the scan is complete, click Next.

·         In the Scanning Results window, click on “Select All Objects.”

·         If you know an entry is safe (like a Favorite or Bookmark) then uncheck the box:

·         You’ll have the option to click either the Next button or Quarantine. However, you’re almost always going to want to delete the entries, so click Next.

Then Adaware will either remove all selected items if you clicked Next or place them all in a Quarantine file if you select Quarantine. If Adaware suggests you reboot, do so. Otherwise, you’re done!

3.6.2        Spybot tutorial

1.            The Spybot S&D tutorial strongly suggests that you download Spybot S&D so that you can use the program. Don’t let the lighthearted start fool you. This is a seriously good program.

2.            You have at least four download locations from which to choose. Any one of these will do.

3.            To install Spybot, all you have to do is follow the instructions on the dialogue boxes. In fact, it’s easiest if you go with the default setting and just keep clicking on Next.

4.            After the installation has finished, the Spybot - Search & Destroy icon will be on your desktop and in your start menu. Click on it and Spybot will start.  

5.            The first time you start Spybot-S&D, it will display a Wizard, a small window to help you.  

6.            It is very important to keep up-to-date. Do the updates before you start scanning.

7.            The last page of the wizard suggest that you read the help file will ask you to read the help file.

8.            After the tutorial has finished, and you've already updated, go ahead and do the first scan.

9.            The program has a navigation bar that leads you to all functions of the program. Go to the home page and click on Check for problems.

10.       Once you have the results, look to see if you have red entries, which is spyware.

11.       Click on Fix Selected Problems and voila! They’re gone.

3.6.3        Microsoft Anti Spyware tutorial

Installing the Microsoft Anti Spyware only requires you to follow the directions given to you by the Installation Wizard. It’s as easy as that.

When installation is complete, select the check box next to Launch Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware, and then click on Finish.

Then the Setup Assistant takes you through automatic updates, real-time protection, SpyNet antispyware community and a system scan.

1.    Your first step will be the automatic updates. Naturally you’ll want this because you’ll get the latest information about spyware threats so click Yes, automatically keep Microsoft AntiSpyware updated (recommended), and then click Next.

2.    The next step allows you to turn on real-time protection for Windows AntiSpyware.  Real-time protection helps to stop most threats before they can be installed and helps to prevent any unauthorized programs from taking control of your computer. So, of course, click Yes, help keep me secure (recommended) and then click Next.

3.    The next step is to click Yes, I want to help fight spyware, then click Next.

4.    The final step is to decide whether or not you want to schedule automatic scans as well as to start the first scan of your computer.

5.    To configure Windows AntiSpyware to run a spyware scan automatically, select the box next to Run a spyware scan at whatever time you choose.

6.    The final step is to click Run Quick Scan Now.

And you’re done. Easy, fast and efficient.

3.6.4        Add/Remove Programs

You can also use the Add or Remove Programs utility in the Control Panel to remove some spyware.

The Add or Remove Programs utility in the Windows Control Panel is designed to help you easily install and uninstall programs on your computer.  You can access the utility by performing the following steps: 

Windows 2000/XP 

1.  Click the “Start” button. 

2.  Click “Control Panel.”  The “Control Panel” window opens. 

3.  Double-click the “Add or Remove Programs” icon. This icon is usually close to the top of the list, but you may have to scroll down to find it.  When you double-click it, the “Add or Remove Programs” window opens. 

Windows 98/Me 

1.  Click the “Start” button. 

2.  Point to “Settings.”  A popup menu of programs appears. 

3.  Click “Control Panel.”  The “Control Panel” window opens. 

4.  Double-click the “Add or Remove Programs” icon.  This   icon is usually close to the top of the list, but you may have to scroll down to find it.  When you double-click it, the “Add or Remove Programs” window opens. 

When the “Add or Remove Programs” window appears, the programs that are currently installed on your computer appear in the panel on the right.  You can scroll down the list of programs to see what’s there. 

Sometimes you will find a spyware program in the list.  If you select the offending program and click the “Remove” button, Windows cleans the selected program off of your computer.  The key, of course, is recognizing a program in the list as spyware.  Some of the more common spyware programs are: 

Here’s the tricky part.  Some spyware doesn’t show up in the programs list.  Even if you find a spyware program in your program list, a common technique of spyware writers is putting a dummy program in the list.  You can select and remove the dummy and it appears to be removed from your system.  Actually, the real spyware component is still in residence on your computer, quietly transmitting personal information while you think that you have removed the malicious software. 

Spyware writers are clever, and they do their best to hide their programs.  While you may be able to remove some spyware through the “Add or Remove Programs” utility, your best hope in ridding your system of spyware lies in running special spyware removal software such as Max Spyware Detector.

3.6.5        Windows Task Manager

The Windows Task Manager tells you all kinds of useful information about what’s happening on your computer, such as who is currently logged in, how much of your computer’s resources are being used at the moment, and what programs are running.  The last of these is what concerns us with respect to spyware.  Opening the Windows Task Manager is easy: 

To open the Windows Task Manager, press the [Ctrl], [Alt], and [Del] keys at the same time.  The “Windows Task Manager” window opens. 

To see what programs are running, click the “Applications” tab at the top of the window.  The main panel displays a list of the applications that are currently open.  Applications are usually programs like word processing software, e-mail programs, or other programs that you open and use.  All of the items in this list should be easily recognizable.  Because spyware programmers know that you don’t want their software running on your machine, they often hide their programs from this list.  Still, if you see an unfamiliar program name here, there’s a chance that it could be spyware.

Next, click on the “Processes” tab of the Windows Task Manager.  Doing so shows you what is most likely a much longer list, and the names probably aren’t very familiar. 

Processes are programs and parts of programs that include the programs that you start.  Windows itself runs many more processes that control various aspects of your computer. 

Unlike the “Applications” tab, spyware programmers can’t hide their wares from this list.  Everything that Windows is doing appears here, so if there’s spyware loaded, its process will be here.

Recognition of malicious processes is the key to using the Task Manager to identify spyware.  There are many processes, and it’s difficult to determine each one’s purpose by name alone.  You can look up a process on this website to find out what it is doing: 

http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/

If you determine that an application or process is spyware, you can use the Task Manager to disable the program by doing the following: 

WARNING:   Ending a regular application or process through the Windows Task Manager can cause system instability.  End applications and processes here only if you are certain that the program is spyware.

To end an application in the “Applications” tab: 

1.  Click the name of the application in the list to highlight it. 

2.  Click the “End Task” button at the bottom of the window.  The name of the application disappears from the list, indicating that it is no longer running. 

To end a process in the “Processes” tab: 

1.  Click the name of the process in the list to highlight it. 

2.  Click the “End Process” button at the bottom of the window.  The name of the process disappears from the list, indicating that it is no longer running.

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