Adware and Spyware

"Why is my computer so slow?"

The fastest growing threat to computer users is the invasion of spyware and adware.  I frequently get calls with one of two complaints:  "My computer is so slow I can't get any work done" or "I can't get on the internet any more".  The problem in both cases is almost always adware and spyware.

Adware and spyware are invasive or malicious programs that install themselves on your computer to serve their evil masters on the internet.  Often they are packaged with free software that is downloaded from the internet, such as file sharing software, games, and browser add-ins.  Once these programs are lodged in your system, they can do anything their creators want.  Least harmful (but most annoying), they may monitor your web browsing in order to give you targeted pop-up ads.  Much more harmful (but less obvious), they may redirect all your web traffic through foreign internet servers and scan your data for personal information, credit card numbers, etc. 

Adware and spyware are difficult to remove.  Their authors purposely make them so.  Two of the best removal tools are available on the web for free:  They are Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com) and Spybot-Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/en/home/).  I find that each of these programs removes 80 to 90 percent of the spyware on an infected system.  Used together they'll get rid of about 95% of the adware and spyware.  The remaining 5% must be removed by hand or with other software tools.  A word of caution:  Beware of programs with similar names -- some programs that appear to be spyware removers actually install their own spyware! 

Your best defense is a combination of vigilance and skepticism.  Just as you wouldn't invite strangers into your house, don't invite strange software onto your computer.  Youngster and teens are especially susceptible to seemingly cool or "cutesy" programs, so agree on a computer use policy with them. 

• Spyware watches where you surf, By Janet Kornblum, USA TODAY
• Privacy, Advertising Groups Target Spyware, By Terry Costlow, Distributed Systems Online