What is Spyware and why is it
harmful to my computer?
Spyware components can change or alter your computer’s WINSOCK
configurations. This can absolutely crush your North
Carolina Wesleyan College (WESLINK) network settings, thus destroying
your computer’s ability to access the network, chat with your friends
using "Instant Messaging" applications, or surf the web.
Some indications of spyware:
- Your computer begins to operate very slowly due to software that
has secretly installed itself and is running in the background
- Pop-ups increase bombarding you with advertising
- Strange new search bars are now appear on your web browser
- Your web browser's home page is re-set to "about:blank"
- Your web browser operates slowly or crashes
- Your computer loses the ability to connect to the internet
What spyware does:
- Collects information from your
computer without your knowledge and/or consent
- Transmits a unique code to identify
you (for tracking purposes) without your knowledge and/or consent
- Collects/transmits information
about your computer use or other habits without your knowledge and/or
consent
- Installs itself on your computer
without your knowledge and/or consent
- Keeps reinstalling itself, no
matter how many times you remove it
- Performs other unwholesome duties
without your knowledge and/or consent
- Spies on your surfing habits
- Gathers personal data about you and sends it to marketing
companies
- Takes up your bandwidth
- Crashes your browser
- Bombards you with more advertising
- Secretly installs unknown software
- Opens up secret backdoors
How can I avoid Spyware?
The five main sources for spyware infection are:
- advertising banners (see below)
- music downloading software (e.g., KaZaA, Morpheus, etc.)
- pornographic web sites
- gambling web sites
- screensavers
Avoid these areas to keep your computer spyware free.
Advertising Banners: When surfing the web, have you ever
seen advertising banners (such as the examples below) that encourage you
to try their product because you will:
| receive a message, or
|
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receive a gift or win a prize, or
|
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enhance the appearance of your computer's desktop, or
|
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increase your internet surfing
speed? |
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Beware these "suspicious" claims! Avoid these at all costs! DO NOT
CLICK THESE BANNERS - EVEN TO CLOSE THEM! Usually lurking behind one of
these banners is an application seeking to install Spyware on your
computer. Once you have clicked the banner, the
installation process is irreversible.
How Do I remove Spyware from my computer?
|
STEP 1: Clear Your Cache. If you haven't recently done so, clear your cache
(the reason for clearing your cache is to avoid
wasting time needlessly scanning temporary files).
 Click the Start
button and choose Programs, Settings, Control Panel (XP users select Control
Panel). Select Internet Options.
Open Internet Options and click the "Delete Cookies..." button (Figure A
below). Next, click the "Delete Files..." button. You will be prompted to delete
all offline content (Figure B below). Check the box and click OK. This
process may take some time, depending on how recently you've deleted your cache.
Next, click the "Clear History" button. When finished, click OK and proceed to
the next step.
Figure A
Figure B
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STEP 2: Save Your Music Files
Unfortunately many applications used to download music include spyware.
Before deleting spyware from your computer you'll want to save your music
files. Programs (laden with spyware) such as KaZaA, Morpheus, LimeWire,
etc. save music files in specifically designated folders. If you remove
these programs without moving your .mp3 files, you will lose your
downloaded music.
To save your music files, click on the start menu and select search,
All files and folders and type in "*.mp3" (without the quotes) in the "All
or part of the filename" field. Be sure to search your entire C drive (or
whatever drive is your primary drive) for *.mp3 files.
Next, you must determine where you would like to store your music
files. KaZaA stores its music files in "C:\My Shared Folder." The Windows
Operating System however, stores its files in C:\ My Documents\My Music or
C:\ Documents and Settings\ your personal profile. After you've
selected the folder in which you will store your music, open "My Computer"
and navigate to your selected folder. Review your *.mp3 search and
highlight all files that are not located in your designated folder. You
may highlight more than one file by holding down the control "Ctrl" key as
you click on the file. Right click on one of these selected files and
select "Cut." Now navigate to your selected folder, right click and choose
Paste." Perform another search as outlined above to determine that you
have successfully moved all of your music files into your selected music
folder. Once you have determined that your music files are now stored in
your selected music folder, you may safely remove applications containing
spyware.
To remove known spyware, see Step 3 below.
If you desire to download .mp3 files I recommend KaZaA Lite and WinMX.
These applications do not contain spyware.
STEP 3: Remove known Spyware
Move your mouse pointer over the START
Menu, up to Settings and click on Control Panel (XP users select
START Menu and Control Panel). Double-click on the "Add/Remove
Programs" icon. Search for all known spyware components (i.e., BearShare, Bonzi Buddy, CometCursor*, KaZaA, Gator
(Claria Corporation), iMesh, LimeWire, NewNet, Offerware, WebHanser, WebShots*, etc. REMOVE these!
*NOTE: Perhaps CometCursor and WebShots do not have to be
removed. However, these applications constantly attempt to connect to
the internet, thus draining system resources. The rest
of the software listed above MUST BE REMOVED.
*NOTE: Remove WebHanser last because you will be asked to re-boot
your computer.
Download Spyware Removal Tools
| You must now download, update, and run tools designed to
specifically to remove spyware infestations. To proceed,
click here. |
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