Adware & Spyware Information Resource Center

What is it....
     Webster's dictionary defines Spyware as: "any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes."
     A Google search reveals Spyware as: "A general term for a program that surreptitiously monitors your actions. While they are sometimes sinister, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use Spyware to gather data about customers. The practice is generally frowned upon"
     Another Google result says: "This is also known as "Adware". It is a hidden software program that transmits user information via the Internet to advertisers in exchange for free downloaded software"
     Some believe that Adware simply generates random advertisements, while Spyware monitors your actions  to collect specific data for advertisements, which are more likely to get a response from the user. Adware and Spyware are more commonly getting lumped into a new category named Malware (for malicious ware). Anyway you look at it, it is unwanted, unnecessary, and (as we will learn later), sometimes harmful and costly.
How did I get it....
     The very first thing to understand about those annoying little pop-up boxes is where they originate from.  Some websites use built in pop-ups for advertising. These ads will generally appear through no fault of your own. You can go to www.nbc.com for a good example of this. For the most part, this type of pop-up is as harmless as billboards on the interstate. After you leave the site, the pop up is gone. 
     This brings us to the second source of pop-up boxes. These are the ones which cause the most problems for you as the user. At some time, you either searched for, or got suckered into, downloading a file from the internet. This program could have been as harmless (seemingly), as a new background for your computer, some cool screensavers, or maybe even a weather toolbar so you can keep track of what's going on outside. So you downloaded the file, accepted the license agreement (which nobody reads anyway), and installed the software program. Now you are looking at that neat screen saver, pretty background, or 18" inches of snow heading your way. Regardless, you are probably pretty proud of yourself right now. You managed to get through the install and reap the fruits of your labor. Congratulations, you have just started the clock on the ticking time bomb that may have your computer, eventually, on the service counter at your local computer shop. The best case is that it costs you some money for labor. The worst case is that you will have your computer rebuilt and have to start from scratch. You did perform nightly backups right? Congratulations, you did this to yourself. 
     Okay, maybe I was a little dramatic there, but its for your own good. I should clarify that not all software downloads are bad. I will actually recommend later in this document that you download a handful of programs to protect yourself, but first things first. 
What does it do to my computer....
     In the best of cases, having Adware installed on your machine will likely be an annoyance more than anything. You may notice little things like your homepage constantly changing, or more pop-ups than normal. Most people simply work through it thinking that it is just the internet and not their computer. I know some users who have actually changed internet providers only to find out that the problem didn't go away. The only thing they got was typing practice as they try to notify everyone of their new email address.
     In more severe cases, you may not even be able to work on the internet. As soon as you connect, you begin to get bombarded with ads. It is possible that sensitive personal data is being recorded at this level. If the problem is dealt with at this point, it is possible to correct the issue by removing the offending programs and get on with your life.
     In the absolute worst cases, the computer will not run at all. You turn it on and windows attempts to load but you will never get control of your computer before it locks up. You can turn it on and off a hundred times but the problem remains. At this point you will need to seek professional help. I usually recommend these systems be backed up, completely erased, and then rebuilt. Experience has taught me that although its possible to clean these machines, the problems will return within a month or so. Your money is better spent on fixing it right the first time.
Cleaning up your system....
     For the savvy user, the first thing I recommend is to uninstall any suspicious software from your computer.  Go into the Control Panel and select the Add/Remove Programs icon. You will receive a list of all (reputable) software installed on your computer. If you aren't sure what the software listed is for,  your better off leaving it installed. You may actually remove programs that will not allow your computer to function properly.
     The next option is to get some help, in the form of software. I recommend Safer Networking Limited's "Spybot - Search & Destroy" program. This useful tool will help you remove harmful programs, as well as provide a measure of protection against future "infections" with it's immunize feature. As with anti-virus software, you will need to update this program constantly in order to detect the latest threats to your computer. You can learn more about their product and get the free download here. 
     Another favorite software package of mine is "Adaware" by Lavasoft. Adaware uses a different type of scanning engine than Spybot and the two really compliment each other well. It is very rare that I cannot clean a system completely using a combination of these utilities. You can get their software and more information on Adaware from their site. Their personal edition is free, but they also offer a more full featured product with purchase. As with Spybot, this program needs updating to work at peak performance.
     Now a word to the wise, or unwise as the case may be. Obviously this type of problem is of growing concern. Certainly many of the issues I address on a daily basis have to do with some form of malware. This being said, there are numerous other programs available which claim to clean your system. Some may actually work while others simply replace one companies advertisements with their own. Use caution when selecting a removal tool so that you do not trade one evil for another.
Protect yourself....
     Lets get back the the scenario above to see what went wrong. Unfortunately there is no secret way to know what software is okay to download and which is not. The best you can do is stick to reputable sites and hope for the best. But you can READ THAT LICENSE AGREEMENT before the installation actually starts. I know that is some really crappy stuff to put you through, but its for the best. I cannot tell you how many times I have searched out some holiday themed screen savers only to notice in the license agreement a "catch." It usually goes something like: In order to keep this software free for distribution, you accept the installation of other useful software. Its typically a lot wordier than that, but you get the point. The software is never actually named, nor are you informed of how it is to be of use. You can be sure however, that you will never know of its installation. Seeing something like that in the license agreement should be enough for you to stop the installation, and delete the downloaded file. Is that piece of eye-candy really worth the problems it is bound to cause?
     As we have already learned, your first line of defense is to read that license agreement before you actually install anything. Most people assume that they already know what it says, even though they have never read a single one. Make this a habit and your problems will become significantly fewer.
     If you are lucky enough to have a computer with Windows XP installed on it, you should download service pack 2 for windows as soon as possible. You can find it here or by opening Internet Explorer, clicking on tools, and then windows updates. Windows latest service pack goes a long way to stopping active-x scripts and pop-ups. Ensuring that you have all the latest windows updates will help you avoid other problems such as viruses, and buggy software performance. Microsoft has also release it's own AntiSpyware program which you can find here. This program will run in the system tray and alert you to any issues which may arise. It also has the capability to remove any items which may have slipped through.
     Another program which I like a lot is Spyware Blaster made by Javacool Software. Visit their site to learn more about their outstanding product as well as to download their software. This product is first rate in its ability to avoid getting "infected" in the first place. It does not, however, provide any means to remove the programs if they are already installed on your computer. See the section above on cleaning up your system for software better suited to that task.
Conclusion....
     Malware is a growing problem not only on home user computers, but business machines as well. In my experience, it has outgrown viruses tenfold. Knowledge and vigilance will help keep your computer clean and running smoothly until your ready to replace it. Always read that license agreement. I hope that this information will help keep you cruising smoothly along the information superhighway.

Kevin Simmons
Technical Support Staff
Computer Support