Protecting Yourself & Your Computer
Adware & Spyware FAQ
What are adware and spyware?
The following definitions are from http://www.adware.info:
Adware: Any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running.
Spyware: Software that transmits information back to a third party without notifying the user.
Why are they bad?
First, adware and spyware are programs that were installed on your computer without your consent.
Second, adware & spyware take control of your computer away from you. The most obvious example is browser hijacking - when you attempt to visit a website and the software redirects you to a different site (often one run by the adware/spyware maker). In some cases, they'll even launch your web browser when you're doing something else (like typing up a paper in Word).
Third, some spyware includes keyboard loggers - software that keeps track of your every keystroke and sends it to a third party. Thus, spyware can make your protected information available to a host of malicious ne'er-do-wells.
Even if the above reasons don't apply to you, adware and spyware still use your machine's resources. This can bog down everyday tasks such as websurfing and playing games. Over time, enough adware and spyware will accumulate to turn the most extreme machine into an unusable slug.
How do I remove existing adware/spyware from my machine?
WCTS maintains links to several tools which can be used to remove adware and spyware from your machine. Two of the best are Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy. Note that no individual tool finds all adware/spyware - you should install and run at least two.
How can I keep my machine adware/spyware free?
One of the best ways to prevent adware & spyware from re-infesting your machine is to avoid using Internet Explorer. IE is tightly integrated with the Windows operating system - it's this integration that allows "black hats" to install adware/spyware on your machine just by visiting a web site. And regardless of which OS you use, Microsoft has a history of leaving known IE vulnerabilities unfixed - sometimes for months.
One alternate browser is Firefox from Mozilla. It's free and available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Another option is Opera. It's not free, but there is a student discount. It's also available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux (among others).
For Mac users, the default browser Safari is included with Mac OS X.
Note that some websites (i.e. online banking sites and windowsupdate.microsoft.com) will not work with browsers other than IE.
Also, remember the anti-spyware tools mentioned in the answer above? Once you've cleaned up your machine, don't just let them sit there - use them! You should run them at least once a month (preferably once a week). This will help prevent adware/spyware from building up to the point that your machine requires a complete rebuild. Also, some software you download/install (particularly peer-to-peer filesharing apps such as KaZaa) include adware/spyware in the installation (all the more reason to run your anti-spyware tools frequently).
Spybot Search & Destroy also includes a tool called a "TeaTimer". This "TeaTimer" is just a process that monitors your registry settings. When it detects something trying to change your registry settings, it blocks the change and notifies you. It then gives you the option to allow the change or to deny it. This prevents adware/spyware from modifying your system's registry (commonly used to launch adware/spyware programs automatically whenever the computer starts, i.e. after a reboot).
Finally, run a personal firewall on your machine. While it won't necessarily prevent adware/spyware from being installed, it can make it harder for spyware to send your personal information across the Internet.
But I need/want to use Internet Explorer. How can I avoid adware/spyware while using IE?
Make sure IE and your OS are fully patched. You should patch your machine (i.e. by visiting windowsupdate.microsoft.com) several times a month.
Consider cranking up the security settings of Internet Explorer. In Tools -> Internet Options, select the Security tab. Make sure the Internet zone is selected and then click Custom Level. You can tweak the settings individually or simply set them to "High". If you visit a site you know and trust that used to work but no longer does, simply add that site to your Trusted Sites zone. Also, the latest versions of IE include a popup blocker. Make sure it's enabled by going to Tools -> Internet Options and selecting the Privacy tab. You can click the Settings button to add sites which should be allowed to open pop-ups.
If you continue to use IE, then the items listed in the answer above (such as running your installed anti-spyware tools often and using a personal firewall) become even more important.
If you have any further questions about adware, spyware, and how to avoid them, feel free to call the WCTS Helpdesk at x4976.