Firstly, I should say prevention is better than the cure and what I mean by that is make sure you have some spyware removal software from the start and of course other security software such as firewall and anti-virus.
Always and I mean always update the operating systems since this is the first line for defence for most people. If you see that gold shield icon on the right hand side it is usually telling you that updates are available from Microsoft then please install them. (
They are there to patch security holes in the OS or to improve the OS in some way) please do not ignore them.
Many Anti-virus software tend not to pick up spyware but again keep it updated and run it at regular intervals just to make sure, it is another weapon in your arsenal.
Spyware tools have developed into a field of it own over recent years and it not hard to know why considering that there is so much spyware or ad ware out there. One of the best-known and free tools around has to be spybot search and destroy. This little gem as it name suggests can destroy and remove most if not all malware related programs.
A firewall, if you have one installed is the first line of defence against a host of Internet security problems. Why? I here you ask well the main reason is this if and when spyware or a rogue program does get in to your computer by either downloading software or other means then this should stop them getting back out or you will be at least warned about the program requiring internet access. This is important since malware is usually trying either to gain something from your computer such information about you as surfing habits or to trying to make you buy some doggy software and if you are unlucky making you part of a zombie bot network. When an unknown and in some case a known program needs Internet access through your firewall your firewall will alert you and if you read the security alert properly you can decide to let it out or not. This, if done properly can stop the spyware getting out and downloading even more harmful programs and viruses. Another thing you could do is look at the program list within the firewall program and look for anything suspicious and if you do not recognise the program, type the name into Google and see what it says.
Tips on using Spybot search and destroy software
When installing spybot search and destroy un-tick the check box that says, include tea timer. Although this is a useful program, it will soon get on your nerves and you will end up uninstalling the software, since it monitors every registry change with in the computer.
Always update the software before a scan to make sure you have the latest database. Spybot search and destroy will not scan the computer unless you tell it to, so make sure you scan often.
Finally yet importantly, spyware or ad-ware removal tools only remove the spyware that causes the problem and in some case, this does not fix the computer since it is hard to tell what damage the spyware has actually done to the operating system.
Therefore, if you are still having performance or security related problems then a full system wipe is the only way to be sure that the computer in question is not still infected.
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