Why is Removing Spyware Important?

Spyware is a program located on a computer that invisibly collects information without the users’ knowledge or consent. The ever changing development of the Internet means that spyware programs seem to mature and transform overnight. Sometimes referred to as a parasite, successfully removing spyware is necessary because some spyware programs, such as key loggers, collect personal information and internet surfing habits and store, report, and sell it to advertising companies. Although removing spyware can be a tedious and onerous task, it is definitely an important one.

Spyware is not a new phenomenon and removing spyware has gained popularity as adware and spyware has become one of the major security threats to both home and business computers. Computers get infected through deceptive means without the users’ knowledge. Most users unwittingly install infected software. It sometimes piggy backs on another piece of, usually free, software during installation. Occasionally, just by clicking on an unsolicited link in an instant message can cause an infection.

Determining Whether You Have Spyware

Before you can remove spyware, need to know if you have been infected, and, if so, by what type of program. There are a number of ways that you can tell if spyware has been installed on your computer. Not only do some spyware programs reduce a computer’s efficiency, but other symptoms:
• Pop up advertisements are showing up even when you are not on the Internet
• New toolbars appear on your browsers without downloading them
• Your web browser is very slow, or crashes regularly.
Many anti-virus programs now contain anti-spyware capabilities and they will send you a message if they detect spyware on your computer. If you are unsure if you spyware is installed and which program it is, your best bet is to look at the program list located in Control Panel.
If you don’t recognize anything in there, do some research to find out if it could be spyware. Once you have identified the spyware programs that are on your computer, you must research each specific piece to learn which files and registry keys to delete to remove the spyware. It is important to print out this information for later use.

How to Remove Spyware

If you find spyware on your computer, there are a series of steps you can use to delete it. First close all browser operations, including e-mail, and disconnect from the Internet. This may be as simple as physically removing the telephone cable from the back of the PC or conversely, removing the Ethernet cable or phone line from the router.
Removing spyware can be initiated by using the uninstall option on the Windows Add/Remove Programs located in the Control Panel. For Windows XP, it will be located on the left side of the pane. Within Control Panel, select Add/Remove Programs. Selecting uninstall will identify a list of programs on the PC. Spyware will appear as an unwanted program or a program that has not been formally installed by the user. It sometimes has the word bug, ware or Trojan in the title making it easier to identify and remove.

For Vista, removing spyware in this fashion is similar. Click on the Start button, and then select the Control Panel from the right hand pane. Then click on Programs and select Uninstall a Program from this menu. Locate the unwanted program and remove them from the list. For Windows 7, click on the Start button and select the Control Panel icon and follow the same steps.

Different spyware programs store their files in different locations, so using uninstall from Control Panel may not be all you need to do. At this point, refer to your earlier print-outs to learn which files must be removed from your computer. Make sure you empty the recycle bin after deleting the files.
You may also need to alter your computer’s registry, which stores files called keys that tell your computer which programs to run and when. Many forms of spyware have their own unique registry keys, and these may need to be deleted or modified to remove the software. Your previous research should give you instructions on how to modify your registry to remove the software.

Once you have removed all the spyware, reboot the computer and run a full system scan using an anti-spyware scanner. There are several products that will assist in removing spyware. Some companies offer free security programs that can be downloaded, but beware that these free programs often do not offer any technical support or guarantee to their usefulness.