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Spyware, Adware and Browser Hijack Info

The following information is provided as a service by Central Tech Solutions. Please view our Terms of Use before proceeding.

What exactly is Spyware, Adware, Keystroke Loggers and Browser Hijacks?

	From PC Magazine - Keep your PC Safe and Spyware - It's Lurking on your Machine
	From Spyware Removal Tools - What is Spyware, How Does Spyware Affect my Computer, How can Spyware Infect my Computer, How Can I Avoid Getting Infected with Spyware
	Visit Spyware Info for more information about Spyware.
	Find out what a browser hijack is all about here.

How should I protect my computer?

Before trying to remove spyware/adware there are several things you should do first.

	Read the PC Magazine article - Security Checklist
	Run your Microsoft updates.
	Delete all file sharing products like Kazaa, Grokster, LimeWire, BearShare and Morpheus. The User Agreement you clicked OK on gives them permission to put spyware on your PC.
	Make sure your virus software is up-to-date with the latest data files and run a full scan on your PC. If you don't have virus software try AVG's free version. You should set your virus software to download data files and scan your PC on a daily basis.
	Backup your important files (Word & Excel documents, Quickbooks or Peachtree data, Email and address book files, etc.). A great way to do this is to purchase a jump drive like one of these.
	If you have broadband access you should have a router installed between the modem and your PC (see diagram of where it fits). If you do not have a router you should install a software firewall on your PC (Symantec, McAfee, Zone Alarm are a few good ones). If you have more than one PC in your office or home you should be aware that installing a software firewall could stop you from sharing files with other PCs.
	You can also test your vulnerability to the outside world with Shields Up.
	Download and run Belarc Advisor then print out your system configuration. When you have your system as clean as it can possibly get, run Belarc again, print out the configuration and mark it as "clean". When you suspect something may be wrong with your system run Belarc and compare the results with your "clean" configuration.

How do I get rid of the pests?

When you have completed the above steps you are ready to start cleaning your PC. You may or may not need to use all of these programs. If you run all of the below and still have problems please call us at 812-376-8675.

	Run Counterspy - try it free for 15 days.
	Download and run Ad Aware. Always select the option to check for updates before running Ad Aware. Run at least once a week or whenever you think you have been infected.
	Download and run Spy-Bot Search and Destroy. This software is free but you can make a donation to them to help keep this software free.
	For Browser Hijacks (read this to see what a browser hijack is) the best place to go is the Merjin site. Scroll down to "Official Downloads" and download Hijack This and CWShredder. Browser Hijacks are without doubt the most difficult to remove and many times the computer's operating system will need to be rebuilt in order to get rid of the hijack. The worst of these is the Cool Web Search hijack. Read about it here.