Ad-Aware Information
What is spyware?
Spyware,
or adware, is software that installs itself without your knowledge, or
pretends to be an innocuous"media helper" program. All spyware programs
utilize your Internet connection to upload your web browsing habits to a
central database. They send out data about you and open pop-up windows to
sell you things they think you will buy. If you get enough spyware on your
computer it slows down both your computer and your internet connection.
How do you get spyware?
These spyware programs are sneaky, and are installed through web page
scripts or 3rd party installation programs (KaZaA).
When you install KaZaA or other file sharing applications you might be
asked to install a media helper program, or something sounding equally
suspicious. Don't install anything you aren't 100% sure what it does.
Follow the instructions below and we bet you'll be surprised by how
much spyware is on your computer!
Ad-aware 6.0 Download here. Then
install the program.
1. Click Start and navigate to the programs list.
2. Choose the 'Lavasoft Ad-aware 6' folder.
3. Click on the Ad-aware 6 program to run it. Here’s the window that comes up...
If you are not
online, either get online or skip steps 4 - 7
4. Click on 'Check for updates now'.
5. Click the 'Connect' button (window not shown)
6. Click the 'OK' button.
7. Click the 'Finish' button. You now have the latest reference file
for the latest spyware.
8. Click the 'Start' button to run Ad-aware.
9. Click the 'Next' button. The scan will begin.
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If spyware is found, the program will emit an
unpleasant sound and indicate that it found spyware by indicating the
number of objects in maroon. Click
the ‘Next’ button again.
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If spyware isn’t
found, the word ‘finished’ will appear below the ‘Current Operation’
header. Click the ‘Finish’ button, and ‘X’ off the window; Stop here, you
are done!
10. Right-click on a check box and choose 'Select all objects' if
they are not already selected.
11. Click the 'Next' button.
12. Click the 'OK' button.
13. Exit the program. You are done, and your computer is now spyware free.
Run Ad-aware every week or so to keep your computer clean and your
bandwidth use efficient.
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