How to Find Internet Tracking Software on My PC

Internet tracking software comes in various forms, such as key loggers, tracking cookies or spyware, and watches every website you visit. This type of software can range from being annoying to extremely dangerous, depending on what it is. If you think you have some on your computer, removing it should be a top priority. Removing Internet tracking software is not a hard process, but it is one that requires attention to detail and, at least, a basic knowledge of computer systems.

Instructions

1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode allows your computer to start without extra services or programs running, making it easier to find and remove tracking software. To restart your computer in Safe Mode, press on the "F8" key on your keyboard as it starts up. When you see the Windows Boot menu, choose the option named "Safe mode with networking."

2. Open your Internet browser once you log in to your computer, and visit an online virus scanner, such as HouseCall from Trend Micro or ESET's Online Scanner. Both of these scanners are linked in the Resource section of this article and are free for personal use. Once you open up one of these sites, you can use them to scan your computer for tracking software, and remove the software once the scan is done. After you finish the virus scan, you should download an antimalware scanner, such as Malwarebytes, which is free for personal use. Download this program from the link in the Resource section, and install it on your computer. Run a full system scan, and remove any tracking software, cookies or other types of malicious tracking programs that it finds.

3. Restart your computer, and allow it to boot up normally. Once you log back in to Windows, run another set of antivirus and antimalware scans, and see if any results are shown. If not, your computer is most likely clean, and you have nothing to worry about. To keep from getting tracking software on your PC in the future, run regular antivirus and antimalware scans on your computer, preferably everyday, but at least once per week.

References

• RemoveVirus: Virus Removal Software
• Bleeping Computer: How to Remove a Trojan, Virus, Worm, or Other Malware

Resources

• Trend Micro: HouseCall
• ESET: Online Scanner
• Malwarebytes: Anti-Malware