What to Do if Your Computer Is Infected With Spyware
Spyware is similar to a virus, in that it installs itself on your computer without your knowledge. The purpose of spyware is to watch your activity and record certain things, such as keystrokes. The recorded activity can be used to target you for advertising and to steal your identity or personal information. Spyware doesn't delete files, but instead sits quietly in the background to steal data as you type and use your computer.
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Symptoms
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Learning to recognize you have spyware is the first step to stopping and removing it. Spyware often causes sudden system performance issues. Though it may not be spyware, your system becoming suddenly slower is a good sign you have a virus or spyware. If you notice changes to your browser, such as new toolbars, homepage or favorites, you probably have spyware.
If you aren't connected to the Internet, but are seeing pop-ups, spyware is most likely the problem. Another major sign of spyware is when you try to visit one website, but are redirected to another. You may then be prevented from continuing by constant pop-ups.
Spyware Scan
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There are two ways to identify spyware. First, run a spyware scan using antispyware software. This is sometimes built into antivirus programs. Windows computers can take advantage of Windows Defender, which is free and pre-installed on many Windows systems.
The other method is to manually look through your installed programs, add-ons and toolbars. If you see anything you haven't installed, uninstall it. This includes deleting any installation files. If the spyware problem started immediately after downloading and installing a program, remove the suspicious program. Spyware is often bundled with applications such as screensavers and animated icons.
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Spyware Removal
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Once the antispyware software has identified a problem, follow the steps to quarantine or delete the spyware files. You may need to scan multiple times in order to fully remove the problem. For manual removal, uninstall toolbars and add-ons through your Internet browser's "Tools" or "Options" menu. For programs, uninstall these through the "Add/Remove Programs" section in the "Control Panel."
Preventing Spyware
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In order to prevent spyware after it's removed, never install programs you don't trust. Research programs beforehand, such as reading reviews, to see if any other users have had problems with spyware being bundled with the software. Stay away from suspicious sites with lots of pop-ups and ads. Clicking on any of these ads or pop-ups often installs spyware. Run spyware scans regularly, at least once per week, to check for and remove any problems.
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