At a minimum, all computer users should download and run "Ad-aware" and "Spybot - Search & Destroy," free programs that scan your computer for spyware and remove it. Although these programs do basically the same thing, it is recommended using them all, as often one finds things the other missed. Use them regularly to scan your computer for spyware; how often will depend upon the web browsing habits of those who use the computer and how much spyware you find the first time you run them. For those PC's that have a lot of Spyware (or have children!), you might consider Spysweeper or Pest Control. Both are available for around $30.00 and are great products! In time Microsoft's new Spyware Program will be fine tuned enough and be available to put on your PC. There is a beta version out there now on their Website; although a promising product, there have been some networking issues after running it on some PCs here at the VBMB.

SpyBot — Search and Destroy

Installing Spybot - Search & Destroy

1. If you currently have an old version of SpyBot - Search & Destroy installed (version 1.2 or prior), uninstall it using Start - [Settings] - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs . When finished, restart your computer.
2. Download SpyBot from www.Download.com and then Searching for "Spybot". Double-click on the downloaded file, spybotsd13.exe and follow the instructions on the screen to install the program. During the installation, leave the box checked next to "Use Internet Explorer protection." At the end of the installation, leave the box checked next to "Run SpybotSD.exe" to start the program. If you get a "Compatibility warning" about having AdAware installed, check the "Do not display compatibility warnings again" box and click OK . Proceed to the next section, Configuring Spybot - Search & Destroy.

1. The first time you run SpyBot - Search & Destroy, you will see the "SpyBot-S&D Wizard." The first thing it will ask you to do is create a backup of your registry. Click the Create registry backup button to do this. When it is finished, click Next to continue (you will know that it is finished when the Next button is clickable).
2. The next thing it will ask you is to download the update files. Click the Search for updates button to do this. When the Download all available updates button becomes available, click it. When that is finished (there will be green checkmarks next to the updates), click Next to continue. Although this updating is done automatically as part of the setup process, in the future you will need to update SpyBot yourself before running it, as described in the next section, Updating Spybot - Search & Destroy.
3. Finally, it will ask you if you want to "immunize" your computer. This is a very useful feature that will warn you when spyware is about to be installed and ask you if you want to block the installation. Click the Immunize this system button to do this. When it says "Immunization has finished," click Next . Read the tutorial or help file if you wish, or start using the program.

Although SpyBot - Search & Destroy will prompt you to update it the first time you run it, you will need to remember to update it each time you use it, before beginning a scan. To do this:

1. If you use a dial-up Internet service, connect to the Internet.
2. Start Spybot - Search & Destroy ( Start - Programs - Spybot - Search & Destroy ).
3. Click on Search for updates
4. Check all of the available updates, then click on Download Updates . Wait while the program downloads the updates.
5. Once there is a check mark next to each update, proceed to the next section.

1. Start Spybot - Search & Destroy ( Start - Programs - Spybot - Search & Destroy ) and click on Search & Destroy .
2. Click on Check for problems . Wait while the program scans your computer.
3. When it finishes scanning, it will show you the items it found.
4. Choose the items you wish to remove (you can get more information by clicking on each one), or choose Select all items . Click the Fix selected problems button. Wait while the program removes the selected "problems."

Ad-Aware

Installing Ad-Aware

1. If you currently have an old version of Ad-aware installed (version 6 or prior), uninstall it using Start - [Settings] - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs .
   Note: If you have an older version of Ad-Aware, you must upgrade to the latest version because the old versions will no longer get updates, and without the updates, it will not be effective.
2. Download Ad-aware from www.snc.edu/compserv/downloads, or from www.lavasoftusa.com.
3. Double-click on the downloaded file, aawsepersonal.exe .
4. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the program. At the end, uncheck the "Open the help file now" box, but leave the other 2 boxes checked. Ad-Aware will automatically get the latest updates & begin to scan your computer.
5. While this updating and scanning is done automatically as part of the initial setup process, in the future you will need to update Ad-Aware yourself before running it, as described in the next two sections.

Although Ad-Aware will prompt you to update it the first time you run it, you will need to remember to update it each time you use it, before beginning a scan. To do this:

1. If you use a dial-up Internet service, connect to the Internet.
2. Start Ad-aware ( Start - Programs - Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal - Ad-Aware SE Personal ).
3. Click on Check for updates now .
4. Click on Connect , then click OK . Wait while the program downloads the updates. Click Finish .

1. Start Ad-aware (Start - Programs - Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal - Ad-Aware SE Personal).
2. Click the Start button.
3. Choose Perform full system scan (instead of Perform smart system scan ).
4. Click on the green checkmark next to Search for negligible risk entries to deselect it (it will change into a red X ).
5. Click Next . Wait while the program scans your computer.
6. If the computer has no spyware, it will display a message saying that no suspicious objects were detected. If you get this message, congratulations!
7. Normally, when the program finishes scanning, it will show you how many "objects" it found. Click on the Next button to see the list of all of the Critical Objects that were found (on the Critical Objects tab).
8. Right-click on one of the options and choose Select All Objects .
9. Click on the Next button. Click OK to remove the objects.
10. Once the objects have been removed, you will be returned to the main AdAware screen. Close the program.