Virus Centre
Do you have spyware?
Do you have Internet Explorer toolbars or has your home page changed? You may have spyware. Please be aware that virus software will not detect spyware - please see below for information on how to remove spyware.
If you have any of the following symptoms on your PC, you may have spyware:
When you start your computer, or when your computer has been idle for many minutes, your Internet browser opens to display Web site advertisements.
When you use your browser to view Web sites, other instances of your browser open to display Web site advertisements.
Your Web browser's home page unexpectedly changes.
Web pages are unexpectedly added to your Favorites folder.
New toolbars are unexpectedly added to your Web browser.
How to Remove Spyware:
1) Remove programs using Add or Remove Programs
2) Run Ad-Ware
How to protect yourself in future:
1) Install Windows XP SP2 - instructions
2) Be Careful about the websites you visit
In order
to minimise the chances or getting spyware installed on your PC, extech recommends the following as good practice when using the internet:
- Only visit sites you know and trust
- Never install anything from a site, unless you know exactly what it is. Gambling, download sites etc are almost certain to cause you problems.
- Install Windows XP SP2 as this prevents programs from installing from websites.
