by Alexander Lourenco

Created on: May 12, 2008   Last Updated: May 15, 2008

Spyware infestation has become greatly prevalent in today's world; as a computer technician, it is by far the most common problem that I fix in computers brought to me. Detecting spyware can be a frustrating and time-consuming process, as modern spyware is very adept at hiding itself from detection. Fortunately, however, following the steps below can help you determine if your computer is infected and what exactly is infecting it!

The first step in detecting spyware is to recognize its symptoms. The following symptoms are excellent indicators of whether or not your system is infected with spyware:

- Your computer is slower than normal to turn on and/or run programs
- Your Internet connection is slower than usual
- Your web browser behaves oddly or has strange settings
- Pop-up ads appear even if you are not browsing the Internet
- Your home page has changed and you don't remember changing it
- Strange add-ons or toolbars appear in your web browser that you don't remember adding

If you notice any of these then your computer might be infected with spyware. The next steps will help you to identify what spyware is on your computer and what steps you should take to remove it.

1) Download "Spybot Search & Destroy" (http://www.safer-networking.org) and "Lavasoft Adaware 2007" (http://www.lavasoftusa.com). These are both free programs that are very good at detecting and removing spyware on your computer. Also download the program "Autoruns" (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb9 63902.aspx). You'll need it later!

2)Make sure that Spybot and Adaware have the newest updates (this is usually done automatically when you install them) and then run them (Don't run them at the same time; run one and then the other after). They may or may not detect anything- if they do not detect anything, don't cheer just yet; you may still have an infection! If they do find spyware, let them clean whatever they are able to clean.

3)Once they're done, boot the computer into Safe Mode by pressing F8 before the Windows loading screen appears. Run both programs again, letting them detect and clean spyware as before.

4)Once that's done, run the "Autoruns" program you downloaded earlier. Use this program to make sure nothing suspicious is running at startup- be very careful, however, as disabling the wrong startup items may make your computer unusable! When in doubt, use Google to find out whether an entry is spyware or not. This step can be long and tedious, but it is necessary in order to ensure proper spyware detection!

5)This is the moment of truth; if Spybot and Adaware found nothing and your search in Autoruns found only legitimate programs, congratulations! You're most likely spyware free. If spyware is in fact present, however, don't worry- you're now armed with all the names of exactly what's infecting your computer. There are specific step-by-step instructions online for dealing with the more pesky forms of spyware- with this knowledge in hand, soon they'll be a thing of the past!

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