Spybot - Your Defense Against Spyware Parasites

Spyware is a threat that anti-virus applications do not cover. Spyware usually finds its way onto computers when users visit certain Web pages (that's when the spyware secretly installs itself), or by using sharing networks like KaaZaa, GoZilla, AudioGalaxy etc. Some spyware programs attach themselves to your browser and some are completely invisible. Spyware symptoms include:

* Your computer has suddenly slowed down (not just in downloading but general performance).
* Pop-up ads appear when you're both offline & online.
* The dial-up connection box keeps appearing, even when you're already connected to the net.
* Your mailbox is filled with targeted spam; some of them even call you by name!
* An installation window pops up asking you to install Gator, FastFile, etc. etc.
* Your PC has new toolbars that you don't remember installing or your homepage constantly changes back to some site you don't intend to visit.
* Your browser contantly crashes.

To read more about Spyware, go to http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

So what can you do about it? We recommend a program called Spybot which can find and remove known spyware parasites on your computer and allow you to remove these parasites safely without damaging other programs or files on your computer. The remainder of this article will instruct you on how to install and operate the software known as Spybot.

To install Spybot, download spybotsd12.exe from http://www.hwy.com.au/downloads/Anti-Virus-Spam to your desktop. When the download is complete, close all running programs, including email, and double click the spybotsd12.exe file pn your desktop and follow these steps.

Click Next on the Welcome Screen
Click to accept the agreement and then Click Next
Click Next on the Select Destination Directory Screen
Click Next on the Select Components Screen
Click Next on the Select Start Menu Folder Screen
Uncheck the "Create a Quick Launch icon" box and then Click Next
Click Install on the Ready to Install Screen
The program will now copy files to your computer
Click Finish on the Completing the Spybot Screen

With Spybot installed, you can start it by double clicking the "Spybot _ Search & Destroy" icon on your desktop. The first time you start Spybot, you will be prompted for the language to use. Click the English icon. A window will pop up describing how removing some files from programs might disable the program. This warning is given out of courtesy and for legal reasons. If you don't want to see this message again, check the box, and click OK. Otherwise just click OK.

Before you check our computer you need to update the database that Spybot uses. This works just like antivirus software; it needs to be updated as new spyware is discovered. The only difference is that the Spybot update is a manual process. Click the Search for updates button, or the Update icon on the left. When it's finished searching you'll see the updates it found. Make sure all the update boxes are checked, and then click Download Updates. When downloading is complete, the updates are automatically applied, and the listed items will have green check marks beside them.

Now that you have the program updated, you are ready to scan your computer. Click "Search & Destroy" and then click "Check for Problems" on the bottom left of the window. The search process will take around 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the speed of your machine. When it's finished, you'll either get the message "Congratulations, No immediate threats were found" or a list of the possible spyware the program found. To remove the spyware, first make sure all the boxes are checked and then click on the "Fix selected problems" button. You'll be asked to verify that you want to remove the files. Click Yes.

When the problems are fixed, the files have been removed, each file "fix" will be verified with a green check mark. In some cases, during or after the fixing process, you may see a message that some problems couldn't be fixed. The reason is that files cannot be removed if they're running in the computer's memory. To remove them, click yes, then restart you computer. Spybot will run automatically on the restart. This recheck can take longer that the original scan, so please be patient.

Now that your computer is free of spyware, you need to keep it this way. This is why you will need to run Spybot on a regular basis; at least once a week will be fine. Since the update process is manual, you should check for updates each time you scan your computer.

The "Immunize" section attempts at preventing Spyware from installing in the future. Clicking on the "Immunize" icon brings up a message box alerting you to the need to add more protections. Click OK on the message Box. Click the "Immunize" button in the right pane to install.

For more help on how to install and use Spybot, which also includes a pictorial, please go to http://tomcoyote.org/SPYBOT/index1.php