This guide is intended for Beginners to Advanced users. It explains how to remove spyware, adware, malware, and other unwanted programs that are installed on your computer.

Starting with the automated removal process, this guide gets more advanced each page. Every page ill remove certain spyware programs from your computer, and finishing this guide will remove all spyware.

You SHOULD update your computer first:

Windows Update (IE only)

Relevant Software:

Zip Genius (Free) - For opening .zip files

Ad-Aware SE (Free)

Disclaimer:

Backup any information or files before you change them. Computer Shack takes no responsibility for mis-use of this guide, or lost information from lack of backups.

Spyware Removal

Page 2: Automatic Removal Methods

Required Software (click for download page):

Ad-Aware SE Download Page (Free)

This step of the spyware and adware removal guide will walk you through how to download and install a spyware and adware scanner called Ad-Aware SE

Terms:

Spyware - Software that steals your information, and sends it to other people

Adware - Software specifially for putting advertisements on your computer

Mal-Ware - Software that intends to harm your computer and or network.

Ad-Aware - NOT ADWARE, this is a program to remove adware

Download and Install Ad-Aware:

1. Download Ad-Aware SE here (Free)

2. Install the program, and run it for the first time

3. Click the globe icon in the upper right corner of the Ad-Aware window

4. Click 'Connect' and wait for the program to update itself

Scan for Adware, Spyware, and Malware:

1. From the Ad-Aware main window, click start

2. Select the 'Perform Full Scan' option, and click Next

3. Allow Ad-Aware to scan as long as it needs

Remove Adware that Ad-Aware found (AFTER scanning):

1. When scan completes, press 'Next'

2. The next page is a list of Adware, Spyware, and Malware that are on your computer

3. Right click the checkboxes in the list, and 'Select All' and click Next

This page has shown you how to scan and remove roughly 75% of spyware programs. The effectiveness of this program will not be high unless you UPDATE AD-AWARE!

Next: Manual Removal Steps (more thorough)

Spyware Removal

Page 3: Manual Removal Methods (more thorough)

(Skill Level: Advanced)

Terms:

Registry - The 'database' where your computers settings are stored

Export - Very similar to saving, this backs up your registry data

Startup Section - The list of programs that start-up with your computer

MSConfig - A windows program that lists your startup items

Disclaimer:

Backup any information or files before you change them. Computer Shack takes no responsibility for mis-use of this guide, or lost information from lack of backups.

Check your startup items:

1. Start > Run

2. In the new box, type 'msconfig'

3. In msconfig, click the startup tab

4. Look through the items on the list, and uncheck items you DONT want starting up on your computer

What to remove from my startup items?

This step is considered an Advanced step because it requires the user to have a knowledge about assorted programs, and software producers. While looking through the list of startup items, you should uncheck any programs that are non-commercial products. For example, Virus Scanners that start with your computer-- If you have Norton Anti-Virus installed, you should keep an eye out for startup items that include things LIKE:

Symantec (Nortons company)

Norton (maker of Norton Antivirus)

Anti-Virus (obviously you dont want to remove items that contain that term).

*NOTE* - Use this guideline to look for software companies, and programs that you KNOW you want to startup with your computer.

Once you have looked through the list, and unchecked the items you DONT want to startup with your computer, you can close msconfig, and restart. When Windows starts up, it will tell you that it isnt starting up all of your programs. Click the checkbox, and click OK to have it not show you this again.

If you have removed something you shouldnt have, or if your computer is acting funny, you can always CHECK the box next to the startup items in MSconfig to add them back to your startup list.