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Signs of Spyware
Published: January 5, 2005
If your computer starts to behave strangely or displays any of the symptoms listed below, you may have spyware or other unwanted software installed on your computer.
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I see pop-up advertisements all the time. Some unwanted software will bombard you with pop-up ads that aren't related to a particular Web site you're visiting. These ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable. If you see pop-up ads as soon as you turn on your computer or when you're not even browsing the Web, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer. |
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My settings have changed and I can't change them back to the way they were. Some unwanted software has the ability to change your home page or search page settings. This means that the page that opens first when you start your Internet browser or the page that appears when you select "search" may be pages that you do not recognize. Even if you know how to adjust these settings, you may find that they revert back every time you restart your computer. |
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My Web browser contains additional components that I don't remember downloading. Spyware and other unwanted software can add additional toolbars to your Web browser that you don't want or need. Even if you know how to remove these toolbars, they may return each time you restart your computer. |
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My computer seems sluggish. Spyware and other unwanted software are not necessarily designed to be efficient. The resources these programs use to track your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer and errors in the software can make your computer crash. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine. |
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What you can do about spyware and other unwanted software
How to get rid of spyware
Published: January 5, 2005
Many kinds of unwanted software, including spyware, are designed to be difficult to remove. If you try to uninstall this software like any other program, you might find that the program reappears as soon as you restart your computer. If you're having trouble uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to download a tool to do the job for you. Several companies offer free and low-cost software that will check your computer for spyware and other unwanted software and help you remove it.
Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) include anti-spyware software in their service packages. Check with your ISP to see if they can recommend or provide a tool. If your ISP doesn't offer a removal tool for spyware and other unwanted software, ask people you trust to recommend one, or see the list below for a few well-known tools. Keep in mind that removing unwanted software with these tools may mean you will no longer be able to use a free program that came with the spyware.
To remove spyware
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Run the tool to scan your computer for spyware and other unwanted software. |
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Review the files discovered by the tool for spyware and other unwanted software. |
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Select suspicious files for removal by following the tool's instructions. |
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More support
You can also read the Microsoft Help and Support article Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software to learn more symptoms of a spyware infection and get advice on other ways to remove spyware and other unwanted software from your computer. |
The links below will take you to some needed tools that will help to keep your computer safe and secure.
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