Spyware - Malware - Adware - Spybots - Hijackware
- Parasite - System Monitors & key logger detection and removal service.
Spyware comes in many forms.
Typically, spyware gets installed on your computer without you realizing
it. It may be part of a program that you installed or it may install
itself as you access various web sites.
You can set detect and remove unwanted spyware.
However, in some cases, the program that installed the spyware
may not work without the spyware
installed. You should test your programs before deleting spyware
permanently.
Spyware/Adware/Malware infects 9 out of 10 Internet connected PCs and has eclipsed viruses as the #1 threat to online privacy.
The consequences of unidentified Spyware/Adware/Malware can include identity theft, computer corruption and bombardment from pop-up ads.
Spyware/Adware/Malware can easily bypass anti-virus protection by piggybacking on legitimate downloads to stealthily install on your system without your knowledge.
Spyware/Adware/Malware programs are deeply rooted applications that intertwine with core system functions to make manual removal without system disruption nearly impossible for most PC users.
"Parasite" is a shorthand term for unsolicited commercial software - that is, a program that gets installed on your computer which you never asked for, and which does something you probably do not want it to, for someone else's profit.
The parasite problem has grown enormously recently, and many millions of computers are affected. Unsolicited commercial software can typically:
 | Plague you with unwanted advertising adware |
 | Watch everything you do on-line and send information back to marketing companies spyware |
 | Add advertising links to web pages, for which the author does not get paid, and redirect the payments from affiliate-fee schemes to the makers of the software (such software is sometimes called
"scumware") |
 | Set browser home page and search settings to point to the makers' sites (generally loaded with advertising), and prevent you changing it back (homepage hijackers) or (browser
hijacking) |
 | Make your modem (analogue or ISDN) call premium-rate phone numbers ("dialers") |
 | Leave security holes allowing the makers of the software (or, in particularly bad cases, anyone at all) to download and run software on your machine;
Degrade system performance and cause errors thanks to being badly-written |
 | Provide no uninstall feature, and put its code in unexpected and hidden places to make it difficult to remove and in some cases impossible to
remove. |
There are a number of tools available that can detect and even remove
adware, spyware and malware. Some of these tools are available at a modest
price, and may offer a free trial period. Some are available free to home
users.
IMPORTANT --
These tools are NOT a substitute for a reputable, up-to-date anti-virus
program. While they may detect some types of malware, they are not
specifically designed to protect against computer viruses. Always make
sure you have an antivirus program with updated signature files running on
your computer.
Ad-Aware Standard Edition -- multicomponent detection and
removal utility. Available free to non-commercial users. http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
SpyBot-S&D -- free spyware and malware detection and removal
tool. http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php
Pest Patrol -- Commercial Spyware, Malware and Adware
scanner. http://www.pestpatrol.com
Rocky Mountain Computer Supply at www.rockymtncs.com has provided these links as a
convenience only, and assumes no responsibility for your system should you
disable your computer by using one of these programs.
If you aren't sure how to properly use this software we recommend you
seek help from a trained computer professional.
