ITServices
Queen's UniversityAdware and Spyware
Introduction
While not technically a virus , spyware/adware shares similar characteristics. They can cause your internet connection to slow down, cause pop-up advertisements, reduce your computer's performance, and transfer personal information - all without your knowledge or permission.
Spyware and Adware are small programs that tend to sneak onto your computer without you knowing they are there or what they truly do.
Spyware keeps track of your computer usage and internet browsing habits, then sends that information to a statistics gathering company.
Adware keeps track of your internet browsing habits and forces pop-up advertisements to appear on your computer.
Adware and Spyware are essentially the same thing and the names are interchangeable. They can be installed unknowingly by clicking on a “would you like to install X software now?” when visiting a website, or when installing a separate program that has the spyware/adware “packaged” with it.
These programs are devious by nature, but also cause many technical issues with computers. Many appear to be poorly programmed and often cause computers to experience serious problems. Loss of Internet connection, program crashes, loss of data, windows crashes, and slow internet, can all be caused by spyware/adware.
Spyware and Adware are small programs that tend to sneak onto your computer without you knowing they are there or what they truly do.
Spyware keeps track of your computer usage and internet browsing habits, then sends that information to a statistics gathering company.
Adware keeps track of your internet browsing habits and forces pop-up advertisements to appear on your computer.
Adware and Spyware are essentially the same thing and the names are interchangeable. They can be installed unknowingly by clicking on a “would you like to install X software now?” when visiting a website, or when installing a separate program that has the spyware/adware “packaged” with it.
These programs are devious by nature, but also cause many technical issues with computers. Many appear to be poorly programmed and often cause computers to experience serious problems. Loss of Internet connection, program crashes, loss of data, windows crashes, and slow internet, can all be caused by spyware/adware.
How do I download Spyware or Adware removal tools?
NOTE: IT Services strongly recommends that you obtain anti-spyware software to scan and remove Spyware/Adware. We also recommend that you uninstall all your insecure programs like Download Accelerator and Kazaa.
There are several programs available on the internet that will scan your computer for spyware/adware software and remove it. You can download most of them from: http://www.download.com/
ITS suggests the following programs as examples of software that you can download
- Ad-Aware by Lavasoft (the basic version is currently free) ( http://www.download.com/)
- SpyBot - Search & Destroy ( http://www.download.com/)
- Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta Version)
( http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en)
Copyright Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6 613.533.2000