Spyware

Has your computer slowed down?  Robert Morris School as well as other schools are now facing a battle with POP-UP ad programs and spyware programs.  These computer programs seem to take-over your PC with POP-UP advertisements even though you are not visiting any sites. .  Kazaa is one of the programs that adds lots of spyware on your PC.   Thought Kazza was free! Well the spyware is what pays for that program.  These programs, running in the background, watch where you go and the places you visit.  They send that information to places that use the date to find out what people are searching for.  The company then pays the site for that kind of information.  With the addition of XP computers in 2003, students login and only have "user" ability on that PC.  That feature has stopped the infection of spyware dead in it's tracks.  Something discussed in the Anti-virus page.  Without the ability to change the registry, spyware is unable to run or install.

I hate to say it, but if children do not need access to system files, since Windows XP to Win7 you have the ability to create a "limited user" profile as I do in the school.  They are limited accounts and can't add, delete or add spyware/malware to other users.  Should that "account" have a problem.  Just login under a full user account, delete that account, reboot and re-create it as a limited account.  That delete the offending temp files.

UPDATE NOTE: 2011  The spyware problem is still here but certain program upgrades have helped.  Vista and Win7 that is fully patched now has an anti-program startup. Some of these spyware/mailware programs get into your system and start when the computer starts keeping you from removing it.  That update is suppose to prevent that from happening.  One of them is the famous "fake spyware program" that says you are infected and you can't do anything else with the computer. 
AVG anti-virus has a Boot Disk you can download and burn to boot your PC from that CD and check and remove viruses. There are other companies that have created similar programs.  This is using a UNIX program (the other free Operating System) that runs the program so no Windows program starts hence no spyware/malware can start.  Just a warning, these program take many hours to run and you have to choose selections to delete the offending files.   Finding a way to "boot" off a CD can be challenging.  Usually a PC is set to "boot" off a CD, sometimes you have to press a key to boot from a CD.

UPDATE NOTE:  I visited a senior citizen that is coming to Robert Morris for some "computer education" through a grant.   Believing here computer was infested with spyware due to a long startup time I visited her home.  I discovered her newer 2.66 Ghz computer had 128 Megs of memory and she uses AOL.  As any tech person knows AOL installs a load of software when you start the PC.  I checked for spyware, finding none I showed her the 10+ programs AOL must load before it starts.  Adding a 256 Megs or 512 Meg memory chip would surely help any AOL user with just 128 Megs of memory on an XP computer.  UPDATE - June 2006.  That senior citizen purchased Verizon DSL for her home.  When she removed the AOL from her computer, she stated it ran much faster without all those programs.

There are two program available to rid your computer of spyware, created by frustrated computer users who had the same problem.  These can rid your computer of these program that strain your computer and slow it down. 
UPDATE NOTE:  There are MANY spyware removal programs, many are actually spyware themselves.  They remove the "competition" and keep their program running.  Usually stating to use their "hotbar" for safe searching.  This just sends your searches to their company.  

UPDATE NOTE:  If you are having a screen pop-up displaying some "spyware protection - you have spyware" and it's running some program.   It's a fake.  Again Spyware Blaster would have prevented you from getting this.   Basically it's a small program added to a "startup" folder to run when you start the program.  Spyware programs may not find it.  Search the web for ways to find the folder it is hiding in.   In "Safe Mode" you can go to Control Panel, and Folder Options and choose "show hidden folders".
Burried in your C: - Docs and Settings - either "all users" or check each "user folder" - then Application Data (hidden) a strange program name may appear with random numbers and letters.  Delete it.  Or under a User - Start Menu - Programs - Startup - look for a strange file there.  Don't delete "desktop.ini", that's how your desktop is arranged.
Basically it's a program that starts automatically and when running, shuts down services to eliminate your ability to remove it.  So Safe Mode is the way to go.
Many spyware programs miss this one.

Free AntiVirus - AVG (Free) and Avast (free) versions.  I'm starting to like Avast, it does spyware and checks your E-mail.

Spyware protection.  Using one of the above and Spyware Blaster (www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html) should eliminate web sites from automatically installing programs on your computers.   Choose the MANUAL download (free version).  Once a week update the program and click the Protection Status (top left) - then Enable All Protection (bottom).  You should then see (0 items have  protection disabled)

Malwarebytes - www.malwarebytes.org/   Another Very good program.

The best program is called SpyBot is available for free at www.safer-networking.org.  (Warning: other sites use similar web names !  This is the correct link ) Once the program is downloaded it needs to be updated.   Go to the UPDATES on the bottom left of the program.  One trick is, after you look for updated, look for the drop-down arrow for “MIRROR SITES” and make sure you choose the USA update site.  START YOUR PC IN SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING.  You can install and run this in Safe Mode.  This program may take some time checking your PC and may require you to restart the PC and then check again to rid it of some of the nasty spyware that attaches to your PC.   There is an IMMUNIZE program that you can run and make sure you click the + IMMUNIZE setting at the top.  Also go to ADVANCED SETTING and click on TOOLS, check the HOST FILES, then click on HOST FILES, then "ADD host list".  That will add sites you should NEVER EVER visit.  You can check your computer every few weeks if needed and check for updates.  They come out every few weeks.   This program is used at our school.  Read their page on other things you can do to protect against spyware.    As with any program, this can make other “spyware programs” not function correctly.  I have run SpyBot on some 100 computer and have not had any problems.

Another free program is called Ad-aware available at www.lavasoftusa.org   I use the former program most of the time but having these two installed will not cause a problem.  How do you get spyware programs on your computer?  There are web sites that include them behind false and misleading “click here” offers.  Other times just visiting a site can mislead you to install these programs on a computer.  If a web site offers a “free download program”, be very careful as more than one program can be included.  These include programs stating you will always "get the correct time on your computer", "free weather" or most kinds of  "hotbars" added to Internet Explorer or search engine tools, such as Bonzo Buddy and the like.  Google, Yahoo and MSN search "toolbars" engines are not included on that list.  In fact,  the Google "Toolbar" is an excellent item to stop the typical POP-UP advertisements.  I use it on my home and work PC.  POP-UP ads are different from spyware.  Many site have POP-UP ads as part of their "free" web space offering or POP-UP a new window when downloading files.  Most sites have warnings to temporarily disable the POP-UP when using their site.  I would only do this on trusted sites such as major companies when getting drivers or updates.  Some web sites will continue to run their POP-UP ads even after you leave their site.  Closing all Internet Explorer windows will not always end those ads.

A third place to get information on spyware is this resource page, click here to go to it.

Have you have lost the ability to have Internet Explorer do anything even when you are on the Internet ? 
Mr. Butkus found a small program called LSPFix.exe .  This is a last resort program but one of the schools PC did recover it's Internet access by this program's ability to remove this particular spyware program.  It's pretty simple to use, two boxes will appear.  In the left box are the item you need for Internet.  The box on the right contains the spyware programs.  Be warned that some ISP services add programs to help them solve connection problems.  SpyBot should also fix any of these problems.