Cleaning Your Computer Once a Week
A step by step guide to ridding your computer of
spyware and adware
You may know spyware by one of its many names: adware, malware, trackware, scumware, thiefware, snoopware, sneakware. Because of its stealthy nature, most Internet users are more familiar with the symptoms of spyware infection:
Sluggish PC performance
Unwanted software self installed.
Unexplained homepage change
Mysterious search results.
Here are some of the programs we recommend for keeping your computer clean of spyware and how to use them:
Using Ad-aware SE Personal
Double-click on the Ad-aware SE Icon
You must be connected to the Internet
Click on the link in the bottom right that says "Check for updates now"
A new window will appear
In that window click on connect.
Click on "OK" when the next message appears
Click on "Finish"
You can disconnect from the Internet at this point if you’re on dial-up
Now that window will disappear bringing you back to the original Window
Click on The button at the bottom right corner of the window that says, "Start".
Click on "Next".
Wait until the scan finished, you will know when you see the blinking red exclamation point.
Click "Next" when it finishes scanning your computer.
Click on the “Scan Summary” tab.
You will then see a list of everything found.
Right click on the list, left click on the "Select all objects" option.
A check will appear in all of the boxes automatically
Click on "Next"
It will ask if you are sure, Click "Yes"/"Ok"
It will then delete them and return to the first screen.
You can close the program.
Using Spybot 1.4
Double-click on the Spybot Icon
You must be online
Click on The button that says Check for updates
When it is finished checking, click a check in each box for its update
Click on the button that says, "Download selected updates"
You can disconnect from the Internet at this point if you’re on dial-up
Click on the button that says, "Search & Destroy"
Click on the button that says, "Check for problems"
Wait until the scan is finished...
When it is finished, make sure all of the items listed have a check in their box
Click on the button that says "Fix Selected Problems"
Click on the button that says "Immunize"
Click on the button that says "+Immunize"
You can close the program.
Using AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5
Double-click on the AVG Anti-Spyware Icon
You must be online
Click on the blue link that says "Update Now"
You will be taken to the Update section of the program
Wait until it tells you it is finished updating.
Click on the "Status" button at the top of the window
Click on the blue link that says "Scan Now"
You will be taken to the Scan section of the program
Click on Complete System Scan
Wait until the scan is finished...
You will be shown a list of infections on your system and the actions that will be taken to each
You can opt to delete all infections
At the bottom of the window, click where it says "Set All Elements To" and select DELETE.
Click on the button that says "Apply All Actions"
When it is finished you can close the program.
