Running Ad-Aware and Spybot: Search and Destroy

Spyware and Malware is slowly becoming a part of the internet, whether users like it or not. Most free software, as well as some websites, will normally install such software without your knowledge. While spyware does not cause problems at all times, it is a good idea to remove them. Two pieces of software, Ad-Aware and Spybot: Search and Destroy, will remove them. Updating, and then running both Ad-Aware and Spybot can keep spyware from causing problems with a computer and its internet connection, as well as keeping them from using up system resources and slowing the computer down. To run a scan with Ad-Aware SE 1.05 Build: Open Ad-Aware SE. Click the 'Check for updates now' link. Click the 'Connect' button (if on dialup, it will dial up to connect) If there is an update, click 'OK' to download the update, and then 'Finish.' Click the 'Start' button, make sure 'Perform smart system-scan' is selected, and then 'Next.' AdAware will then scan the entire machine. Once done click 'Next.' If all entries in the list are checked, click next, otherwise right-click on an entry and select 'Select all Objects', and then next. If AdAware says it needs to run on next boot up, click 'OK' and restart the machine and repeat. Running Spybot ? Search and Destroy 1.3 Open the Spybot program. Click on ?Search for updates.? It will bring up a screen saying if there are updates. If there are updates you will need to put check marks in front of them if there isn?t already and click ?Download Updates.? Once this is done you will click on ?Search and Destroy? in the upper left hand corner. You will then click on ?Check for problems? there to the right. This will begin scanning for the spyware/malware. Once this is done it will list everything that was found. Make sure there is a check mark in front of everything you want to remove. (Recommended that you check all.) Once you have these selected you will click ?Fix selected problems.? It will then bring up a screen saying, ?You are about to remove the checked entries. Do you want to continue?? Go ahead and click ?Yes.? Once this is done it will tell you how many problems were fixed. Click ?Ok? on this screen. Remember to update and run these programs every week or every other week.