IT'S NOT JUST VIRUSES ANYMORE - Our Library computers, like all Internet-connected computers today, are under increasing attack not just from viruses, but from a newer generation of opportunistic exploits like spyware, adware, worms and various other hacker attacks that come under the general heading of "malware" --that is, software programs that can be "planted" on our computers without our knowledge to steal information, cause unwanted "pop-up"advertisements to appear, secretly gather statistics on our Web usage,or even erase our hard disk for sheer vandalism. Is your computer inexplicably running slower? Is it taking a very long time to start up or shut down? This is often a sign of malware infection. Up to half of all computers today are likely to have a malware infection!
While our firewall and anti-virus software can help, they alone cannot fully protect our machines from unwanted intrusion. Listed below are several steps you can take to check your Windows PC for malware, remove spyware and ad-ware, and block future infection:
Scroll down to the bottom of the above-linked page, and you will see the link to download the EMCO Malware Destroyer install file. Save it to your D:\download folder, and after the download completes, double-click to install the program. During the install, check the "create desktop icon" box, and you'll create an EMCO Malware Destroyer icon on your desktop. When you click on the icon to start the EMCO Malware Destroyer, simply click "ScanComputer" from the menu bar and select the "Scan Immediately" option. The program will show a progress bar as your computer is checked for malware, and when it reaches 100% a report will appear stating whether your system is "clean" or "infected." If "infected" appears, you can click the "plus" box to see a list of all malware found on your system. Often, closing the EMCO Malware Destroyer and then re-starting it, running the process repeatedly, will clean your system and you will get fewer malware reports each time.You may also have to re-boot your PC to allow the EMCO Malware Destroyer to thoroughly clean your system.
2.Download "Spybot Search & Destroy" - A Spyware Removal Program
Save this to your D:\download folder, and after the download completes,double-click to install the program. Click through the series of install screens, but bypass the "Registry Backup" option--we don't need this. However,you can accept all the other defaults and complete the install process.Once Spybot S&D is installed, you'll have an icon on your desktop which you can click to start the program. Remember to do THREE things everytimeyou run this program: 1. Update, 2. Immunize, and 3. Search & Destroy.Sweep your system WEEKLY with this program and you'll have a clean system!
3.Download "Ad-Aware" - An Ad-Ware Removal Program
Save this to your D:\download folder, and after the download completes, double-click to install the program. Click through the series of install screens, accept the defaults and complete the install process. Once Ad-Aware is installed, you'll have an icon on your desktop which you can click tostart the program. Remember to click on the "update" link on theprogram's "start" menu to update the ad-ware definitions each time before using Ad-Aware to sweep your system! Click on the "Start"and "Next" menu prompts to start the program, accepting the default "PerformSmart System Scan" selection. The program will take a couple of minutesto complete, after which a flashing "bug" icon will appear indicating themalware found on your system (if your system is clean, a green checkmark will appear and you can simply close the program). Click on the "Scan Summary"tab and put a checkmark in any and all boxes that appear in the list below.Click "Next" to remove the selected malware, confirm "Yes" that you wantto remove it, and you'll be returned to the program's opening menu when finished. Close the program and you're done! Sweep your system WEEKLYwith this program and you'll have a clean system!
4.Block Pop-Ups! - Download & Install the Google Toolbar
Click on the "Download" button to save this to your D:\download folder,and after the download completes, double-click to install the program.Click through the series of install screens, but select "Disable advanced features" --we don't need this. However, you can accept all the other defaults and complete the install process. Once the Google Toolbar is installed, you'll see it in your Internet Explorer browser menu bar. The Google Toolbar will block many of those annoying advertising "pop-ups" and can also block other malign web-based hacker scripts from running on your computer. (If you need to temporarily enable pop-ups on a Website, you can simply click on the "block pop-ups" menu selection to toggle it off.)
5. Do NOT Install "Instant Messaging" or Internet ChatPrograms!
If you want your system to be free from hacker attacks, DO NOT install"Instant Messaging" programs such as AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), MSN Messenger,Yahoo Messenger, IRC, etc. These programs open your system's Internet portsto wide-open exploitation by hackers and malware. If these programs are already installed, UNINSTALL them by using the "Uninstall Programs" menuin your Windows Control Panel (usually located in your "My Computer" icon).If you have a burning need to use Instant Messaging, there are Web-based ways to use Instant Messaging, usually at the Web sites of the respective application vendors.
UC Campus Computing Security Website
Norton Virus Removal Tools Page