Spyware Removal Guide - Tips & Techniques

Spyware is a type of software that monitors the actions of a computer user and falls into a number of categories:

• Software that may be installed on purpose to help provide security or workplace monitoring
• Software designed mostly for collecting marketing data
• Software that is maliciously installed, either as a general violation of a person’s privacy or to collect information that may allow further attacks on their computer such as “keylogging”.

Almost everyone gets spyware at some point and getting rid of it can be very difficult. Free spyware removal can be just as effective as paying for a high priced anti spyware package, but you have to use the right software.

Spyware Doctor, created by PCTools, is an industry leader in the Anti-Spyware category. Praised by internet security experts, this “world-renowned” program detects, removes and protects PC’s from thousands of potential spyware, adware, trojans, viruses, keyloggers, spybots and tracking threats. We counted at least 31 different industry awards without digging very far. Here are just a few of the highlights;

Pluses: Has a huge “threat” data base which is updated unbelievably often. Really quick scans. Small operating system footprint.

Drawbacks: No antivirus unless you purchase “Spyware Doctor with Antivirus” for an additional (albeit small) charge.

Consensus: A top performing AntiSpyware program. With each updated release the gap between Spyware Doctor and the competition widens.

Virus News - Macs are not Immune, Conficker Update

Symantec researchers believe they have found evidence of a virus that is specific to the Macintosh computers. Some experts are not sure of the actual threat to Mac Users. The interesting thing is that Mac users have always bragged about how safe their Macs are compared to PCs. You have probably even seen the commercials that try to pound PCs into the ground.


The virus (just like many viruses on the PC side of things) is downloaded along with a pirated or illegal copy of legitimate software. The type of virus is called a botnet, which gets on the computer, and can get out onto the internet, and cause a distributed denial of service (DDos) attack.

The way this attack works is a bunch of computers keep going to a website or sites, over and over. With thousands of computers doing this, it blocks anyone from getting to that site.
Many Mac experts are downplaying this and saying the media attention is not necessary. Many are also saying the Mac is still safe, and security software is not needed. Good luck with that!
Conficker - We are not out of the woods yet

Reports are that the Conficker virus is infecting more computers, and could possibly do more on May 1st. I wrote about this in an entry in March. April 1st has come and gone, and most people think it was just a scare. This particular worm is more of a long-term, slow acting virus. There are three parts to this virus, and the one that has my attention is the last one which has to do with your computer and not stuff it will do to others on the Internet.

Here is a quote from Fox News online, " Conficker also carries a third virus that warns users their PCs are infected and offers them a fake anti-virus program, Spyware removal 2009 for $49.95, according to Russian-based security researcher Kaspersky Lab. If they buy it, their credit card information is stolen and the virus downloads even more malicious software."

Interestingly, I have seen very similar malware on many machines this month. I cannot say it was this virus, but it is interesting that the malware I have been cleaning was similar, and most of the customers had valid, up to date virus protection. They could have been "drive by" type viruses, but there is also a chance the malware was hidden in the Conficker virus. Once these machines are cleaned up, it is really hard to tell, because all traces are gone.

Check out the link to see if you have the conficker virus on your system if you have not already.

See Also
top 10 spyware
Top 10 Windows Antivirus
Is Your Cell Phone Spying on You

What are anti spyware softwares