Learn about Spyware

There's plenty to worry about already. Viruses, worms. Now I want you to think about spyware, which is also called adware.

Cutting to the bottom line, NO, your virus protection won't detect spyware. So you need to read this.

Spyware is about money. $$$$. Some forms want to track your surfing/shopping habits. Some want to replace your homepage with their own.

Others want to hijack the links on pages you visit. What? Say you are here on my site and I have links to other sites. These nasties replace my links with their own so that they can redirect you surfing and natch, shopping.

These invisible spyware programs will slow down your computer.

But have no fear, we can easily get rid of them.

I want you to go get Ad-aware. They have a FREE version, so no excuses. And you can do this. I don't want to hear it's too complicated. We'll go step by step.

On the left navbar, see where it says Ad-aware (not Plus or Professional). That's the FREE one. Click it.

This page will offer choices from which to download the program. I recommend the choice TUCOWS.

A new window will open and take you to the Tucows page for Ad-aware. Click on the operating system (which version of Windows) of your computer.

You may get asked what country and if USA, which state you live in. This is to direct you to the closest download source to you.

It should present you with a choice and you need to click on that link.

Now you'll see a pop up screen, similar to this:

Don't panic. Select SAVE. You're alright.

No, this isn't too much for you. No, it isn't beyond your skills. Hey, raised kids didn't you? Nobody ever learned anything saying, "no, I can't."

Now you will see a box like this:

Notice the top arrow that I added. This tells you where (which directory) on your computer the file will be saved. The lower arrow tells you the actual file name. Always note these two things when downloading. This is so you can find the damn thing when you need it.

Probably the top box will read My Documents. This is fine. Click SAVE in the lower right corner.

Okay, we've got the file. Now we'll install it. C'mon. You've some this far, we can do this.

Go to your START button. Do you see My Documents? Good. Click on that. Now do you see the filename aaw6.exe (if they have upgraded the program since I wrote this, the number may be 7 or higher.)

Okay, hotshot. Double Click on that file name. The program will install itself.

Some programs will make their own desktop icon. Some won't. If Ad-Aware does not, remember, this is freeware.

Go to Start. Pick Search. In Files and Folders, type aaw. Make sure you are searching your whole drive (My Computer)

You should see a folder located in C:\Program Files named aaw6 or something similar. Click on the folder. You should see an icon for a file Ad-aware.exe Please right click that. From the menu list that pops up, pick Send To and then pick Desktop (create shortcut).

You now have an icon for Ad-Aware on your desktop.

When you first run this program, it may find lots of spyware. That's good. Because now it is going to get rid of it.

Use this program often.

Click Here for a Printer Friendly version of these instructions.

Tips

UPGRADE your spyware & virus protection often. Remember, there's a 19 year old somewhere, living at home, and thinking of ways to make your life miserable.

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