What is spyware?

Symptoms:

- Computer is extremely slow
- Cannot access all websites or cannot access certain ones
- Computer redirects me to a website that wasn't requested
- Programs not working

Spyware are small pieces of software that install over the Internet to your computer. They perform a variety of tasks, but are most widely used to track your usage of the Internet, show you advertisements, and attempt to sell you products that claim to remove spyware.

Spyware typically installs in mass quantities, which altogether can damage Internet Explorer or even Windows. Spyware, especially in bulk, does affect computer performance sharply both on the Internet and overall. Computer performance will get closer to your hardware's potential if spyware is removed. Our record for most spyware items found in one computer is: 3,950 separate items. Some types of spyware become integrated into Windows and are very difficult to remove without crippling the computer.

Also, some types of spyware can inadvertently lower security and allow viruses to enter your system.

For more information about spyware, click here.

To download trusted spyware protection and removal tools used by our technicians, visit the links below.

Adaware SE Personal (free)
Windows Defender (free beta version)
Spybot Search & Destroy (free)
Computer Associates PestPatrol ($29.95)

What is a computer virus?

Symptoms:

- Computer turns itself off when trying to boot up
- Error messages, Blue Screen of Death (a blue screen you cannot get out of that lists error codes)
- Computer is extremely slow
- Programs not working

The difference between a computer virus and spyware is that a computer virus is written with intent to damage, impair, or compromise the security of comptuer systems. There are many types of viruses, but they all have the potential to do a great amount of damage.

To learn more about viruses, click here. You can learn about specific viruses at Symantec.

We recommend and sell Symantec products to protect our customers against viruses and spyware.

What does it take to repair a spyware or virus infection?

Repairs of viruses and spyware are often twofold. Once the malicious software is removed, Windows can need repairs. This is dues to corruption or deletion of Windows operating system files.

Typically, the repair process takes from 3 to 5 hours to complete.

There are two options for repair: full system restore, and symptom based repair. Both of these options take about the same amount of time to perform.

Virus and spyware removal are surefire with a full system restore, and the restore may resolve other issues besides the infection. If you have critical data you or we will need to back it up. Backup items would include, emails, favorites, pictures, word documents, misc data files, etc. Most programs cannot be saved, because most programs integrate with Windows by making changes to the Windows registry and system files - the very system files and registry we are trying to replace by performing a system restore. If you are unsure of what to back up or what you can backup, call us at 780-3600.

Symptom based repair will be to scan the computer for the infection with our software tools and then remove the infection and get Windows functional again. This is risky, as we may be left with a clean computer that simply doesn't function because of residual damage form viruses and spyware that require a complete system restore to fix.