Geek Smarts: Avoiding and Purging Spyware

Spyware is tricky because it is literally almost everywhere and usually invisible. So avoiding it completely would be nearly impossible short of never using the Internet again. There are, however, some basic steps to reducing your exposure and removing what you've already been exposed to.

1. Cleansing - since you are already infected (trust me, you are), the first step is to clean up. Understand that you can have the latest versions of Norton Anti-Virus and ZoneAlarm installed with the highest security settings and you will still get spyware. There are applications out there that will monitor and destroy it as it comes, but these applications tend to be overkill and frankly annoying. Two anti-spyware applications that I use often are Spybot Search & Destroy and Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE. Both of these require you to manually run them periodically, but I find this to be a much better option than to be hassled and slowed down by the more automated options. The first time you run either (or both) of these, the scan will take some time and it will find tons of spyware. Don't feel ashamed. Simply let it fix the problems and move on.
2. Keeping clean - you will inevitably acquire more spyware no matter where you go on the internet. It is the more malicious kind that you want to be most careful about. Most spyware comes simply in the form of cookies that store browsing preferences and usage habits. These are generally harmless and usually only result in slight load delays and more targeted advertising. The dangerous spyware is the kind that requires more active participation (usually clicking something). Generally speaking, software cannot be installed on your computer from a webpage without your consent. The trick is getting your consent without you knowing you gave it (usually in the form of misleading pop-ups). As a rule, don't click anything that you don't have to. Even close buttons on ads can sometimes be a trap. There is even spyware out there that disguises itself as anti-spyware software.
3. When in doubt - if you suspect that you got spyware by accident, simply clean it up. The software mentioned above will clean up most spyware. Some of the more malicious varieties may require special action or software to clean up (especially if it loads something into the system tray). If this is the case, the fix is usually a simple web search away.
4. You don't need herbal Viagra - if you use the internet, you likely use email as well. And if you use email then you get spam. Spam can be a source for spyware as well. Be careful what you click on within email messages as it may not always lead to where the link might suggest. (Keep an eye out for another article regarding spam.)