Spyware Information

IMPORTANT: Always keep an up-to-date backup of files that are important to you such as your documents, family pictures, music etc. We cannot stress the importance of backups enough. Someone wise has said: "There are two groups of people. The ones that backup their files and the ones that will." For instructions how to backup your files click here.

What is it?


Spyware are malicious programs that cause computer slowness, pop-ups, various error messages (Programs not responding, Runtime error, ...), change of homepage, hijacked search engine websites, etc.

  • Spyware often comes included in file-sharing programs such as Kazaa Media Desktop, iMesh, Morpheus, WinMX, LimeWire, eDonkey, eMule, and others. You should not use file-sharing programs anyway as their use is in conflict with the Christian worldview.
  • Spyware often comes included in "Spyware cleaning" programs advertised on Internet. We suggest using only the programs listed in this instruction document.
  • Spyware often comes included in free screensavers, wallpapers, and "free smileys" programs.

Prevention

  • We strongly suggest that you stay away from any file-sharing programs.
  • Whenever a website asks if you desire to install or run a program, the general answer is no. The only time you answer 'yes' is if the source is a legitimate company, such as Microsoft, IBM or Macromedia.

Cleaning

Cornerstone University suggest four utilities for cleaning computers from spyware. These are Ad-aware from Lavasoft, Microsoft Windows Defender Grisoft Anti-Spyware from Grisoft and Spybot Search & Destroy. All of them are free for personal use. We suggest installing and using all of them because even though they overlap in their functionality, each of them offers a specific set of features.

Installation instructions

Ad-aware

  1. Click on the following link to go to the download page: Ad-Aware 2007
  2. Click the download button at the bottom of the page.  Download the Ad-Aware 2007 Free Edition and launch the installer file
  3. Read the license agreement. If you agree with it, check 'I accept the license agreement' and continue with the installation process
  4. If you had an older version of Ad-aware installed on your computer, the installation wizard will ask you if you wish to uninstall it. Go ahead and uninstall it.
  5. If the program asks for a license key, click continue and you will get the free version of the software.
  6. At the very end of installation, you’ll be asked if you want to 'Perform a full system scan now', 'Update definition file now', and 'Open the help file now'. We recommend proceeding with all three of these.

Spybot - Search & Destroy

  1. Click on the following link to go to the download page: Spybot Search And Destroy
  2. Click on  Download Now on the right hand side of the screen.  Download the file and launch the installer file.
  3. Read the license agreement. If you agree with it, check 'I accept the agreement' and continue with the installation process
  4. When asked to "Search for updates", proceed to do so.
  5. When asked to "Immunize this system", proceed to do so.
  6. When asked to "Read tutorial" and "Read help file", read both for usage instructions.
  7. Then run the full system scan

Microsoft Windows Defender  

  1. Click on the following link to go to the download page: Windows Defender
  2. Click the orange button to download the installer.  After clicking on the button, you will be brought to another screen with a button that says download.  Click on the download button. During the downloading process, you will be asked to "validate Windows". You may not have to do it in order to download the program.
  3. Read the license agreement. If you agree with it, check 'I accept the terms in the license agreement' and continue with the installation process
  4. Launch Windows Defender 
  5. When asked, set the program to keep itself automatically updated.
  6. When asked, set the program to run Real-time Security Agent.
  7. When asked, we encourage you to help fight spyware and join the SpyNet community. (One click process)
  8. Then run the system scan.

Grisoft Anti-Spyware

  1. Click on the following link to go to the download page for Grisoft Anti-Spyware: Grisoft Anti-spyware
  2. Click on the orange "Download Now" button near the bottom of the page and save the file to an easily accessible location.
  3. After the installer has downloaded, double click it to start the install.
  4. Select your language.
  5. On the welcome screen, click "Next".
  6. Read the license agreement.  If you agree with it, click "I Agree".
  7. Click "Next".
  8. Click "Install".
  9. Click "Finish".

Usage Instructions

Ad-Aware

  1. Open Ad-Aware.
  2. It is critical that you update Ad-Aware every time before you run it. If the program doesn't offer you updating automatically, click on the link 'Check for updates now' and proceed with updating. 
  3. After updating, start a full system scan.
  4. After the scan is finished, make sure, that all of the items found are checked. If there are several that are not checked, you can select them all by right-clicking on any of them and clicking on 'select all objects'. After all items are checked, remove them.
  5. If Ad-Aware wasn't able to remove some items, it will ask you if it can run at the next start up, go ahead and agree to it. 

Spybot - Search & Destroy

  1. Open Spybot - Search & Destroy.
  2. In case you installed Spybot earlier than today or didn't update it yet, click on 'Search for updates' and let the program download all of them.
  3. On the left side of the screen, click on 'Search & Destroy'
  4. On the right of that button, click on 'Check for problems'
  5. After the scan is finished, make sure all the items found are checked, then click on 'Fix selected problems'. The program will now create a System Restore Point.
  6. In case Spybot Search and Destroy is not able to remove all the spyware now, you will be asked if you wish for it to run the Search and Destroy at the next start up. Hit 'Yes'.

Microsoft Windows Defender

  1. Open Microsoft Windows Defender and click on File, Check for updates...  
Grisoft Anti-Spyware

  1. Launch Grisoft Anti-Spyware
  2. Click the "Update Now" link on the main window.
  3. Wait for the updates to finish.(If the updates don't start automatically, click the "Start Update" button on the screen)
  4. Click the "Scanner" icon at the top of the window.
  5. Click on "Complete System Scan"
  6. Let the scan run.  This may take some time, and it is recommended that you plug your computer into your ac adapter to complete the scan.
  7. Once the scan has completed, click the "Apply All Actions" button at the bottom of the window.
  8. Close Grisoft Anti-Spyware

What if all of that didn't help?

  1. Run all of these three programs in safe mode. (Click here for instructions).
  2. Backup your files and bring your computer to TechSupport for reimaging.