{"id":109,"date":"2022-10-07T14:48:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T19:48:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/?page_id=109"},"modified":"2022-10-07T14:49:24","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T19:49:24","slug":"spyware-malware-removal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/security\/spyware-malware-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Spyware\/Malware Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Definitions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Adware<\/strong> (Advertising Software) is a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without the user&#8217;s knowledge or consent.<\/li><li><strong>Spyware<\/strong> (Spying Software) is any software that covertly gathers information about a user while he\/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes.<\/li><li><strong>Malware<\/strong> (Malicious Software) is software, such as viruses, intended to damage or disable a computer system. Malware often work in conjunction with Adware.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spyware\/Malware (&amp; Virus) Removal Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Open up Control Panel and go to Programs and Features.&nbsp; Uninstall all unnecessary applications.&nbsp; For example uninstall all toolbars and any games.<\/li><li>Empty out Recycle Bin.<\/li><li>Check current AV to see if anything is quarantined.<\/li><li>Open up System Configuration and choose Startup tab.&nbsp; Uncheck anything that looks suspicious.&nbsp; If you are unsure about an item, Google it to see if it\u2019s legit or not.<\/li><li>Uninstall any old AV or Malware scanning software that\u2019s not needed.<\/li><li>Open up Task Manager.&nbsp; Under Processes, if there is anything suspicious then click on End Process for it.&nbsp; If you are unsure, Google the process to confirm if it\u2019s legit or not.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PC Tools to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.malwarebytes.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Malwarebytes<\/a> \u2013 Make sure database is updated and perform a full scan<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.safer-networking.org\/en\/download\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spybot&#8217;s Search &amp; Destroy<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.safer-networking.org\/en\/download\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/windows.microsoft.com\/en-US\/windows\/products\/security-essentials?WT.mc_id=MSCOM_EN_US_DLC_FAMILIES_131Z4ENUS21979\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Microsoft&#8217;s Security Essentials<\/a><\/li><li>A flavor of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Linux\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Linux<\/a> you can boot from (via USB or disc) \u2013 easier to delete unwanted files that are locked on Windows OS.<\/li><li>Windows OS reload disc \u2013 helps when a repair needs to be done<\/li><li>Run <a href=\"http:\/\/windowsupdate.microsoft.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Windows Updates<\/a> to make sure all is current<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Windows_Registry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">RegEdit<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mac Tools to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Run free AV\/Malware scanners like <a href=\"http:\/\/download.cnet.com\/Sophos-Anti-Virus-for-Mac-Home-Edition\/3000-2239_4-75328306.html?tag=mncol;1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sophos<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/download.cnet.com\/Bitdefender-Antivirus-Plus\/3000-2239_4-10537298.html?tag=mncol;1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bitdefender<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/download.cnet.com\/Symantec-iAntivirus\/3000-2239_4-10854561.html?tag=mncol;1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">iAntivirus<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/download.cnet.com\/CCleaner\/3000-2144_4-75453127.html?tag=mncol;1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CCleaner<\/a> is great to use to clear out all temp directories<\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/download.cnet.com\/Flashback-Removal-Tool\/3000-2239_4-75700492.html?tag=mncol;1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flashback Removal Tool<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/support.apple.com\/kb\/HT1342\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check Activity Monitor for any suspicious processes<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Definitions Adware (Advertising Software) is a software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running, esp. in pop-up windows or banners, and which often is installed without [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":26,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-109","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":110,"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/109\/revisions\/110"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.muw.edu\/its\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}