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Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal
Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal - PCSTATS
The most common definition of Spyware is a program that sends information from your computer to another destination on the Internet without your knowledge.
Filed under: Beginners Guides Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: PCSTATS Jul 30 2007   M. Dowler  
Home > Reviews > Beginners Guides > PCSTATS

Other Resources to Turn to

To use Zonealarm as an example, the firewall monitors all attempts to access the Internet from inside the computer, and pops up a request for permission to access the Internet for each application.

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Once you ok it, that particular application will be allowed access permanently. This is a great tool for making you aware of what is going on inside your computer. Zonealarm is available from www.zonealarm.com

Combating spyware in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Microsoft’s recently released Service Pack 2 for Windows XP turns up the level of security considerably. Most significant, at least for the scope of this article, are the improvements that have been made to Internet Explorer.

IE has gained two major features that make avoiding spyware much easier. First and foremost, the browser now blocks and suppresses pop-up ads and unsolicited download prompts and activeX controls. An information bar under the address bar pops down to inform you if a pop-up or other control has been blocked, and gives you the option to override if you wish.

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This is a fantastic feature, which does much to defuse the annoyance of the endless ad popups spawned by certain types of ad-ware. It also makes installing spyware accidentally much harder, as no more will you see those pop-up windows asking you whether you wish to install this or that onto your system.

The second helpful feature is an application that lets you view all the add-ons and plug-ins that have been added to Internet Explorer. In a similar fashion to Hijackthis, you can now view a list of items that have been added to IE or changed, and disable them at will. This provides you with a means to effectively combat browser hijackers and browser parasites right from IE itself. To access this feature once you have upgraded, open IE and go to ‘tools\manage add ons…’

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Also improved in Service Pack 2, though unrelated to Internet Explorer, is Microsoft’s decision to activate the Windows XP firewall by default.

For a more detailed examination of the features of XP Service Pack 2, see PCSTATS review here.

More resources:

If you are having difficulties with some form of spyware but can't get it resolved through any of the suggested methods, there are several sites and forums that contain helpful information to aid you in ridding yourself of the pest.

If you have any comments or questions, please post them in the PCSTATS Forums. Find out about this and many other reviews by joining the Weekly PCSTATS Newsletter today! Catch all of PCSTATS latest hardware reviews right here.

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-RSS Feed Setup & Subscriptions
- Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Firewall Setup and Configuration
-Eliminating Spyware and Hijacker Software
- Diagnosing Bad Memory
- 101 Tips and Tweaks for WindowsXP
- Burning CDs and DVDs
- Optical Drives & Recording Formats
- Securing Your Wireless Network
- Little Known Features of WindowsXP
- Ergonomics & Computers
- Annual PC Checkup
- Installing WindowsXP
- Encryption and Online Privacy
- Home Networking and File Sharing
- Forgotten Passwords & Recovery Methods
- Preventing Data Theft from a Stolen Laptop
- Creating a Weblog / Blog
- Installing RAID on Desktop PCs
- RAM, Memory and Upgrading
- Ten Steps to a Secure PC
- Flashing A Motherboard BIOS
- Windows XP Safe Mode Explained
- Upgrading Win98 to Windows XP
- USB Memory Drive Projects
- 104 Great Tech Tips for Windows XP
- Unattended Windows 2000/XP Installations
- Linux Part 2: Installing a PC
- Understanding and Tweaking WindowsXP Services
- Linux Part 3: Installing New Software
- The Registry: Backups, Repairs, and Protection
- Diagnosing Bad Hard Drives
- Decrypting Document & Zipped File Passwords
- Spyware protection and Removal
- Wireless home networking
- Internet Connection Sharing
- Remote Access to Computers
- Hard Drive Data Recovery
- Firewalls and Internet Security
- Back up and Restore Data in WinXP
- Assembling Your Own PC
- VPNs and Internet Connection Security
- Legally Copying Software and Music
- Setting up a FTP Server in WinXP
- Creating MP3 Music Files
- Stopping Spam
- Cloning WindowsXP
- Browser Hijacking and How to Stop It
- Printer Sharing on a Home Network
- Converting Videotape Into Video Files
- Creating a WindowsXP Install CD with Service Pack 2
- Creating a Flashing a Video Card BIOS
- Making DVD Movies from Video Files
- Synchronizing Files and Folders
- Crash Recovery and the Blue Screen of Death
- Most Common Ways to Kill a PC
- WindowsXP Command Prompt
- Linux Part 1: Getting Familiar
- Understanding and Creating Batch Files
- Website Hosting From A Home PC
- Formatting and Partitioning a Hard Drive
- Website Hosting With Apache

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Beginners Guides Reviews...»

 

Contents of Article: PCSTATS
 Pg 1.  Beginners Guides: Spyware Protection and Removal
 Pg 2.  Transmitting Information
 Pg 3.  Spyware Vs. Ad-supported software
 Pg 4.  Varieties of Spyware
 Pg 5.  Setting Activex Controls
 Pg 6.  Spyware removal utilities
 Pg 7.  More removal utilities
 Pg 8.  — Other Resources to Turn to

 
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