Information Services

Kalamazoo College Spyware information Page

Plauged by constant pop-up ads? Does your Internet home page change by itself? Do you have strange bars on in your Internet browser that you didn't install? These are just some of the many symptoms of something known as spyware/adware/malware and it's a growing problem with computing online, especially over high-speed connections where information is sometimes thrown at users at much faster speeds than normal.

You can find answers to the most frequently asked spyware questions by clicking on any of the links below:

  • What is spyware (also called adware, malware, etc...)?
  • How do I prevent Spyware from installing on my computer?
  • How can I tell if Spyware is installed on my computer?
  • How can I detect and remove Spyware from my computer?
  • What can I do to reduce the number of "pop-ups" that I get when I'm on the Internet?




    • What is spyware?

    Spyware is software that collects personal information from you without first letting you know what it's doing and without letting you decide whether this is OK or not. The information spyware collects can range from all the Web sites you visit to more sensitive information like usernames and passwords. You might be the target of spyware if you download music from file-sharing programs, free games from sites you don't trust, or other software programs from an unknown source.

    Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements, called adware. Some advertisers may covertly install adware on your system and generate a stream of unsolicited advertisements that can clutter your desktop and affect your productivity. The advertisements may also contain pornographic or other material that you might find inappropriate. The extra processing required to track you or to display advertisements can tax your computer and hurt your system performance.

    This is not to say that all software which provides ads or tracks your online activities is bad. If you sign up for a free music service and in return for that free service the company offers you targeted advertisements, it might be a fair tradeoff. Likewise, tracking online activities can be useful when displaying customized search content or personalized preferences at an online retailer.

    The key is whether or not you (or another user of your computer) have been properly notified of what the software will do and that you have provided consent to have that software installed on your computer. In other words, is the software being deceptive in what it does or how it gets onto your computer?



    How do I prevent Spyware from installing on my computer?

  • Install software only from Web sites you trust. Before you download anything from a Web site, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable doing business with that Web site. If the answer is no, then don't download the software. If you aren't sure, do some research, such as asking friends or checking other resources you trust.

  • Read the fine print. When you install any program make sure you read the message on each window before you click "Agree" or "OK." You should also carefully read any license agreements or privacy statements associated with the software. You may discover behaviors you find objectionable. If the window will not let you click "No" or "I do not accept", close the window by clicking on the "X" in the corner. Never click "Yes" or "I accept" just to get rid of the window.

  • Be wary of popular "free" music and movie file-sharing programs. Statistics show that many people get Spyware on their system from these programs. To use the analogy of your house, when you install file-sharing programs you are literally leaving your front door open. Besides the obvious risks of having someone steal something from you, they can also leave things behind that you may not want around.

    •

    How can I tell if Spyware is installed on my computer?

    Spyware is intended to run without your knowledge, but there are a few ways you can tell if your system is infected:

  • When you start your web browser, does it open to a page you've never seen before? When you select "search", are you taken to a page you do not recognize? Some Spyware will alter these settings without your knowledge.

  • Do you see a sudden increase in advertisements on pages where you've never seen them before? Spyware sometimes bombards you with pop-up ads no matter what page you visit. These ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable.

  • Does your computer seem sluggish? Spyware is not necessarily designed to be efficient. The resources it uses to track your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer and bugs in the software can make your computer crash.



    • How can I detect and remove Spyware from my computer?

    Several companies offer free software that will check your computer for unwanted software. These tools may help you determine if you have installed unwanted software and may help you remove it:

    We recommend downloading and installing either:

    Lavasoft's Ad-Aware or SpyBot - Search & Destroy.

    • Step-by-step instructions for installing, updating and running Lavasoft's Ad-Aware can be found here PDF Document

    • Step-by-step Instructions for installing, updating and running Spybot - Search & Destroy can be found here PDF Document


    Tip: Keep your detection and removal tool up to date. Many manufacturers offer an option to check for updates automatically when you go online. If this feature isn't available, check the manufacturer's Web site regularly for downloads. Either way, be sure to update frequently.


    Students, please note: By running and fixing the problems associated with certain spyware related products, you may no longer be able to run the programs or applications with which spyware was installed. Kalamazoo College is not responsible for these consequences. Kalamazoo College is not responsible for the compatibility of this program with your operating system. Please read all of the download info before installing. Be aware that the removal of some of the spyware and P2P programs on your computer may cause system problems and is your responsibility.

    What can I do to reduce the number of "pop-ups" that I get when I'm on the Internet?

    If you are getting a large number of "pop-ups" while surfing the internet, you may have spyware installed. Follow the directions above to check and remove spyware on your system.

    There are many free and commercially available "pop-up" blocker available on the Internet.

    If you use Mozilla, it has a built in pop-up blocker.

    If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, we suggest you download the Google Toolbar