Get That #@&* Spyware Off My Computer!

Prevent spyware from installing on your PC, remove spyware already installed, and switch browsers at will.

Scott Spanbauer

Have you downloaded a new version of Netscape Communicator, only to discover that you received an uninvited "download manager" in the deal? If you think a download manager sounds useless, you're mistaken. It actually is useful to someone--just not to you.

Tools such as Netscape's SmartDownload and Radiate's GoZilla have just one objective: to monitor and log your download activity, and then send targeted Web advertising to you based on that activity. And those programs aren't the only nosy parkers in town. Hundreds of freeware, shareware, ad-supported, and even shrink-wrapped commercial applications contain components that maintain a record of your online activity and transmit that information to an advertiser's server.

Not only do the programs spy on you (usually after giving you minimal notice that they intend to do so), but they do it via the Internet connection that you pay for. Uninstalling the host application often leaves the spyware unaffected. If you use a dial-up connection, the programs keep track of your online doings but go to sleep when you close the link.

Fortunately, you don't have to tolerate spyware. Since it first came to light several years ago (see Steve Gibson's welcome rant on the subject), many software vendors have either removed spyware from their products (Headlight Software's GetRight is an example of this) or provided tools that allow the user to remove it. But the best way to deal with spyware is to find out which applications contain it and then choose Big Brother-free alternatives. In some cases, you can opt out of installing the spyware during the host program's installation process. In others, you may be able to purchase a commercial version of the same application that omits the spying component.

Before downloading and installing an application, look it up on one of several online spyware databases. Spychecker is one such service, and Camtech 2000's Spy Chaser is a nifty downloadable database of nearly 1000 spyware-infested apps (see FIGURE 1).

Send your questions and tips to nettips@spanbauer.com. We pay $50 for published items. Scott Spanbauer is a contributing editor for PC World.

Eye on the Spies

Prevention is all well and good, but what about getting rid of spyware that's already infiltrated your system? Here's what I suggest: First, uninstall any applications on your computer that you don't use (this is a good idea even if the programs don't contain spyware). Next, make an inventory of the applications that you do use, and compare your list with the Spychecker database. Note the maker of the spyware in each case, and uninstall the software that hosted it.

Now download and run the spyware maker's own uninstall utility, if one is available. For example, you can download Radiate's Aureate remover.

Finally, download and run Lavasoft's free Ad-aware spyware detection and removal utility. Ad-aware gives you lots of control over how thoroughly it scans your system's memory, Registry, and drives for spyware, and it allows you to decide on a case-by-case basis whether to eliminate discovered spyware or permit it to remain active.

Switch Browsers at Will

"Click here," coaxes the link. You do so, and Internet Explorer launches. Do you wish another browser had popped up instead? The first step in establishing Netscape or Opera as your default Web browser is to tell IE to stop trying to make itself the default. Choose Tools, Internet Options, Programs, uncheck Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser at the bottom of the dialog box, and click OK.

To make Netscape 6.2 take charge, choose Edit, Preferences, and then select System under the Advanced category. Check the box for every file type and protocol listed in the two windows on the right that you want Netscape to handle (at the very least, you should check HTML documents, http:, and https:), and click OK. In Opera 6, choose File, Preferences, select Default Browser in the list of settings on the left, and check every file type and protocol you want Opera to handle; then click OK.

Netscape 6.2, alas, seems unable to take charge of links displayed in other programs. Let's hope 6.3 will fix that.