1. Adware and Spyware
By Mr. Arbogast

2. What is Spyware?
Spyware is software that is put on your computer without your knowledge or permission.
This impacts both PC and Mac users.
Spyware secretly and continuously gathers information about you and relays it to advertisers or other interested parties.
Spyware can be installed on your computer as a result of a virus or by your downloading and installing a “free” program (like Kazaa) that sneaks the Spyware onto your computer.
Some Information Taken from Patrick Crispen’s Viruses, Cookies and Spam, Oh My! PowerPoint

3. What is Spyware?
Spyware can also be downloaded directly from Internet Explorer also. Do not EVER answer yes to this window unless you know what it is!

4. What does Spyware do? Spyware can also slow down your computer
Spyware can give you tons and tons of pop ups even when you are not browsing the internet.
Spyware can change your homepage or redirect you to a different website when you type in the common website like
Spyware might also add different toolbars and change the default search engine on your computer without your permission.

5. What are the Names of Some Common Spyware Programs?
There are many different companies that make software but some of the major ones are..
Gator by the Gator Corporation
My Web Search Toolbar
Bonzi Buddy
1080 Search Assistant
Media Gateway
WhenU SaveNow!
HuntBar
Money Tree Dialer
HotBar
TopSearch ToolBar
Cydor
CommonName
BargainBuddy
Some info Taken from and

6. I’m pretty sure I have Spyware. How do I get rid of it?
The easiest ways to get rid of it is to use two different programs that are designed to remove it.
Those three pieces of software are called Lavasoft AdAware, Microsoft Windows Defender and Spybot Search and Destroy.
They are available for free on

7. How to Install use Lavasoft AdAware
The most popular Spyware removal program
Please go to for all of the instructions.

8. Go to http://www.safer-networking.org/en/tutorial/ for a full tutorial
How to Install use Spybot Search and Destroy
Go to for a full tutorial

9. How to install Microsoft Windows Defender
Go to for a full tutorial

10. How do I Prevent Myself From Getting Spyware in the Future
Do not install questionable programs – Programs like Kazaa and Limewire come bundled with tons of it.
Use alternative browsers like Netscape and Mozilla Firefox – Most Spyware is made for Microsoft Internet Explorer and other browsers will simply ignore it.