Install and use an anti-malware tool

If you managed to read the four previous articles and, what is more important, you followed the proposed security measures, then you are among a minority enjoying a reasonably secure PC at home with:

- An updated and patched operating system
- A running and updated antivirus program
- An active personal firewall installed

This new report explains in brief what spyware, adware and malware are and how to protect yourself against them. Your PC could become infected by one of them while browsing the internet.

Wikipedia defines spyware in simple terms as “a type of program that watches what users do with their computers and then sends that information over the internet”.

A typical example is a keylogger, a very simple piece of code that could take up residence on your PC without your knowledge. It records all keystrokes made on your keyboard (including your passwords) and sends a report via the internet.

Adware refers to software with a tracking feature. If it acts on a PC without the consent of the user, then it is an example of spyware. Finally, malware is the general term used for any piece of software designed to perform a usually damaging action on a PC without the owner’s informed consent.

There are several useful (and free for private use) tools that you can use to detect the presence of malware on your PC, including:

- Ad-Aware from Lavasoft (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/)
- Spybot (search for it on http://www.download.com/)

Both security packages offer different scanning modes. Download one of them (or both, they are compatible) and install it (it is a matter of a few clicks).

Once installed, let them scan your whole file system at regular intervals (e.g. every week) at a time when you are not actively using your PC, and check their results. Scanning results will normally show lots of “tracking” cookies stored by your browser on your PC. A cookie is a piece of information that a website leaves in your browser to customise your access in multiple ways e.g. your preferred section, background colour or operation. However, some tracking cookies are installed by third parties, such as advertisers, to monitor which websites you visit. You can select them and delete them. Known pieces of malware will also be detected with these tools.

Finally, don’t forget to update these tools. Both tools have a simple update mechanism in their menus.