Spyware Removal

The specifics of uninstalling any particular piece of spyware with which a user becomes infected will depend, principally, on which spyware has invaded their system. Not all spyware is particularly hard to eliminate but some of it can easily entail an all-day task. A variety of clever, but malicious, tactics on the part of spyware designers make some spyware truly bothersome. Spyware removal will require first research, then choosing a method and determining if that method is within the capabilities of the user.

If spyware is detected by anti-virus software, it will generally alert the user via a pop-up window. This window will contain the name of the spyware detected. One can execute an Internet search for the name to determine just how serious the threat is. Different antivirus suites will sometimes use different naming conventions so don't discount search results that show multiple names. Those multiple names sometimes indicate multiple versions of the spyware, as well.

In the best-case scenario, the antivirus software will simply be alerting the user that the infection has been removed. In some case, however, it will be letting the user know the software has been detected and has not been removed. In this case, one should start by executing a full-system scan. This can take a long time and it's best to disconnect the computer from any network connections while it's being performed. When it's done, the software may well perform the spyware removal itself and no further action will be required.

Your antivirus vendor's site may well have various applications designed to remove particularly stubborn types of spyware. When all else fails, these can be used to clean the system. The task is usually a bit more complex than using the antivirus proper, but well within the capabilities of most users to successfully perform.

If the efforts at spyware removal prove unsuccessful after several attempts, one may elect to call in a tech. Particularly dangerous types of infections include rootkits which trick the computer into thinking there's nothing wrong with the system. This software often allows the spyware to reinstall immediately after it's removed, to disguise its operating files and to rewrite the system registry on a Windows machine. Such infections usually require the intervention of a tech to repair. In the worst-case scenario, a full system reformatting will be required. This is a good lesson in why file backup is always important.