If
one or more of your computers are showing any symptoms listed
below, chances are it has a spyware program installed.
Symptom
|
|
Probability
spyware is present |
|
Your
monitor is plagued with numerous pop-up windows displaying
advertising |
|
 |
|
Your
browser home page or search result pages display sites
you did not want |
|
|
|
Your "Bookmarks"
or "Favorites" lists Inappropriate links
-often to adult content Web sites- that you did not
select |
|
|
|
Your
modem (analog or ISDN) makes calls to premium-rate
phone numbers (‘dialers’) without your
permission |
|
|
|
No
un-install feature for downloaded software, and it
is difficult to remove because of code being installed
in unexpected or hidden locations. |
|
|
|
Web
browser exhibits strange behavior and often freezes
up. |
|
 |
|
Windows
operating system errors start appearing regularly |
|
|
|
You
are often unable to use your mouse and your cursor
freezes |
|
|
|
Computer
performance becomes sluggish and crashes regularly |
|
 |
Internet
access or sending/receiving email has slowed to a
crawl |
|
|
Very
strong probability of spyware infection
Strong
likelihood of spyware infection
but could be other
causes
Average
likelihood, could be other causes
Microsoft
estimates that spyware causes more than half of the Windows
operating systems failures reported,*
yet users may not be aware that spyware is the cause.
*
The Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Mr. Jeffrey Friedberg, Director of Windows Privacy, Microsoft,
April 2004
If
you have any of these symptoms, use the Trend
Micro free online spyware scanner to check for and remove
spyware.
