Malware Removal Instructions

Malware is any type of file downloaded to your computer without your knowledge that affects your Internet performance. There are many types of malware, with adware and spyware being the most common. Adware on your computer records different websites you visit and links you click on to target you with unsolicited advertisements of related products and services. These advertisements usually take the form of pop-up windows, which can drastically slow down your web-browsing, hide windows you are working with, and even lock up your computer.

Spyware on your computer can record keystrokes and information you submit in forms online to record personal and private information about you. This information is often used to steal your credit card numbers and commit identity fraud. It is a good idea to scan your computer for malicious adware and spyware programs and files and remove them from your computer often. We recommend doing so whenever web pages begin loading slowly, pop-up windows get out of control while you are browsing the Internet, or at least once a week. Below are instructions for downloading, installing, and running the two most popular FREE malware removal programs, Ad-aware and Spybot.

Ad-aware

1. Go to www.downloads.com.
2. Under the MOST POPULAR section at the bottom of this page, click on the Ad-aware SE Personal Addition link.
3. Click on the Download Now link on the right.
4. Click on the Save button in the window that opens or select Save File to Disk and click on the OK button.
5. Choose Desktop in the "Save in" field so you can easily find the file once it is downloaded. Click on the Save button.
6. When the download has completed, click on the Open button.
7. Close your web browser window so you can see your Desktop and double-click on the new file there to open it. (It will probably be labeled "aawsepersonal".)
8. In the window that opens, click on the Next button at the bottom.
9. Put a checkmark in the box beside I accept the license agreement by clicking on it, and click on the Next button.
10. Click on the Next button at the bottom of the Destination Location window to install Ad-aware in its default location.
11. Make sure Anyone who uses this computer is selected in the next window and click on the Next button.
12. On the Start Installation window, click on the Next button at the bottom.
13. Once installation has finished, click on the Finish button at the bottom. If the Ad-aware Help file opens automatically, you can close it by clicking on the File menu and choosing Close.

The Ad-aware program will look for updates from the manufacturer's website at this time, install the current definition file, and begin scanning your computer for adware. This scan can take a long time depending on the number of files on your computer. In the meantime, you can delete the downloaded "aawsepersonal" file from your desktop or move it to another folder if you plan on keeping it for future reinstalls.

14. When Ad-aware has finished scanning your computer, you will see Scanning Results.
15. Right-click on any one of the objects listed in the Critical Objects box with your right mouse button and choose Select All Objects in the menu that appears. This will put a checkmark beside each result, easily selecting them all at once.
16. Click on the Next button. Click on the OK button in the window that opens. Ad-aware will quarantine or remove all adware objects at this time.
17. When Ad-aware is finished, close the program by clicking on the X in the upper-right corner.

When you want to use Ad-aware in the future, open the program by double-clicking on the shortcut on your desktop. Make sure you update the program before you scan your computer by clicking on the Check for Updates link first. When the program has finished downloading and installing updates, click on the Start button in Ad-aware to scan your computer for any additional adware objects you may have received since the last time you ran Ad-aware.

Spybot

1. Go to www.downloads.com.
2. Under the MOST POPULAR section at the bottom of this page, click on the Spybot – Search & Destroy link.
3. Click on the Download Now link on the right.
4. Click on the Save button in the window that opens or select Save File to Disk and click on the OK button.
5. Choose Desktop in the "Save in" field so you can easily find the file once it is downloaded. Click on the Save button.
6. When the download has completed, click on the Open button.
7. Close your web browser window so you can see your Desktop and double-click on the new file there to open it. (It will probably be labeled "spybotsd14".) *NOTE, this file name may be different as a newer version could be available*
8. Make sure English is selected as the setup language and click on the OK button.
9. In the setup window that opens, click on the Next button at the bottom.
10. Select I accept the agreement here by clicking on it, and click on the Next button.
11. Click on the Next button at the bottom of the Destination Location window to install Spybot in its default location.
12. Click on the Next button at the bottom of the next window to install Spybot with its default components.
13. Click on the Next button at the bottom of the Select Start Menu Folder window and Next again at the bottom of the Select Additional Tasks window.
14. On the Ready to Install window, click on the Install button at the bottom.
15. Make sure that Run SpybotSD.exe is selected with a checkmark in the next window, and click on the Finish button.
16. Click on the Next button at the bottom of the Spybot-S&D Wizard window.
17. Click on the Search for Updates button. The Spybot program will look for updates from the manufacturer's website at this time. When it is finished, click on the Download all available updates button.
18. Once the Spybot program has finished downloading and installing the updates, the main program window will open. Click on the Check for Problems button here to begin scanning your computer for spyware problems.

This scan may take several minutes depending on the number of files on your computer. In the meantime, you can delete the downloaded "spybotsd13" file from your desktop or move it to another folder if you plan on keeping it for future reinstalls.

19. When Spybot has finished scanning your computer, you will see a list of problems. Make sure each item is checkmarked here and click on the Fix selected problems button.
20. Click on the Yes button in the confirmation window that opens asking if you want to continue. Spybot will fix all spyware problems at this time.
21. Click on the OK button in the next confirmation window that opens stating the number of problems that were fixed.
22. Close Spybot by clicking on the X in the upper-right corner.

When you want to use Spybot in the future, open the program by double-clicking on the shortcut on your desktop. Make sure you update the program before you scan your computer by clicking on the Search for Updates link first. When the program has finished downloading and installing updates, click on the Check for problems button in Spybot to scan your computer for any additional spyware problems you may have received since the last time you ran Spybot.