| April 2003 |
| Tip O'Tex Computer Club Newsletter |
| "Spyware" - Get Rid Of It With Ad-Aware |
| Ad-Aware is a great little program, and doesn't run all the time in the background, so it doesn't use up precious resources. If you have any questions, contact me at: bobbie2836@comcast.net (From PCWorld web site) Pull the plug on "spyware" with this small, free tool. Spyware are small, hidden programs embedded in larger applications for the purpose of reporting information to advertisers. These programs are in some shareware or freeware programs because, unfortunately, this is the only way some software developers can pay their bills. If you are among those who don't want any part of this--and feel these hidden programs invade your privacy--you should definitely consider downloading Ad-aware. Download: At www.lavasoftusa.net you can download, and read more about the program. At that site, click on “Download Ad-Aware” and you’ll find a selection of download sites – choose your favorite. (If you don’t have a favorite download site, try PCWorld or Tucows.) When asked if you want to “Run this program from its current location” or “Save this program to disk” choose the “Save….” Option (it probably already has the “button” next to it) and click OK. (There are several options as to where to save your set-up files, but its probably best to create and use a folder called C:\Downloads.) See "Create Download Folder" at the end of this letter. When the download is complete, click the Open button to start the installation. Follow the prompts and let the program install where it wants to go (the designers of the program know more about it than we do, in most cases). First time set-up: If you are new to Ad-Aware, it is strongly recommend that you read the Help file before attempting to use the software for the first time. Accepting the program defaults is a pretty good way to go. Running Ad-Aware: To run the program click on Start in the lower right corner of the screen. Then click on Next on the next screen. When the program has scanned your entire computer you will see Finish (and sometimes you’ll hear a sound alerting you to the fact that the scan is complete). Click on Continue and you will see all of what Ad-Aware considers to be “spyware” and next to each of them there will be a box for you to check. The first time you run the program, the checks MAY already be there for you. Some of the usual spyware files are: doubleclick, fastclick and servedby cookies. Some of the programs that are (or contain) spyware are Gator, Hotbar, Gozilla, Comet Cursor, Bonzi Buddy and some online games. Put a check next to each of the files you want the program to delete from your computer and when you have all of your checkmarks in place, click on Continue. You’ll be asked if you want to clean these files from your computer, and you click OK. I have yet to remove a file in this manner that I wish I hadn’t, and I’ve installed this program on numerous computers in the last several months. You will then be informed that your computer is clean of spyware (assuming you checked every box shown) but some of those items will get back on your computer later. You should run the program every week or so, to continue to be “spyware free.” If you don’t have any spyware on your computer the next time you run Ad-Aware, you’ll get the message “Congratulations! Your computer is clean." |
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| To create your own Download folder, and make it the default for future downloads: When you start to download something from the Internet, the first screen you see has a title of "Save As" and you'll see a white line at the top that tells you where the file will be saved. This line comes right after "Save In:" Click at the right end of the "Save In" line on the downpointing arrow, and click on the icon for the C: drive. Look on the tool bar for the Create New Folder icon. It may look different in XP than in Windows 98, so you'll have to run your mouse over the icons and find the right one. When you find it, click once on it and you'll see New Folder. It will be highlighted already, which means all you have to do it type Downloads and the words "new folder" will be replaced and you will have named the folder. You have now created a new folder for your downloads. Doublclick on Downloads and you'll see it appear in the Save In: line. Then click Save and your download will begin. The next time you download something, the Downloads folder will be there. You can always open a Windows Explorer screen by holding the Windows key and tapping E, then click on the Downloads folder to find that file. One more thought here... when you start your download, you will probably see a space for a checkmark next to "Close dialog box when complete" - make sure there is NOT a checkmark there. Then when the download is done, you can just click on Open to open the file, or start the installation. |
| Create a Download Folder |
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