How Can I Tell If My Computer Has Been Infected By Spyware?

Symptoms of spyware infection:

- Pop-up advertisements.

Spyware programs will often inundate the user with a deluge of advertisements, many times unrelated to the particular website that is being visited. If pop-up ads appear when a computer’s just been restarted, or occurs while the user has a closed browser, it is a pretty good bet that the computer’s been infected.

- Default settings are changed.

Spyware sometimes will change the default homepage a browser connects to when a new internet session is begun, or will not connect to the chosen search engine when prompted to do so. New shortcuts may appear on the computer’s desktop, as well. If a user resets the defaults or reboots the system, but they revert back to the unwanted settings, spyware is likely responsible.

- Toolbars magically appear atop the browser.

If a user did not intentionally download a toolbar, but one suddenly appears and cannot be removed, spyware is likely the culprit.

- Poor operational performance.

Unlike legitimate software which is specifically designed to run harmoniously with operating systems, such as Windows XP or Vista, spyware programmers are unconcerned with such niceties. The programmers are only concerned with accessing and transmitting information. If it reduces efficiency or crashes the system, so be it. Another symptom is if the same program keeps crashing, or if the computer takes a long time to perform routine tasks, like opening a file folder or executing a normal piece of software.

- Irregular email actions.

If a user finds routine emails being returned, or vast amounts of email sent from their account, it is probable that the system has been compromised.

So if your computer suddenly begins acting strangely, it may be time to have your computer checked out.