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Technical Support:
This page contains helpful information about Spyware, Adware, & Viruses, as well as helping to answer some Frequently Asked Questions:

Make sure you run your Spyware and Adware removal software weekly!

For help with troubleshooting common PC problems and helpful tips, see our troubleshooting page.

Spybot: (Click here for instructions on updating and running SPYBOT.) =====>

NOTE: Most current version is SpyBot Search & Destroy 1.4.

Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if you browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile
of you that will be sold to advertisement companies.

For additional information on SPYBOT, see their website: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/

Ad-Aware: (Click here for instructions on updating and running Ad-Aware.) ==>

Note: There is a huge difference between Adware and Ad-Aware. Adware is the pesky software that causes all of those pop-up advertisements. Ad-Aware is a product from LavaSoft that is designed to remove Adware.

Most people are familiar with freeware, shareware, cookies, media players, interactive content, and file sharing. What they may not realize is that some of the aforementioned may contain code or components that allow the developers of these applications and tools to actually collect and disseminate information about those using them. They can track your surfing habits, abuse your Internet connection by sending this data to a third party, profile your shopping preferences, hijack your browser start page or pages, alter important system files, and can do this without your knowledge or permission. The security and privacy implications of these exploits should be quite obvious and undesirable on any system or network!

Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components.

For additional information about Ad-Aware, see their website: http://www.lavasoft.com/

Windows Updates:

What is Windows Update?
A Microsoft Web site that provides updates for Windows operating system software and Windows-based hardware. Updates address known issues and help protect against known security threats.

How does it work?
When you visit the Windows Update Web site, Windows Update scans your computer and tells you which updates apply to your software and hardware. You choose the updates that you want to install and how to install them.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Virus?
A virus is a manmade program or piece of code that causes an unexpected, usually negative, event. Viruses are often disguised games or images with clever marketing titles.

What is a Worm?
Computer Worms are viruses that reside in the active memory of a computer and duplicate themselves. They may send copies of themselves to other computers, such as through email or Internet Relay Chat (IRC).

What is a Trojan Horse?
A Trojan horse program is a malicious program that pretends to be a benign application; a Trojan horse program purposefully does something the user does not expect. Trojans are not viruses since they do not replicate, but Trojan horse programs can be just as destructive.

Viruses:
Check out the latest virus alerts from Symantec