Using Anti-Spyware
| What Is Anti-Spyware? | Scanning Your Computer | Removing Undesirable Software | Quarantining Suspect Software | Keeping Anti-Spyware Up To Date |
What Is Anti-Spyware?
Anti-Spyware is the BT Yahoo! solution for detecting and removing spyware and adware on your computer. It scans your computer to find spyware and adware and lets you decide what to remove, what to quarantine, and what to ignore.
Notes:
This tutorial describes working with the Norton Spyware Scan version of Anti-Spyware. If you install and activate the Norton AntiVirus™ component of BT Yahoo! Online Protection, it automatically protects your computer from spyware—you don’t need Norton Spyware Scan. Norton AntiVirus™ is available only for BT Yahoo! Online Option 2, 3, and 4 users.
See the Using Norton AntiVirus™ tutorial for more information about spyware detection with Anti-Spyware.
What Is Spyware?
Spyware generally refers to hidden programs running on your computer that track and communicate your online activities without your knowledge or consent. Some malicious spyware programs can log everything you type on the keyboard and transmit this information back to an unauthorised user. At minimum, this could be embarrassing; at worst, it could open you up to identity theft. Adware can record your surfing habits, display annoying pop-up windows, or change your home page without your consent. Both spyware and adware can drag down your computer’s performance because they run processes beyond your view.
How Does Spyware Get on My Computer?
You can unintentionally acquire spyware or adware programs when you install software from disks or download free programs for file-sharing or music-swapping. You can also install spyware without realising it while surfing the Web, if it’s disguised as a program that is beneficial to your browsing experience. Some companies use misleading advertisements to automatically begin installing their spyware programs.
Regardless of how these programs get on your computer, they’re typically easy to install but difficult to locate and remove. Anti-Spyware helps simplify the removal process, so you can take back control of your PC.
To begin using Anti-Spyware on your computer, you first need to download and install the Norton Spyware Scan software.
(More Details)
Here’s How
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Go to the BT Yahoo! Software Centre to access and download BT Yahoo! Online Protection, which includes Anti-Spyware, following the onscreen instructions.
Tip: If you’ve already installed an earlier version of Anti-Spyware for the BT Yahoo! Toolbar, that version will be replaced automatically—no need to uninstall it first.
What’s Next
Once it’s installed, you can run Anti-Spyware from the BT Yahoo! Toolbar or the Online Protection Dashboard.
Note: The Online Protection Dashboard is available only for BT Yahoo! Online Option 2, 3, and 4 users
Words to Know
- Adware: software that opens pop-up or pop-under ads when the main product is not running, or shows windows that do not appear to be connected with the application or web page that you are viewing.
- BT Yahoo! Toolbar: a customisable toolbar that allows you to use your favourite BT Yahoo! features from buttons on your browser.
- Download: to transfer a file from a remote computer to your computer.
- Pop-up window: a window that tries to open automatically on top of or under a browser window.
- Quarantined item: a file or other item on your computer that online protection software has determined to be infected. After cleaning the infection, the online protection software modifies the item so that the file system can no longer access it. The quarantined item remains on your computer, so that you can restore it to its original location if you choose.
- Spyware: software, typically installed on your computer without your permission, that can track personal information, serve as an unauthorised entry point for a remote user, or transmit data to an external source.