Yahoo! Toolbar Tutorials

Using CA Yahoo! Anti-Spy

Installing CA Yahoo! Anti-Spy? Scanning for and Removing Spyware Restoring Removed Items Allowing Anti-Spy to Ignore Items Taking Items Off the Allow List Keeping Anti-Spy Up To Date

Scanning for and Removing Spyware

Once CA Yahoo! Anti-Spy is installed on your computer, you can use it to scan and remove undesirable software whether you’re connected to the Internet or not. (You must be connected to the Internet in order to check for product updates or view additional details about a particular software threat.)

Anti-Spy doesn’t run automatically; it scans your computer for spyware only when you tell it to. How often you run Anti-Spy is up to you. You could run it after you download new software or programs, or as soon as you experience any problems, such as pop-up windows, search hijacking, or any other suspicious behavior. For general maintenance, you may want to run Anti-Spy once every week or two.

When you run a scan, the Anti-Spy application automatically identifies several types of nuisance software on your computer, including spyware, adware, and trojans. It displays the results of the scan, then lets you decide what to do about each suspicious item.

Important: Anti-Spy doesn’t detect or remove viruses. The Anti-Spy application complements antivirus software, but it isn’t a replacement for installing and running antivirus software on your computer.

 

Here’s How

  1. In the Yahoo! Toolbar, click the Anti-Spy button (Anti-Spy button), then select Run Anti-Spy.

    Click the Anti-Spy icon, then select Run Anti-Spy from the menu.

    The Anti-Spy window opens and immediately checks and installs new updates (unless you’ve disabled automatic checking).

    Note: The Anti-Spy window may already be open if you just installed the program.

    By default Anti-Spy scans for software, such as spyware and adware, and for tracking cookies.

  2. Click the Begin Scan button.

    Click the Begin Scan button.

    The window shows its scanning progress.

  3. If Anti-Spy detects a potential threat, it opens another window and recommends an additional full scan. Click the Yes button if you want the full scan.

    Click the Yes button if you want an additional scan.

    The scan may take a few minutes. When scanning is complete, the window lists the items that you should review and recommends that you Remove or Allow the item.

    The scan resultsEnlarge

  4. To learn the details of a suspect item, select the item, then click the View Details button.

    Select an item, then click the View Details button.Enlarge

    A Details window opens with a link to a Web page that tells you more about the item and a listing of the item’s locations on your computer.

    The Details window for the selected item.Enlarge

  5. To read a description of the item, click the Web link listed in the Details window.

    Click the Web link to read a description of the item.

    A Web page opens with detailed item information.

  6. To remove an item that you believe is a threat, select the item, click the Remove button, then confirm the removal.

    Select an item, then click the Remove button.Enlarge

    Tip: If you believe all of the listed programs should be removed, click the Remove All button.

    It should be safe to remove any item found by Anti-Spy. However, some companies release software (for example, peer-to-peer file sharing) with adware installed that cause the program to stop working if the adware is removed. If you remove all adware from your system and such a program stops working, you'll need to reinstall that program and leave that piece of adware on your system. We recommend that you remove one piece of spyware at a time to reduce the likelihood of problems.

    Removed items are actually quarantined, so you can restore them if you like.

  7. When you’ve removed or allowed each item, click the Done button, then click the Exit button.

 

What’s Next

If you want Anti-Spy to ignore specific items, you can add them to the Allow list. If there are items you didn’t mean to remove, you can restore them.

 

Help Topics

 
 

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.
  • Hijacking: hijacking software redirects or changes your search results, home and error pages, and other browser settings to some place other than your default settings or preferences without your permission.
  • 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 unauthorized entry point for a remote user, or transmit data to an external source.
  • Tracking cookie: a cookie that is used to track your web browsing behavior for the purpose of displaying targeted advertising. Tracking cookies do not pose a security threat.
  • Trojan: a software program that has hidden, unwanted intent.
  • Virus: a computer program that attaches itself to other programs and causes harm to computer software, data, and/or hardware, often undetected until it is too late.