(There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.)

Library and Information Services (LBIS) gets a number of questions regarding the unintended consequences of "free" software downloads. To pay for itself, this software often includes components which you may not notice until you're overwhelmed with pop-up ads, your web browser's home page changes, the spam level in your email goes through the roof, or your system performance becomes terrible.

This kind of software is often referred to as "adware", when it's used to push advertisements to your computer. When it's installed in secret, and carries the ability to report your computing habits to some other person, it's called "spyware".

LBIS recommends that you look for third-party reviews before you install any software. Many Web sites publish free reviews; you could search an Internet search engine for the name of the software and words like "adware," "spyware," or just "review". For example:

Wild Tangent and Adware on Google

KaZaA and Spyware on AltaVista

(You could also try keywords like "popup ads" or "spam" with the name of the software.) If you find out that a piece of software contains adware or spyware, you may want to pass.

Common problem-causing software often includes free screensavers and Internet Explorer toolbars designed to search the web or aid your online shopping. Packages such as Kazaa and WinMX are also known to install this kind of software. Some software advertised to "clear your Internet history" or "block popup ads" can actually make the problem worse.

So How Do I Get Rid Of It?

Some spyware is extremely difficult to remove. In a moderate case, the "free" application you wanted may stop working if you remove its advertising support. In more serious cases, removing spyware incompletely or incorrectly can make your web and email connections stop working, create error messages every time you log in or out, or stop your computer from booting altogether.

Other packages, however, can be removed in the normal way, through the Windows Control Panel under Add/Remove Programs. This is always a reasonable first step. Commercial tools are also available, some of which are free for personal use.

Warning

LBIS does not provide or support this software. When we use this software on Kenyon-owned machines, it is as a last resort, the step just before erasing the hard drive and reloading from scratch. Sometimes, it works. On occasion, it makes things worse.

Back up your data before using these tools. You should have your system restore disks available as well, just in case. Please read the websites and the manuals before using these any of tools.

LBIS cannot assist you in using this software, or in reloading your system.

Your search for adware and spyware removal tools might start with these overviews:

Attack of the PC Zombies! from PCWorld. See also their tips for 10-Step Security

Stop Badware from Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and Consumer Reports.

How To Protect Yourself from Snooping Software from CNet.

Spy Stoppers from PC Magazine.

As we said before, LBIS has had both successes and failures with spyware removal software. We have used both Ad-aware from Lavasoft, at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ and Spybot Search And Destroy, by Patrick Kolla, from http://www.spybot.info/

Like antivirus software, spyware removal software relies on current information to protect you from the newest spyware packages. Look for an option to update your "reference file" or "detection updates" for the best protection.

This information is strictly provided as a starting point for your research, so that you can make an informed decision about how you wish to proceed. LBIS is not responsible for any data loss or system problems which may result from your choice to obtain and use any of these software packages.