| Tutorials How can I use Add or Remove Programs utility in the Control Panel to remove spyware, and what are the types of programs that could be related to spyware and adware?
The Add or Remove Programs utility in the Windows Control Panel is designed to help you easily install and uninstall programs on your computer. You can access the utility by performing the following steps:
Windows 2000/XP
1. Click the “Start” button.
2. Click “Control Panel.” The “Control Panel” window opens.
3. Double-click the “Add or Remove Programs” icon. This icon is usually close to the top of the list, but you may have to scroll down to find it. When you double-click it, the “Add or Remove Programs” window opens.
Windows 98/Me
1. Click the “Start” button.
2. Point to “Settings.” A popup menu of programs appears.
3. Click “Control Panel.” The “Control Panel” window opens.
4. Double-click the “Add or Remove Programs” icon. This icon is usually close to the top of the list, but you may have to scroll down to find it. When you double-click it, the “Add or Remove Programs” window opens.
When the “Add or Remove Programs” window appears, the programs that are currently installed on your computer appear in the panel on the right. You can scroll down the list of programs to see what’s there.
Sometimes, you can find a spyware program in the list. If you select the offending program and click the “Remove” button, Windows cleans the selected program off of your computer. The key, of course, is recognizing a program in the list as spyware. Some of the more common spyware programs are:
Alexa |
Comet Cursor |
Lop.com |
ATTune |
CommonName |
Offer Companion |
Bargain Buddy |
CyDoor |
OnFlow |
BDE |
DLDER |
Trickler |
Bonzi Buddy |
Gator |
WebHancer |
Brilliant Digital |
Hotbar |
Xupiter |
Now, here’s the real tricky part. Some spyware doesn’t show up in the programs list. Even if you find a spyware program in your program list, a common technique of spyware writers is putting a dummy program in the list. You can select and remove the dummy and it appears to be removed from your system. Actually, the real spyware component is still in residence on your computer, quietly transmitting personal information while you rest assured that you have removed the malicious software.
Spyware writers are clever, and they do their best to hide their programs. While you may be able to remove some spyware through the “Add or Remove Programs” utility, your best hope in ridding your system of spyware lies in running special spyware removal software such as Max Anti Spyware Pro
Visit their websites for more information on how to use these tools to clean spyware off of your computer.
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