How to Tell You Have Spyware, Ad-ware or Viruses

Usually, the easiest way to tell you have spyware is because your PC is running at a reduced speed. The other way to check is to hit CTRL+ALT+DELETE and hit task manager (if you have windows service pack 2. If you have before SP2, then this should automatically bring up the task manager).

Once the task manager is open, check your running processes under the "Processes" tab. If you see a lot of strange processes running you don't recognize, you likely are infected with spyware, ad-ware or viruses.

An example of strange processes would be a fgkosk.exe or copies of the same process running twice. Some "smart" spyware can actually disguise itself as other windows processes - you can tell this if you have copies of processes running. Don't end task anything you're not sure of - besides, most of these files are actually able to resume themselves after you close them as they're in your windows registry.

You could also download a program that checks for these infected files, such as Avast, Ad-Aware, etc. Check my other article on "what to do once you have spyware" for a list of good programs to use.

The best way to get rid of spyware, ad-ware, or viruses once you have them is either to use a program made for doing exactly that. Failing that, you could format your PC. Sometimes, an infestation becomes so bad you may have troubles downloading, installing, or running a program that can help. For more information, refer to my article on "What to do once you have spyware, ad-ware, or viruses."

I am a young, aspiring computer engineer into Internet Marketing, hardware, software, web design, SEO and just about anything related to computers. Please come check out my growing PC forum at http://www.markspcforum.com

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JDA Software, i2 Scrap Merger - Wall Street Journal

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122840422009579487.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_wsjcid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNEpWNsLtekENzgCMVwdGWd-aDXeswJDA bSoftware/b, i2 Scrap Merger/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWall Street Journalnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By KERRY E. GRACE I2 Technologies Inc. ended its planned $346 million sale to JDA bSoftware/b Group Inc., under which the two supply-chain bsoftware/b companies b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-1fd=Rurl=http://www.reuters.com/article/mergersNews/idUSBNG30148820081204cid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNHPxkMh_EAUqW7lS5a0R7CkVIIDgAUPDATE 1-I2 Technologies ends merger deal with JDA bSoftware/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrReuters/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-2fd=Rurl=http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/12/01/daily43.htmlcid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNEG0OtUjrt5aActhI3o_EALkAtXTwi2 Technologies: No sale to JDA bSoftware/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBizjournals.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-3fd=Rurl=http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2008/12/04/i2-shrs-tumble-20-sale-to-jda-software-terminated/cid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNG9WJu6tNnyl_2SDrPFKydsTVou9Qi2 Shrs Tumble 20%; Sale To JDA bSoftware/b Terminated/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrBarron's Blogs/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-4fd=Rurl=http://newsticker.welt.de/index.php%3Fchannel%3Dfin%26module%3Dsmarthouse%26id%3D819028cid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNGGOZxCL4fINZu7apCrbOIjy9ILognobrWELT ONLINE/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-5fd=Rurl=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/120508dnbusjdai2.2d693dad.htmlcid=1277452365ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNFATKF4-OvlaFFLmBGt8OyBxEKlvwnobrDallas Morning News/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1277452365hl=ennobrall 27 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Microsoft Warns Against Fake #39;Blue Edition#39; Software - CRN

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WorkForce Software to Host its First Annual Career Fair in Michigan - MarketWatch

Everest Software Partners with Foxfire to Offer Integrated ... - MarketWatch

Apple yanks antivirus advice from its Web site - Computerworld

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/news/2008/12/02/Apple-Steps-Up-Antivirus-Promotion-As-Attacks-Increase/commentscid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNE_Old4cyWrSFYyxyu85sTyyZ_MLgimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=1QEVWEWzyVgJimgurl=www.trustedreviews.com/images/article/summary/9465.jpg width=80 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2TrustedReviews/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://computerworld.com/action/article.do%3Fcommand%3DviewArticleBasic%26articleId%3D9122359cid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNGoW7UXRM6lFSsh2_-c64mP4ExcSQApple yanks antivirus advice from its Web site/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fComputerworld,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1quot;The Mac is designed with built-in technologies that provide protection against malicious bsoftware/b and security threats right out of the box,quot; he went on. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-1fd=Rurl=http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/mac/showArticle.jhtml%3FarticleID%3D212201455%26subSection%3DNewscid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNEoae__YScKfzyaVw1QEmtUdTsIjwApple Recommends Antivirus bSoftware/b For Mac OS X/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrInformationWeek/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-2fd=Rurl=http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/12/apple-on-the-ne.htmlcid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNGhh4XnSa6W58Vx75Gyv9teRQOXdAApple on the Need for Anti-Virus bSoftware/b: Now You Do, Now You Don#39;t/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrWired News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-3fd=Rurl=http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10110852-83.htmlcid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNHGzSubn2VQC4gyXnqPgCVBrL1tqwApple suggests Mac users Install antivirus bsoftware/b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrCNET News/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-4fd=Rurl=http://www.toptechnews.com/story.xhtml%3Fstory_id%3D0030003Q2LU6cid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNFYZRQZwkxZE6xq7rNcc_x3sRuz-gnobrCIO Today/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-5fd=Rurl=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_50/b4112084938245.htm%3Fchan%3Dtechnology_tech%2Bmaven%2Bpage%2B-%2Bnew_this%2Bweek%27s%2Bcolumncid=1276552788ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNH8CONx6oLphK0r1ArFxXs-qX80vAnobrBusinessWeek/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276552788hl=ennobrall 250 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Insight Distribution Software Announces Advanced Route Accounting ... - MarketWatch

FOX Systems Relies on Robust Neocase Software#39;s Solutions for ... - MarketWatch

AVG Named #39;Spicies Award#39; Winner for Top Anti-Virus Software for ... - MarketWatch

Nokia Buys Mobile Software Firm Symbian - NewsOXY

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.newsoxy.com/nokia/article11423.htmlcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNE3BaVLG1RHGg3A7JU0GvnPRBIwyAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=QVIDSsVnFXUJimgurl=www.newsoxy.com/img/news/nokia_symbian.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2NewsOXY/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.newsoxy.com/nokia/article11423.htmlcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNE3BaVLG1RHGg3A7JU0GvnPRBIwyANokia Buys Mobile bSoftware/b Firm Symbian/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNewsOXY,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Rob Adams Nokia has purchased mobile bsoftware/b company Symbian Foundation. Employees are expected to join Nokia in February 2009. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-1fd=Rurl=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081203-nokias-oss-strategy-gets-boost-as-symbian-deal-completed.htmlcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNHQ2d4ySUejkoYTHL1D5HkD_1huVwNokia#39;s OSS strategy gets boost as Symbian deal completed/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrArs Technica/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-2fd=Rurl=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Maximizer-Mobile-CRM-Now-Available/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B70A6A2F1-F4D8-431B-8363-B63B615EA94C%257Dcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNETjX-cW_xup655rOANnoMjGCJgCAMaximizer Mobile CRM Now Available for Nokia-The Global Leader in b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-3fd=Rurl=http://call-center-software.tmcnet.com/topics/call-center-software/articles/46573-maximizer-crm-maximizes-reach-with-symbian-os-deal.htmcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNE-4hv-T3s2KM537khie2n3uS124wMaximizer CRM Maximizes Reach with Symbian OS Deal/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTMCnet/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1 class=pa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-4fd=Rurl=http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%252BNews/Tech%252Band%252BScience/Story/STIStory_309486.htmlcid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNGaoQai8F42rJbUTnA8GQsV3w3o1gnobrStraits Times/nobr/anbsp;- a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-5fd=Rurl=http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/40412/118/cid=1276830944ei=Lx84SdlbgaL2BJ3GgK0Pusg=AFQjCNH4UyxCH8hHOn9CLYOcIYoOR96yUgnobrTG Daily/nobr/a/fontbr/font class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276830944hl=ennobrall 80 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

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