ResNet has been seeing an excessive number of computers in ResNet with various pop-ups, adware, and spyware installed on them recently.

Unwanted software could also be installed on your computer without you even knowing it, either from visiting a web site that secretly installs the software on your computer or by you downloading and installing free software from the Internet that includes adware/spyware hidden in the software installer.

If you click on a link to an unknown web site or download questionable software from the Internet, that web site could be installing:

• Adware - software that displays annoying pop-up advertisements on your computer.
• Spyware - software that records what web sites you visit and keystrokes you type on your computer (including passwords, credit card numbers, and other personal information).
• Pornware - software that displays offensive pop-up advertisements and messages on your computer.
• Malware - software that could cripple your computer's performance, violate your personal privacy, or allow your computer to be used to hack into other computers.

Examples of questionable software that you would not want to download on your computer include peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs and software downloaded with peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs. Downloading and installing free games from the Internet is another common way that adware/spyware can be installed on your computer without your knowledge. There are also many software packages that claim to remove adware/spyware from your computer that actually install adware/spyware on your computer, so please be careful and use software from companies that you recognize or that ResNet recommends (see below).

How do you protect your computer?

• Make sure that your computer has up-to-date virus protection software installed.
• Install all of the security patches required for your computer's operating system (the best thing to do is configure your computer to automatically update itself - instructions are included in the ResNet FAQ).
• Do not download or install suspicious software.
• This includes free music downloads using software such as KaZaa, FastTrack, WinMX, eDonkey, and others like them. These software pakages are loaded with advertising, and also violate Saint Mary's Acceptable Computer Use Policy. Software for legitimate downloads including iTunes and Napster do not have this problem.
• Free games, including ones from WildTangent, and also known to create serious pop-up problems.
• Read software licensing agreements carefully before accepting them to make sure that you are not agreeing to have adware/spyware installed on your computer while you install legitimate software.
• Do not haphazardly click on links if you don't know where they go to.
• Use a program such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware (Ad-Aware 2007 FREE is free, other versions of Ad-Aware are available starting at $27) to regularly scan your computer for adware/spyware.
• Use a program such as AVG's Anti-Spyware (free version and a $40 version) to protect your computer from adware/spyware.
• Use a program such as Webroot's SpySweeper ($30) to protect your computer from adware/spyware.