How do I find out if someone has put a spy program on my computer?

Answer 1

it could be hid ... for example a keylogger ... download and install a new antispyware application and it should detect it .. dont trust the ones on the machine already ..

Answer 2

What's more important is how to prevent spyware from being installed, which means using IE cautiously or not at all, since Firefox is many times safer. Anyway, CTRL-ALT-DEL will give you the option to bring up Task Manager. Look for the Processes tab and see where the most CPU Time or I/O Reads are going on (other than System Idle Process, System, SERVICES.EXE, your browser, and antivirus s/w), but just because you don't recognize something doesn't mean it's necessarily spyware.

An even better way is to install MKS Korn Shell on your computer, because there are a lot of useful UNIX commands that Microsoft was just to lame or lazy to create, like the ps and kill commands.

The worst part about spyware on Windows is that it makes itself at home in the abominable mess that Microsoft calls the registry, a fragile hack that is at least partially corrupted on 90% of all the computers out there, thanks to half-bippied removal of spyware by programs that started out useful and, through neglect and apathy, later deteriorated into glorified cookie removers, such as Ad-Aware.

One way to get a pretty good idea if you have spyware is to open regedit (being careful not to change any settings if you aren't familiar with its use) and look at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run. These are processes that start up automatically when you start your computer. Spyware will often create an entry here to make sure it starts up at that time also.

Write down any suspicious filenames you see here and google for them, but don't just take the word of the first website you see talking about it, because there is a lot of confusion and disagreement out there as to what is, isn't or might be spyware.

If you absolutely must use IE, go to the Tools menu and select Internet Options. On the Security tab, unless you're already using the highest level, select the Custom Settings button and everywhere anything about ActiveX is Enabled, set it to Prompt. This will be annoying when you surf, because a lot of clueless sites use ActiveX for no valid reason whatsoever. Others use it for Acrobat or Flash. Still others use it on antivirus websites to do a remote scan of your disk drive! Are you beginning to get the picture of what a malicious website could do without even asking your permission and with Microsoft giving it behind your back? Is it any wonder people in the know technologically think Microsoft is one of the dirtiest words in the English language?

Answer 3

Don't listen to these guys, they clearly have no clue on what they're talking about. I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. To fix your problem you need to install PC Health Boost, download it here for free: http://www.healthboostpc.com

It's very light and it's the only antivirus/cleaner with a 99.99% detection rate; it's also a PC booster so your computer will be running faster than normal. Install it, hit run and problem solved. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes.

Answer 4

Usually someone doesn't do this intentionally, it's usually something that is installed when installing something else.
It's spyware, and almost any good anti-spyware program can take care of. I prefer spybot, you can get that from the link I provided. There are others out there, like avg's free spyware remover as well, link also provided.
Keep in mind when you run either of these, that cookies (from websites) will show up to, you can remove those if you like but I usually wouldn't worry about those.

Answer 5

You could download some antivirus/anti-spyware programs off the internet and use them. If you still think your computer has been infected, I suggest backing up all of your most important files on a different storage device than on your computer and formating your hard drive. Formatting your hard drive will completely wipe everything off of it, including viruses and spyware.

Answer 6

review the task manager
click at the same time ctrl +alt+ del
go to the processes tab & re order them by clicking there in the user tab label....
check it out...if there's wear process of the user finish it...
be careful and do not touch the system processes...
you only should have a few like
explorer.exe
firefox.exe the best Internet navigator (if u r using it)
IEXPLORE.exe (the worst Internet navigator (if u r using it)
msnmsgr.exe (if u r using it)
ur antivirus processes (if u have one)

u can close all the user processes but "explorer.exe"



u should
download this spyware.... its free...
http://www.spywareterminator.com/dnl/landing.aspx

also get this antivirus free...
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/us/frt/0?prd=aff

Answer 7

Download and run both Ad-Aware and Spybot:

http://www.lavasoft.com

http://www.safer-networking.org/

Answer 8

unless the encrypted the file..there is no way to locate it....but u can always try downloading anti-virus software or anti-spyware software.