Symptoms
Below are some of the typical symptoms of an infected computer.
- When you start your computer or when your computer has been idle for many minutes, your web browser opens to display website advertisements.
- When you use your browser to view sites on the web, other instances of your browser open to display advertisements.
- Your web browser's home page unexpectedly changes.
- Web pages are unexpectedly added to your favorites or bookmarks.
- New toolbars are unexpectedly added to your web browser.
- You cannot start a program.
- When you click a link in a program, the link does not work.
- Your web browser suddenly closes or stops responding.
- It takes a much longer time to start or to resume your computer.
- Components of Windows or other programs no longer work.
- Your default search engine changes.
Cause
Most likely, spyware has been downloaded onto your computer.
Spyware is hidden software that transmit user information via the Internet to advertisers in exchange for free downloaded software. If enough of these programs are present then your Internet connection can slow down to a crawl.
Resolution
As with all software, please ensure that your usage falls within the licensing terms. For instance, some software may not be licensed for use on TTU-owned devices.
Removing the spyware will improve computer performance.
If the computer is displaying any of the symptoms in the "Symptoms" section above, it may need to be cleaned. To do this, you should download a trusted anti-spyware/anti-malware/anti-virus program. These programs must be update regularly for them to be effective.
OUTCOME
Removing spyware from your computer will help improve the performance of your computer.