In the page that opens click Continue
|
You must go through the validation process to download the software.
Hit Continue
|
If you have never validated your computer you will see the following two screens. (If you have, skip ahead 2 steps.) Hit Continue
|
Hit Continue
|
Now you are on the download page. Hit Download to continue
|
Run the download
|
Downloading
|
Install the Microsoft AntiSpyware Tool |
After downloading, the box below should pop up. Select Run
|
Click Next
|
Select I accept and then next
|
Select where you want AntiSpyware installed into and then click "next"
|
To begin installation click Install
|
Check the Launch Microsoft AntiSpyware and then hit Finish
|
Microsoft AntiSpyware will load and bring up the Setup Assistant. Click Next to continue.
|
Select Yes to enable AutoUpdater, and then select next.
|
Select Yes to enable Real-Time Security Agent protection, and then select next.
|
Joining SpyNet: The Anti-Spyware Community is your decision.
If you choose yes, your computer will go through an initial scan.
Hit Finish when you have made your choice.
|
Now its time for the Final Step, the QuickScan.
We recommend unchecking the Run a spyware scan every night at 2 am because we believe it is unnecessary.
Click the Run Quick Scan Now button.
|
As always- you need to update your spyware definitions before scanning. Click Update Now...
|
After downloading the latest definitions and software click Close.
|
Then the AntiSpyware tool will immediately launch into a scan.
|
Deleting Spyware from your computer |
After the scan is complete, a screen will then come up with Scan results, hit view results.
|
Microsoft will give a recommended action but you may choose to change the dropdowns next to items
to remove things you do not need on your computer.
We do recommend removing all things that do have Remove listed in the dropbox.
Click Continue to remove the items.
|
Click Yes to perform the actions you selected in the drop downs.
|
Then Microsoft asks if you would like to restore your Internet Explorer browser. We recommend hitting Configure Now....
|
The next screen will show discrepancies between Internet Explorer defaults and your current settings.
Anything besides Start Page should match the Default URL.
If it does not, click on the blue arrows to restore the default, and then hit Continue
|
Now you are back at the main Spyware Scan screen. Go to Scan Options (1) in the left toolbar.
It will drop down a set of options. Select Full system scan (2) and then hit Run Scan Now (3).
|
AntiSpyware will go through a complete scan of your system now. It will take longer, but also catch things it did not before.
Follow the same process for deleting the items found as you did above.
Try to run a scan once every month always getting updated spyware definitions first! |
Schedule AntiSpyware to run regularly |
Schedule a monthly or weekly scan by going to Scan Scheduler (see above picture, #4).
Pick when you want the scan to run, anytime that is best for you, and then select Always run a deep scan.
You can choose for Microsoft to Automatically remove items if you want it to.
And then hit Update Schedule. Then hit the back button or close the program.
|
How to use the Microsoft AntiSpyware Tool |
You can open AntiSpyware by clicking on the red "target" icon in the taskbar by the clock in the lower right corner.
(Note: you may have to hit the arrow button (shown in the below picture) if you cannot see the target icon.)
Or by launching the program from Start --> All Programs --> Microsoft AntiSpyware --> Microsoft AntiSpyware.
|
The following screen should appear. Click on the Spyware Definitions link to get the latest updates.
Then click on Scan Options found under the larger Run Quick Scan Now button.
|
Make sure Run a full system scan is selected and then hit Run Scan Now.
|
Follow the instructions under deleting to remove the spyware found on your computer. |