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Spyware is a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent.
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• You will see pop-up advertisements even when you're not on the Web.

• The page your Web browser first opens to (your home page) or your browser search settings have changed without your knowledge.

• You notice a new toolbar in your browser that you didn't want, and find it difficult to get rid of.

• Your computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks.

• You experience a sudden rise in computer crashes.

Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements called adware, or software that tracks personal or sensitive information. That does not mean all software which provides ads or tracks your online activities is bad.
Example: You might sign up for a free music service, but "pay" for it by agreeing to receive targeted ads.

Other kinds of unwanted software will make changes to your computer that can be annoying and can cause your computer to slow down or crash. These programs have the ability to change your Web browser's home page or search page, or add additional components to your browser you don't need or want. These programs also make it very difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you originally has them. These types of unwanted programs are also often called spyware.
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Many kinds of unwanted software, including spyware, are designed to be difficult to remove. If you try to uninstall this software like any other program, you might find that the program reappears as soon as you restart your computer. If you're having trouble uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to download one of the antiSpyware programs we have provided directions for on the site. These companies offer free software that will check your computer for spyware and other unwanted software and help you remove it.
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Spyware and other unwanted software can invade your privacy, bombard you with pop-up windows, slow your computer down, and even make it crash. There are several ways to prevent this from happening:

• Update your software: If you use Windows XP, one way to help prevent spyware and other unwanted software is to make sure you have updated. You can visit Windows Updates to confirm that you have enabled your automatic updates.

• Make sure your Web Browser is protected: Most people probably use Internet Explorer for their web browser. You can adjust your security settings to help better protect IE by just clicking tools and then Internet Options. Select the Security tab and make sure your security is set to medium or higher. Another option is Mozilla Firefox, this web browser is much more protected than Internet Explorer and allows you to do virtually the same operations. To download this web browser you can go to www.getfirefox.com click the "Free".

• Surf and download more safely: The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Try to only download programs from Web sites you trust. If your not sure whether to trust a program you are downloading, ask a knowledgeable friend, or type the name of the program into a search engine to see if anyone else has reported that is contains spyware. Make sure you read all the security warnings, license agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download. NEVER click "agree" or "OK" to close a window. Instead click the red "X" in the corner of thew window or press the Alt + F4 buttons on your keyboard to close the window.

• The last step would be to Download and install anti-spyware protection. Find out which ones we recommend...

Re-boot. Re-booting is always the best first response. If that doesn't fix it, give us a call.
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If you've re-booted and that didn't fix the problem, there are three likely candidates:

• File sharing software: if poorly configured or you've filled your harddrive with movies or music, your computer will be very slow.

• Web widgets: 3rd party toolbars, on-screen weather updates, specialized cursors, and other "enhancements" will slow you computer… and often come with malware.

• Malware: spyware, viruses, Trojan Horses, and other "malicious software" that can infect your computer and wreak havoc.

Your problem may be loose cables. Try re-connecting or replacing them.
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In Windows, double click on the yellow speaker icon in your System Tray. Make sure the volume sliders are all set at least partway up and that none of the mute boxes are checked.
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Go to Start, then Settings, then to Control Panel. Double click on add/remove hardware. Find Ethernet card information, highlight and click "remove."
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