how to detect spyware?

[Fist and Faith]

My girlfriend's ex-husband is a big computer guy. Makes a lot at IBM. She says that, when they were still together, he would call from work and tell her to stop shopping online. Meaning he knew what she was doing online when he was at work. She has the same computer, and would like to know how to make it safe from his prying eyes. Any suggestions? (Other than buy a new computer. She'll do that when she can afford it.)

[Creator]

My girlfriend's ex-husband is a big computer guy. Makes a lot at IBM. She says that, when they were still together, he would call from work and tell her to stop shopping online. Meaning he knew what she was doing online when he was at work. She has the same computer, and would like to know how to make it safe from his prying eyes. Any suggestions? (Other than buy a new computer. She'll do that when she can afford it.)

1) She can try one of the best and free spyware removers:

www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
However, if he is using custom software that may not work.

2)She can buy Internet Firewall software (I'm sure a number of Watcher's can recommend their favorite. I use Symatec:

www.symantecstore.com/dr/sat1/ec_Main.E ... E_ID=74456

3)Best approach is above AFTER she re-builds systems. Format Hard drive; reinstall operating system; reinstall ALL programs (if she bought computer from store there is usually a recovery disk); reinstall backed-up data files.

Good luck!

[Fist and Faith]

Thanks, C. There certainly won't be any re-building going on. I'm sure she doesn't have all the programs and stuff. But the spyware remover sounds good. Firewall too. (I have ZoneAlarm, from zonelabs.com, which is free and seems to be working nicely.)

Do you suppose the fact that she has AOL will make any of this more difficult? I always hear how much trouble people have when they try to use new programs with AOL. I suppose I should talk her out of AOL while I'm at it.

[Avatar]

Could be as simple as a Remote Desktop Connection, which companies all over use to allow remote access, ostensibly for support reasons.

Search hidden files for *.rdc, to see if it's installed. Will have to look up how to remove it though, I don't know off hand.

Symantec's ConSeal firewall is the one I use too. It's fantastic.

--Avatar

[Creator]

I think AOL sucks!! LOL

That being said, I have it (I use their low expense Broadband option) and I have no problems. [I subscribe so that when I'm travelling I have a dial-in option for my Laptop.]