The Internet has certainly lived up to its reputation for being a dangerous place. Drive-by attacks are on the rise. And all it may require is to simply go to the wrong website or download the wrong program, and you can end up with a system full of adware. Adware can be bundled with a shareware of free programs or can be secretly installed on users’ computers. This category of program can be used to spy on users or to deliver them specific ads.
What is particularly annoying about most adware is the way it causes constant pop-ups on your computer, or redirects you to other sites you do not care to visit. These programs can even degrade system performance to the point of being unusable.
Scenario
Your battle with malicious software is continuing. A manager has asked if you can look over several of his employees’ computers. They are complaining that when they access the Internet their browsers subject them to an endless stream of pop-ups. You suspect their systems have been infected with adware.
Scope of Task
Duration
This task should take about 30 minutes.
Setup
For this task, you will need a Windows computer, access to the Administrator account, an Internet connection, and the ability to download files.
Caveat
While removal programs for adware are quite efficient, you must be careful when asked to remove programs or components since doing so can cause a lack of functionality or can sometimes disable required components. While organizations will have the funds to purchase licensed products, this task utilizes the free, noncommercial version of Ad-Aware.
Procedure
In this task, you will learn how to install and run Ad-Aware.
Equipment Used
For this task, you must have:
- A Windows computer
- Access to the Administrator account
- An Internet connection
Details
This task will show you how to install and run Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware. This program will allow you to remove adware and other types of malicious software. It has the ability to examine the Registry, hard drives, and even system RAM for known data-mining, advertising, and tracking components.
Installing and Running Ad-Aware
1. Once you have accessed your Windows computer and have logged in as Administrator, open your browser and go to http://www.lavasoft.com/single/trialpay.php.
Once the program has completed downloading, execute it from the folder to which it was saved. This will start the installation process.
2. During the installation you will be prompted to accept the licensing agreement. You must accept this to complete the installation. Accept all other default settings to complete the installation. Once the installation is completed, Ad-Aware will start.
3. Upon startup, Ad-Aware will open at the main menu.
4. You are now ready to start a scan. You can start by clicking the Scan System button. After clicking Scan System, you will be prompted to specify the type of scan you would like to perform:
- Smart Scan
- Full Scan
- Profile Scan
5. Depending on the size of the hard drive being scanned and the type of scan being performed, the scan can take 10 to 20 minutes. Once it’s completed, you will receive a report that shows any recognized objects.
6. Clicking the Action icon provides detailed options as to how you can deal with any threats that have been found.
7. The final step in this process is to choose the option Remove All. Review each item carefully before marking them for removal.
Ad-Aware is designed to report all possible suspicious content present on your system. This does not mean that everything that was detected by Ad-Aware should be removed. A security professional must use good judgment in deciding what must go or stay. To help you in this process, Ad-Aware has developed the Threat Analysis Index (TAI). It lists the threat level for the items that were found. You can learn more about the TAI by visiting http://www.lavasoft.com/support/securitycenter/threat_analysis.php.
When working with a system that is badly infected, we recommend that you use more than one adware tool as some tools may pick up items others miss.
Criteria for Completion
You have completed this task when you have downloaded Ad-Aware, installed it on a Windows system, and scanned the system for adware programs.