| |
| |
|
Security Information |
|
|
|
Remove Rogue Desktop Icons Created By Spyware
If you have used a Windows machine for a while, whether it's Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows 98, you're sure to have noticed desktop icons appearing from out of nowhere. How can icons mysteriously emerge on your Windows desktop? 1. When you buy a computer, many vendors place icons to selected products and services on your desktop, such as links to high-speed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or add-on services vendors think you may need. 2. As you install software on your Windows machine, icons may appear, either to start the application or link to the manufacturer's website. Installing just one program could add three or more icons to your desktop! 3. It's easy to accidentally drag a Favorite, bookmark, text file, or other icon to your desktop, creating an icon. Normally, it's easy to delete Windows desktop icons. Just place your mouse pointer on the offending icon, then right-click it and choose "Delete", clicking "Yes" to confirm if prompted. However, what if the rogue icons are for adult websites, unfamiliar search engines, or other websites you don't recall visiting? You may try removing these icons but get an error, or after removal they still reappear again and again and again! If so, then more than likely spyware, adware, or other malware has infected your machine. It may have been through file trading software, an inadvertent "yes" click when a popup window asked you to install software, 'freeware' that included adware, or other means. To remove the rogue icons, you need to remove the malware creating these icons. Removing spyware and adware can be a time-consuming process, fraught with potential disaster as it is possible to accidentally remove files that render your operating system unusable. However, the following software products can help with this process as long as you read the instructions carefully, make backups, and get expert advice if you're not completely sure about removing what they ask you to do: * Ad-Aware: http://www.lavasoft.com/ * Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/ * Pest Patrol: http://www.pestpatrol.com/ * Spybot Search and Destroy: http://safer-networking.org/ * Spy Sweeper: http://www.webroot.com/ So, how can you prevent these icons from appearing in the first place? Practice safe computing. * Backup your machine. If it does get infected to the point of being unusable, at least you won't lose all your important files. * Install security-related operating system updates so spyware and adware cannot enter your system through well-known exploits. * Download or buy a virus scanner, and keep it updated! Virus scanners cannot detect all spyware, but it doesn't hurt to have one. Check online or visit your local computer software store. * Purchase a hardware or software firewall, and keep it updated! Firewalls help protect your computer from common exploits that spyware or adware can use to infect your machine. * Consider using a different web browser. Though it is not perfect, Mozilla Firefox is currently less susceptible to spyware than Internet Explorer, mainly because it lacks certain technology (such as ActiveX) that is often exploited by malware writers. Note that depending on your web use, certain websites may not work correctly with other web browsers. By practicing safe computing and using spyware-removal software, you can help remove rogue desktop icons from your desktop and keep others from appearing. Andrew Malek is the owner of the MalekTips computer and technology help site. Visit his anti-spyware page for more advice on removing adware, spyware, and other malware.
MORE RESOURCES: DHS arrests man in McKinney accused of making terroristic threats against Homeland Security Secretary, ICE NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth Rewind and Reconnoiter: Is Climate Security Out in the Cold in the U.S. Intelligence Community? War on the Rocks Italian police increase security at Tesla dealerships after 17 cars destroyed in Rome fire The Guardian Law Firms Fear Trump Orders Could Affect Security Clearances of Lawyers Who Are Military Reservists Military.com Kirtland Security Forces Detective Trains with APD to Strengthen Investigative Skills, Partnerships afgsc.af.mil AWS achieves Cloud Security Assurance Program (CSAP) low-tier certification in AWS Seoul Region Amazon Web Services Trump's national security adviser reportedly used his personal Gmail account to do government work TechCrunch Milwaukee's Brady Street businesses increase security to improve safety FOX6 News Milwaukee DOJ grant supports study of the effects of school security equipment on student outcomes George Mason University Apple Head of Global Security found not guilty in bribery trial tied to concealed gun permits NBC Bay Area Netanyahu says Israel will establish a new security corridor across Gaza to pressure Hamas - AP News Space Security Sentinel Via Satellite Planning for your IAM Roles Anywhere deployment Amazon Web Services Mike Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal chats for national security work – report - The Guardian Waltz and staff used Gmail for government communications, officials say The Washington Post Law firms fear Trump orders could affect security clearances of lawyers who are military reservists ABC News Oracle's masterclass in breach comms: Deny, deflect, repeat theregister.com I sent hundreds of cold emails to find a US VC firm that would hire me as an immigrant. I'm glad I ended up at a small company. Business Insider Opinion: Alaska can increase its food security without an agriculture department Anchorage Daily News NYPD boosts synagogue security ahead of Passover as anti-Jewish crimes 'jump off the page' New York Post Israel's security is America's security. Americans should not ignore that - opinion The Jerusalem Post Apple security chief acquitted, mistrial for ex-undersheriff in Santa Clara County gun permit bribery trial The Mercury News CyberQP Releases Groundbreaking Zero Trust Helpdesk Security Platform to Eliminate Standing Privileges Yahoo Finance Opinion: Trump’s casual response to his administration’s security lapse Chattanooga Times Free Press Charges Filed Against Former PUSD Security Guard Pasadena Now HPD, Homeland Security bust multiple game rooms FOX 26 Houston New security system coming to Alaska’s Capitol building Your Alaska Link Glencoe based Security Bank & Trust Co. expands reach in Minnesota McLeod County Chronicle Parliament speaker Stefanchuk blocks Poroshenko’s US trip to international security conference, party says The Kyiv Independent National security implications of tariff announcement LiveNOW from FOX ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: BOSCH SECURITY AND SAFETY SYSTEMS Security Info Watch Security by Design Requires Organizational Commitment BankInfoSecurity Security forces report 80% drop in Ramadan terror attacks, after West Bank crackdown The Times of Israel Women in Security: Alice DiSanto, VP of Marketing, Autonomous Solutions Inc. Security Sales & Integration Security firm Brinks Home sells Lancaster city location LancasterOnline When will your Social Security benefits arrive in April? See 2025 payment schedule Democrat and Chronicle Coral Gables commissioner raises concerns for security of elected officials NBC 6 South Florida ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: PROMETHEUS Security Info Watch Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (NasdaqGS:KTOS) Breaks Ground On New Hypersonic Facility Yahoo Finance Pasadena school security officer accused of duct-taping 11-year-old girl's mouth shut for 'talking too much' ABC7 Los Angeles Secure Passage and Sunflower Labs take security to the skies with autonomous drone integration Police1 Contrast Security Debuts 'Channel-First' Strategy Channel Futures Marlink New Cyber Company to Meet Customer Demand for Security & Compliance - The Maritime Executive Marlink New Cyber Company to Meet Customer Demand for Security & Compliance The Maritime Executive Why Active Directory’s 25-Year Legacy Is a Security Issue BankInfoSecurity Diversus Health adds new Security-Widefield location FOX21 News Colorado Northwest Dallas security guard fatally shoots man outside motel FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth Oracle Cloud security SNAFU latest: IT giant accused of pedantry as evidence scrubbed theregister.com Fight at maximum security unit precedes tour by state’s prison work group - South Dakota Searchlight Fight at maximum security unit precedes tour by state’s prison work group South Dakota Searchlight 2025 SAMMY Awards Winners Honored at ISC West 2025 Security Sales & Integration ISC West 2025 Show Floor Spotlight: RESIDEO Security Info Watch |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Watching the Watchers: Detection and Removal of Spyware If spyware were a person and he set himself up in yourhouse, you are likely going to do one of two things. You'llkick him out yourself or you'll call someone (such as thepolice) to do it for you. Cyber Crooks Go Phishing "Phishing," the latest craze among online evil-doers, has nothing to do with sitting at the end of a dock on a sunny afternoon dangling a worm to entice hungry catfish.But, if you take their bait, this new breed of online con artist will hook you, reel you in, and take you for every dollar you have. Hacked: Who Else Is Using Your Computer? A friend called me one day and asked if I would stop by to look at his computer. He said it was running abnormally slow and he had found something on his hard-drive he could not explain. How To Give Away Your Personal Information Identity Theft and Your Personal Information--------------------------------------------Identity theft is apparently the "in thing" these days. By media accounts, hackers and evildoers lurk everywhere trying to steal your personal information. Internet/Network Security AbstractHomogeneous symmetries and congestion control have garnered limited interest from both cryptographers and computational biologists in the last several years [1]. In fact, few steganographers would disagree with the investigation of spreadsheets. Its Time to Sing the Encryption Song - Again! Yes, I'm wearing my encryption hat again. Why you may ask? Well I just finished reading about the newest security hole in Microsoft's latest server product. Dont Get Hacked - A Guide to Protecting Your Business from Thieves You've seen it in the news - 40 million credit cards exposed!With all the news about web sites being hacked and cyberthieves stealing credit card numbers and other personal data,it's no wonder that some shoppers are still hesitant to providepayment information online. You don't have to be. From Spyware with Love! It's late. You've been scouring the web for that perfect present for your Aunt Bess in Idaho. Free Ways to Tackle Threats to Your Computer Protect Your PCHaving problems with your pc?Do your kids, family or friends fill it with all the stuff they find on the internet?Your computer, just like your car, needs to be serviced regularly to keep it running efficiently. You wouldn't fill your car up with petrol from an old rusty can with a layer of dirty water on the bottom, so you shouldn't allow your pc to be treated that way either. Lottery Scam, What It is and how to Avoid It? Internet scams and frauds are on the rise! The quantity of scam emails with various fraud schemes any email account receives today is simply overwhelming! There is this infamous Nigerian 419 scam, which is by far the most widely circulated one. I wrote about it in one of our ezine articles not long ago. If You Sell Anything Online Your ePockets Are Being Picked You and I are a lot alike. We are both software publishers and eBook authors getting hosed on a regular basis. Password Security and Safety There is nothing more important that password security in world of technology. It is the first step to creating a safe and secure environment. DOS Attacks: Instigation and Mitigation During the release of a new software product specialized to track spam, ACME SoftwareInc notice that there was not as much traffic as they hoped to receive. During furtherinvestigation, they found that they could not view their own website. Spyware Removal Spyware SolutionProbably Today's Biggest Computer Problem.You Suffer Without Knowing Your PC is Infected!"The effects can be devastating. Social Engineering - The Real E-Terrorism? One evening, during the graveyard shift, an AOL technical support operator took a call from a hacker. During the hour long conversation the hacker mentioned he had a car for sale. Identity Theft -- 10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Good Name! Identity Theft is one of the most serious problems facing Internet users. Identity Theft is exactly as the name states -- someone steals your Identity and commits fraud in your name. The Important Steps To Protect Your Kids on the Internet Internet is the ocean of knowledge. In this ocean youwill find beautiful pearls of knowledge. How Spyware Blaster Can Protect Your Computer From Harm By browsing a web page, you could infect your computer withspy ware, ad ware, dialers and hijackers. These, unwelcomeguests, are some of the fastest growing threats on theInternet today. Data Security; Are Your Company Assets Really Secure? Is your data secure? Think again. Securing data is unlike any other corporate asset, and is likely the biggest challenge your company faces today. Protecting Your Identity On The Internet Afraid that someone is monitoring your PC or installed a keylogger to record every single keystroke? Find out which tools you need to get to make sure you are protected.X-Cleaner Deluxehttp://www.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |