University of Colorado Denver

While antivirus solutions such as McAfee VirusScan provide some protection against spyware, no utility can find all the many attacks that are possible. It's therefore recommended that you run a second anti-spyware utility as well. Below are some that we've used successfully.

Malwarebytes (click to access the download page)

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is an anti-malware application that can thoroughly remove even the most advanced malware.

Spybot - Search and Destroy (click to download and start the install process)

Spybot - S&D searches your hard drive and registry for existing spying/advertisement robots. If they are found, Spybot - S&D is able to remove them.

To install, click on 'Open', 'Next', accept the license agreement,'Next', 'Next' again, check the 'Don't create a Start Menu folder' box, click 'Next', take the check mark out of the 'Create a Quick Launch icon' box, click 'Next', click 'Install', and click 'Finish'. You will now have an icon on your desktop for the program. When you start the program the first time, you will be asked to select the language for the program. Select 'English', and click on 'OK' in the box that appears. Once you are in the program, click on the 'Online' box on the left or the 'Search for Updates' box in the center, and then click on the 'Check for Updates' box. Make sure the items are checked and download them and then click on the 'Check for Problems' button. If there are any potential problems detected, they will be reported. Click on the 'Fix Selected Problems' button and 'OK' to complete the Search & Destroy process.

Spywareblaster ver. 4.2 (click to download and start the install process)

Spywareblaster is another program that is useful for combating spyware. Spywareblaster blocks your access to known spyware sites on the Internet. If you absolutely have to visit one of the blocked sites, you may go in and manually remove the protection from that site in Spywareblaster. However, when you do this, you open up your system to be re-infested with spyware.

Install the program, click on the "updates" link (and also check for updates weekly), and enable all protection.

Ad-Aware Free (click to access the download page)

Ad-Aware is another program that is useful for combating spyware.

Compatibility Pack for Office 2007 File Formats (click to access instructions and the download page

The Compatibility Pack allows Microsoft Office 2003 to open documents created in Microsoft Office 2007. These documents have "x" in the file name extension, e.g. .docx, .xlsx, .pptx, etc.

The Windows "Messenger Service" is being exploited to spray the Internet with unsolicited commercial email. The receipt of a single UDP packetcan cause a "Messenger Service" dialog to pop-up on the user's screen. It is possible for the sender to "spoof" (falsify) the packet's "Source IP", making these packets impossible to trace back to their origin. This utility allows you to easily disable Windows Messenger (note that this is a completely different service from MSN Messenger)

jZipVersion 1.3 (click to access the download page)

A free utility to extract documents from compressed archives such as Zip, TAR and other compression formats.

SCIROCCO Take a Break 2.7 (Click here to access the download page. Download the "full setup package")

In today's world, we sit without moving for long hours in front of the computer screen. We hurt our eyes, shoulders, backs, and wrists. A short break every once in a while can reduce repetitive-stress injuries associated with computer usage. Take a Break reminds us when to take a break and it does so in style.

Glimmer Blocker (click to access the download page).

Glimmer Blocker is a utility for blocking ads that appear on many web sites. It works with all Mac OS X web browsers and other Internet applications without modifying the application in any way.

Time Out (click to access the download page)

It is very easy to fall into bad habits when using a computer for hours on end. You care about what you are doing, so can sometimes push yourself too far, or over-strain yourself. The human body isn't built to sit in one position for endless hours, gripping a mouse or typing on the keyboard. Time Out will gently remind you to take a break on a regular basis.