Windows 7 / Security and Privacy

How to Determine Whether a Computer Is Infected with Spyware

Several signs indicate whether a computer is infected with spyware. You should train users in your environment to notice these changes and call your Support Center if they suspect a malware infection:

  • A new, unexpected application appears.
  • Unexpected icons appear in the system tray.
  • Unexpected notifications appear near the system tray.
  • The Web browser home page, default search engine, or favorites change.
  • The mouse pointer changes.
  • New toolbars appear, especially in Web browsers.
  • The Web browser displays additional advertisements when visiting a Web page, or pop-up advertisements appear when the user is not using the Web.
  • When the user attempts to visit a Web page, she is redirected to a completely different Web page.
  • The computer runs more slowly than usual. This can be caused by many different problems, but spyware is one of the most common causes.

Some spyware might not have any noticeable symptoms, but it still might compromise private information. For best results, run Windows Defender real-time protection with daily quick scans.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Windows 7 Client Protection
  2. Understanding the Risk of Malware
  3. User Account Control in Windows 7
  4. UAC for Standard Users
  5. UAC for Administrators
  6. UAC User Interface
  7. Secure Desktop
  8. How Windows Determines Whether an Application Needs Administrative Privileges
  9. How to Control UAC Using Application Properties
  10. How UAC Examines the Application Manifest
  11. UAC Heuristics
  12. UAC Virtualization
  13. UAC and Startup Programs
  14. Compatibility Problems with UAC
  15. How to Configure UAC
  16. Group Policy Settings
  17. Control Panel
  18. Msconfig.exe
  19. How to Configure Auditing for Privilege Elevation
  20. Other UAC Event Logs
  21. Best Practices for Using UAC
  22. AppLocker
  23. AppLocker Rule Types
  24. Auditing AppLocker Rules
  25. DLL Rules
  26. Custom Error Messages
  27. Using AppLocker with Windows PowerShell
  28. Using Windows 7 Defender
  29. Understanding Windows Defender
  30. Automatic Scanning
  31. Real-Time Protection
  32. Windows Defender Alert Levels
  33. Understanding Microsoft SpyNet
  34. Configuring Windows Defender Group Policy
  35. Configuring Windows Defender on a Single Computer
  36. How to Determine Whether a Computer Is Infected with Spyware
  37. Best Practices for Using Windows Defender
  38. How to Troubleshoot Problems with Unwanted Software
  39. Network Access Protection
  40. Forefront