Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Information Technology - Documentation for AdAware spyware removal tool installation

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Documentation for AdAware Spyware Removal Tool Installation

The following instructions are provided to assist in the installation and use of the Lavasoft AdAware spyware removal tool on your personal computer. Please download the current version (AdAware SE Personal edition is shown here) from the Lavasoft web site: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/, follow the links for downloading the AdAware SE Personal product.

Once the installation file has been downloaded, double-click it to start the installation. Details of the installation and update process are shown below.

Step 1. This is the initial installer "Welcome" screen. Click "Next."

Step 2. This is the License agreement page. Please read the terms of the license and then click to place a check in the box beside the "I accept the license agreement" line, then click "Next."

Step 3. This is the destination folder selection page. Unless you have a specific reason to do so, no changes should be required here, simply click "Next."

Step 4. Select the scope of the installation, for the current user only, or for all users of this machine. The default, "Anyone" should be fine in most cases. Click "Next."

Step 5. All selections are completed. Click "Next" to start copying the required files to the hard drive.

Step 6. Please wait while the installation proceeds. No user intervention is required.

Step 7. Installation is complete. Select the appropriate items from the menu of choices. If your computer is presently networked, check the "Update definition file" item; if your computer is infected or if you think your computer might be infected with spyware, select the "Perform a full system scan" option; if you wish to read the help file contents, select that item. Click "Finish."

Step 8. If you selected the update item on the final installation screen, and if your computer is presently connected to the internet, you should see a screen similar to this one. Wait for the update to finish. No user input is required.

Step 9. If you selected the system scan item on the final installation screen, you should be presented with this screen. No user input is required; the screen will shortly change to the one shown in Step 10.

Step 10. To initiate the scan, simply click on the "Start" button.

Step 11. Select the type of scan here. Normally, "Perform full System Scan" is the correct choice. Click "Next."

Step 12. The computer will now begin to check all of the files on your computer which might carry spyware infections. A progress counter will continually update with the number of files that have been checked, as well as a number of infected files which are found (if any). No user intervention is required at this point until and unless the scan completes. To continue, click "Next."

Step 13. At completion, you will be given the option to continue and close the program if nothing is detected on your computer, or to continue and clean up the infected items if any are found. This occurrence is shown here. Nineteen "Negligible Objects" were found. If items of a more serious nature are found they will be listed in the main portion of the screen rather than at the bottom. To continue to the removal screen, click "Next."

Step 14. Any items found by the scanner will be listed here. Normally, most items found by this program should be removed. The small green check-mark shown in the box to the left of the item on the summary tab indicates that the item is selected for deletion. Make sure that every item which you wish to remove is selected and has this check-mark beside it. If for some reason you wish to keep any items, simple remove the check-mark from the box before continuing. Click "Next" to start the removal process.

Step 15. This confirmation dialogue box is the last possible point where you can cancel the spyware removal. Confirm removal by clicking the "OK" button. Once the removal is complete you may close the program using any of the normal methods.

Step 16. The companies and programs which are considered to be spyware are expanding, changing, and disappearing all of the time. The AdAware program has an update system which keeps up with the current threats and items which should be removed. Web updates of the program should be done before each scan. To check for updates, click on the words "Check for updates now" line. Note: You must be connected to the internet during updates.

Step 17. Choose the "Connect" item to make the connection and check for updates. Do not click the "Configure" button; the default configuration is correct, no changes should be required.

Step 18. After checking with the Lavasoft servers, if your AdAware installation can be updated, you will be shown a dialogue similar to this one. To update the AdAware program, select the "OK" button. If no updates are presently available, you will be informed of this and allowed to continue using the program.

Step 19. Once the updates are applied to your computer, this screen will appear. Simply click the "Finish" button to continue using the AdAware program.

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