Check if there is spyware on my computer

[Memory]

I need to know whether spyware (if that's what you call it) is on my computer or not. My parents fixed my laptop and I wanna make sure that they don't record my site history or something like that. Cuz, I wanna play mah computer games without getting bitched about it/ having my laptop taken away.

[person842]

post deleted

[darkwoon]

I need to know whether spyware (if that's what you call it) is on my computer or not. My parents fixed my laptop and I wanna make sure that they don't record my site history or something like that. Cuz, I wanna play mah computer games without getting bitched about it/ having my laptop taken away.

There are several different ways of tracking what someone is doing with its computer, so providing a complete answer is not really possible. However, all basic rules of computer security and confidentiality apply.

Some stuff to add to your security checklist:

Antivirus: Get a decent antivirus software. Use sites like AV-Comparatives (http://www.av-comparatives.org/) as your base for finding which ones are "good" or "bad" (guy-next-door-told-me-X-was-good is not a proper way to decide about that);

Firewall: Same as for the antivirus. The Windows firewall is a good start, but it is not sufficient for tight security. Ensure that it is properly configured, too: verify not only incoming, but also outgoing connections.

Check what's running: especially at launch. CCleaner (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner) is of great help there to list and disable startup processes you don't need/want.

Check what's installed: Again, CCleaner is of great use there.

Install a spyware hunter: SpyBot (http://www.safer-networking.org/fr/index.html) is a popular choice. Run it on a monthly basis at least.

Crypt confidential data: files, folders, or email to name a few can all be crypted - consider using encryption solutions on any personal data.

Store on removable: Don't keep your personal data on the hard disk - store it on an USB key that you can remove when finished.

Always put passwords: Have a password even on your WIndows session. Don't pick a too easy to guess, or one that you could easily forget. A good trick that works well is to use the first letter of each word in a catch phrase you can't easily forget - example: "Can I get my blue bunny some carrots ?" --> password = CIgmbbsc. This is way better than using your bunny name ;).

Erase your history, bookmarks, etc when finished: Don't limit yourself to your web browser - think also at instant messengers (Yahoo, Windows Live Messenger, etc) or downloaders (eMule, uTorrent, etc).

Use a LiveCD or USB bootable: If you cannot yet be sure that you aren't spyed, a radical solution is to bypass the installed operating system by using a LiveCD (or a "Live USB key") Linux installation that will leave no trace on the computer.

Ultimately, though, that's also an issue of trust - either you have comfidence in your parents respecting your privacy and you let them do the computer maintenance, or you don't and you do it yourself/ask a trustee to do it for you.

[JunkBondTrader]

Spyware isnn't so much a way for parents to track you as it is for companies to track your web history for marketing purposes. So, most anti-spyware probably wouldn't pick it up since it would assume the software was installed willingly by the legal owner of the computer. l'm not even sure such software even exists. If your parents are really smart they might've installed a keylogger but even then I doubt it. Try looking through the Task Manager (I'm assuming you use Windows) and seeing if there are any suspicious looking processes running.