Spyware/Adware is the most common reason for not being able to sign-in to WebCT (other than forgetting a password, which your instructor can help you with).
What is
Spyware?
In general, Spyware is software that monitors your system (usually you web-surfing
habits), and sends this sensitive information to a "company". The
"company" will then generally attempt to target web-advertising to
your system/user based on the information the Spyware gathered.
Where does
Spyware come from?
Spyware is generally installed when installing other programs, for example,
p2p or file sharing programs. Spyware can be bundled into the installer and
installed with the main product. For example, a user may be unknowingly authorizing
Spyware to be installed by clicking "I Accept" without reading the
agreement when installing some applications. The second most common place to
get spyware is from websites of questionable integrity -- spyware can be installed
without the user even being aware of it.
What is
Adware?
Adware is Advertising Supported Software. Usually the software is available
for free, provided that advertising banners displayed within the software. You
don't pay for the software, and the company makes money from the advertisements.
Adware can install additional components (software) on your system and may exchange
statistics with remote internet locations.
How do
I disable Adware/Spyware so I can get back in to WebCT?
Usually, the Adware/Spyware preventing a user from logging into to WebCT is
a Browser Helper Object (BHO). The quickest way to disable a BHO is to use a
FREE tool called BHODemon, located at http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm.
Download BHODemon by following the download link at http://www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm.
After downloading the file, extract it to a location where you can find it (Desktop?)
using a utility like WinZip. After extracting, you should see some icons similar
to the ones in the image below.
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Extracted
Files |
To run BHODemon,
double-click the yellow icon labeled "BHODemon". The main screen of
the "BHODemon" program will appear (see below). Each BHO that is installed
will be listed on a seperate line. Each is a piece of software that adds functionality
to Internet Explorer.
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| BHODemon
- Main Screen |
The following 3 steps should be repeated for each item in the list. (do not disable googletoolbar1.dll if you use the Google Toolbar).
- Select the item
by clicking on it (the entire row will highlight).
Select an item by clicking on it - the entire row will highlight.
- Click on "Details".
The details screen for the selected BHO will appear.
"Details" screen
- To disable the
BHO, select "Disabled" (see screenshot below), then click "OK".
 |
Choose
"Disabled" to prevent the BHO from loading. |
On the main screen, a red "x" will appear next to the items that you have disabled. (see screenshot below).
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Disabled
items have red "x" next to them. |
After disabling
all items in the list, you must restart your computer
for the changes to take effect.
When your computer finishes restarting, you should be able to login to WebCT.
Please
note:
The process in this document only disables the Browser Helpers and
is intended to serve as a quick and temporary solution to restore access to
WebCT. The procedure only disables the software, however, it does not remove
the software from your system.
After completing the process above you should also do the following:
- Update your antivirus software to the most recent virus definitions.
- Apply available updates for your operating system (Windows) - available at http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com
- Remove programs
that you did not knowingly install by using the "Add and Remove Programs"
Control Panel. Generally, if you see a program in the
list that makes you say to yourself "what is this" or "why
is this here", you can probably safely remove it.
( Be careful - do not delete programs that you need. St. Cloud Technical College and the SCTC MIS Department are not responsible for software on computers outside of the college (ex: home computers), and will not be held responsible in any way for software that is removed from these computers)
You can also contact the MIS Helpdesk at (320) 308-6445 for assistance with these procedures.
Last Updated: Feb 10, 2004 @ 11:17 am
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