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How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

Tags: Security

I’ll be brutally honest here, no beating around the bush. My wife has caught me watching pornography. She’s always known that I view it from time to time, and it’s never been a big issue. It’s the kind of situation where as long as she doesn’t find out directly, it’s not that big of a deal. But lately, she is coming at me as if she has hard evidence. Even referencing the primary site that I use. Calling me out for it, even narrowing it down to a 2 day window that she “knows” I was watching. I use Chrome’s Incognito when I peruse.

I believe that she has somehow either installed something on my PC or some hidden extension in Chrome that notifies her when I get on this specific website (pornhub). How can I find out for sure if she is spying on me somehow?

Topic

If your wife has expressed disapproval,

In reply to How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

then my advice is to STOP the behaviour and head for the nearest florist shop that is open, stop by a jeweler, and give her a genuine, heartfelt apology! Either that, or retain the services of a divorce attorney.

You’re absolutely right

In reply to If your wife has expressed disapproval,

If you really want to get into my business, the two of us discussed it, I’ve realized how much of an issue it really is, and I have stopped. From as a young kid, this has been a pattern of my normal life to do at least twice a week, sometimes being as regular as once a day. Since we have had this talk – close to two weeks ago to date – I have stopped. Haven’t looked at nudey pics online, haven’t been playing with myself when she’s not home. All done.

The concern is still there of mistrust, that she is continuing to monitor what I do in my free time, and I’m not okay with that. Understanding that some people would agree that she has the right to break my trust since on a small level I broke hers by watching porn so regularly, I’m working on putting that behind us.

Not to be a drama queen, but I literally have issues going to sleep at night knowing that she is somehow watching my activity when I can’t prove it. We’ve discussed it, she gives me the biggest snicker and in her “I’m obviously lying tone of voice” says “I could tell through a woman’s intuition”.

I just want to feel a sense of privacy again in my own marriage. She’ll never admit to spying on me, knowing how upset I’ll be, but I’ll never feel comfortable again until I find out 100% if she is spying on me or not, and I can come to her with evidence about it, so we can discuss it and put it behind us.

Take my advice, DROP IT…

In reply to You’re absolutely right

if she has accepted your apology, take that “to the bank” as they say. I kind of doubt she needed to install any type of spyware, as that would more likely as not be detected by malware scanners. Continue communication with your spouse, and improving your behaviour. If you can’t trust her, do you expect her to trust you? Sometimes you just have to “man up” and work towards a forgiving and trusting relationship. Keep in mind that while she may have used womanly wiles to find you out, you were the one to breach the trust first.
Above all, keep the lines of communication open.
Wiz
ps…Where do I send my marriage counseling services bill??? Hehe, just joking!
Best wishes!

How to Check for Spyware on the Computer

In reply to How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

How to Check for Spyware on the Computer
Check for Spyware
Once spyware infects the computer, your personal details and sensitive information are at risk of getting hacked.

Spyware Monitors Online Transactions and Steals Password
Spyware is malicious software designed to monitor computer activities. Once installed, it gains access to the camera, mic, and browser enabling it to track and record conversations and online transactions.

Because Spyware can lie between the web server and web browser, it can view the details of online searches allowing it to steal passwords and other personal information. By manipulating the mic and camera, it can watch the victim and listen to conversations without being exposed. That is why it is important to check for spyware on the computer.

Spyware is designed not to cause computer glitches, so it can go undetected for a long time because there’s usually no warning sign of an infection. The victim will never have a knowledge that spyware is lurking in the computer until the personal details are used for unauthorized transactions.

Spyware transmits the collected information to the hacker. The hacker then can use the information to withdraw money from the bank, make online transactions, and more! If you suspect that a spyware is hiding in the computer, here are some ways to check for spyware.

MSCONFIG
Check for spyware in StartUp by typing Msconfig in the Windows search bar. If you notice any suspicious software running in StartUp consuming a substantial amount for memory, temporarily terminate its process. If you’re unsure what the program is, search for it online. Once confirmed malicious, uninstall it from the computer. You may have installed it unintentionally after downloading infected software. Malware such as trojan, spyware, ransomware, virus, and worms often pretends as fake software to lure in their victims.
TEMP Folder
You can also check for spyware in the TEMP Folder. The TEMP folder is created by the computer to pull up a program or website more easily. But it usually contains more than just the temporary files. This is where malware often hides. If you notice a suspicious file in the TEMP folder, delete it. To ensure that all the malicious software are removed, delete everything in the TEMP folder, those are just temporary data stored in the computer anyway.
Install an Anti Malware Software
The best way to check for spyware is by scanning the computer with anti malware software. The anti malware software dee

There is software that can check

In reply to How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

There is software that can be installed to check or you could take to a Computer tech shop and have them check for you.

Good Luck to you!

Ways in which you can check this

In reply to How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

1. MSCONFIG
Check for spyware in StartUp by typing Msconfig in the Windows search bar. If you notice any suspicious software running in StartUp consuming a substantial amount for memory, temporarily terminate its process. If you’re unsure what the program is, search for it online. Once confirmed malicious, uninstall it from the computer. You may have installed it unintentionally after downloading infected software. Malware such as trojan, spyware, ransomware, virus, and worms often pretends as fake software to lure in their victims.
2.TEMP Folder
You can also check for spyware in the TEMP folder. The TEMP folder is created by the computer to pull up a program or website more easily. But it usually contains more than just the temporary files.
3. Use HIJACK THIS to config through the free tool. Download this and scan your computer.

Try this

In reply to How can I tell if there is spyware on my PC?

Open a command line window. Netstat is a built-in Windows utility that can help detect the presence of spyware or other malicious files. Press ⊞ Win + R to manually run a program and enter “cmd”. The command line allows you to interact with the operating system using text commands.
This approach is good for those who want to avoid using third party software or take a more manual approach to the malicious software removal.
Make sure you run an elevated command prompt window by choosing Run as administrator.

Enter the text “netstat -b” and hit ↵ Enter. This will display a list of programs utilizing a connection or listening port (i.e. processes connecting to the internet).
In this context, ‘b’ stands for binary. The command displays the running “binaries” (or executables) and their connections.

Identify bad processes. Look for unfamiliar process names or port usage. If you are unsure about a process or its port, research its name online. You’ll find others who have encountered the process and they can help identify it as malicious (or harmless). When you have confirmed a process as malicious, it is time to remove the file running it.
If you are unsure whether the process is malicious or not after researching, then it is best to leave it alone. Tampering with the wrong files may cause other software to not work properly.
Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete simultaneously. This will open the Windows Task Manager, which lists all of the processes running on your computer. Scroll to locate the name of the bad process you found in the command line.

Right-click the process name and select “Show In Folder”. This will take you to the directory location of the bad file.
Right-click the file and select “Delete”. This will move the bad file to the Recycling Bin. Processes cannot run from this location.
Right-click the Recycling Bin and select “Empty Recycling Bin”. This will permanently delete the file.

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