DataSQL
DataSQL
New
User.
February 24, 2026
#1
detecting-spyware.png
I was sitting one evening, drinking tea, browsing forums. I came across a thread where a guy was complaining: "I noticed my computer is slow, my antivirus isn't working, and there are some random processes running in Task Manager." I messaged him privately and said it looked like spyware. He asked what it was and how to fix it. I started explaining, but then I realized it was easier to write a long post than to tell everyone privately.
This is a really important topic. Spyware isn't the kind of virus that hacks everything and asks for a ransom. It sits quietly in your system, collecting your passwords, messages, and card details, and then it all goes to whoever ordered it.
I've been through this myself. A couple of years ago, I caught a virus and couldn't figure out why my emails were flooded with spam and why someone was trying to log in to my social media accounts. It turned out I'd had a spyware program for a month, leaking everything I could.
I decided to get to the bottom of it. I combed through a bunch of forums, tried different protection methods, and even tested them on virtual machines. Now I'm sharing everything I learned.
What is spyware and where does it come from?
Spyware is a type of spyware. It doesn't hack your system, encrypt your files, or demand ransom. It just sits quietly in the background and collects information. What exactly is it? Everything:
Website, email, and social media passwords
Bank card details
Messenger conversations
Browser history
Photos and documents
Keystrokes
Screenshots
Camera and microphone data
All of this is packaged and sent to the owner. It's up to them to decide what to do with it: cash it out themselves or sell it on the black market.
Where do they come from? There are tons of ways.
Pirated software. Download "free" Photoshop from a torrent, run the installation, and get a spyware free of charge. The installer may look pretty, so there's no suspicion.
I once downloaded a dozen popular programs from Rutracker as an experiment. Eight of them contained spyware or stealers.
Phishing emails. A message arrives: "Your order has been placed," "Invoice," "Photos from a party." Inside is an attachment or a link. You open it—and there's a spy on your computer.
I once received a letter from Russian Post with a tracking number. Inside was an archive. I opened it on a virtual machine—a Trojan emerged and immediately started collecting data.
Hacked websites. You go to a website, and there's a script that searches for vulnerabilities in your browser or plugins. If your browser isn't updated, it can pick up an infection without your knowledge.
Browser extensions. You install a useful extension, and it collects all your data. They especially like to disguise themselves as VPNs, ad blockers, and weather forecasts.
Flash drives. Someone left a flash drive in the office, you plug it in, and voila.
How to tell if you have spyware
There are almost no direct signs; otherwise, they would be quickly detected. But some things can be alarming.
Your computer is slowing down. Spyware eats up resources, especially if it also takes screenshots. If your computer used to run smoothly but is now slow, it's time to check.
Antivirus software is shutting down on its own. Some spyware can suppress protection to avoid detection. If your antivirus software stops running or keeps shutting down, that's a warning sign.
Strange network activity. If your internet connection is flickering when you're not doing anything, it's possible your data is leaking. You can check the Task Manager to see which processes are hogging your network.
Unusual processes in the Task Manager. They'll look in the Task Manager and see something with a suspicious name. If you don't know what it is, Google every unfamiliar process.
Your browser is behaving strangely. Extra tabs are opening, the start page is changing, new toolbars are appearing.
You're receiving notifications about logins from new devices. If this happens without your intervention, your passwords may have already been leaked.
But the surest way is to run a system scan with specialized programs. You might not notice anything with the naked eye.
How to scan for spyware
Standard antivirus software often misses spyware, especially if it's new. You need specialized utilities.
Malwarebytes. The best free program for scanning for all sorts of junk. I always start with it. Download, install, and run a scan. It finds what antivirus software missed.
HitmanPro. Also excellent. Scans in the cloud, compares program behavior with databases, and often finds even new samples.
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. A free utility from Kaspersky Lab. It cleans up infections well.
AdwCleaner. Specializes in adware and unwanted programs. Sometimes it also catches spyware.
Spybot Search & Destroy. An old, but still useful program. It specifically searches for spyware.
Process Explorer. An advanced task manager from Mark Russinovich. Lets you see hidden processes and see what files a program has open.
AutoRuns. Also from Russinovich. Shows everything that runs at system startup. If a spyware program has registered itself in startup, it will be visible there.
I usually do this: run Malwarebytes, then HitmanPro, then check AutoRuns. If nothing is found, but suspicions remain, I open Process Explorer and dig through the processes manually.
How to remove spyware
If programs detect an infection, they usually offer to remove it themselves. But sometimes they can't, because the files are locked or the spyware is deep in the system.
Then we take action manually.
Disconnect the internet. Immediately. To prevent the spyware from sending collected data and receiving commands.
Boot into Safe Mode. Press F8 when starting (for older Windows) or through the system settings. Many spyware programs don't start in Safe Mode and can be removed.
Search for files. Use the paths the program showed. Delete anything suspicious.
Clean the registry. Start -> regedit, search for the spyware program's name, and delete the keys. Be careful not to delete anything unnecessary.
Check startup. Use AutoRuns or msconfig to see what's left.
Clean the Task Scheduler. Spyware sometimes registers itself there to run on a schedule.
Clean browser extensions. Go to settings, look through the list of extensions, and remove any suspicious ones.
Reset your browser. As a last resort, you can reset the settings to factory defaults.
After all these steps, reboot and check the system again.
If you're unsure, it's easier to reinstall Windows. It's more reliable.
How to protect yourself from spyware
The best protection is to avoid infection. But there are no guarantees, so use a combination of measures.
Don't download from torrents. Yes, it's a waste of money on decent software. But losing data can be more expensive. There are plenty of free alternatives that don't require cracking.
Don't open unauthorized emails. Even if it's from a friend and they're writing something strange, it's better to call and ask. Accounts are hacked all the time.
Update. The more recent your system, the fewer holes there are through which a spyware can be installed without your knowledge. Enable automatic Windows updates.
Use an antivirus with behavioral analysis. Not just signatures, but analysis of the program's actions. Kaspersky, Dr.Web, ESET—they all have this feature.
Turn on a firewall. It can block spyware attempts to send data outside. Windows has a firewall by default, just make sure it's enabled.
Check your browser extensions. Don't install everything. If an extension requests access to all websites and data, it's likely collecting something.
Use a password manager. This saves you from having to manually enter passwords every time. The manager automatically inserts them into forms, and the spyware only sees a meaningless string of characters.
Enable two-factor authentication. Even if your password is stolen, they won't be able to log in without the second factor. This saves you 90% of the time.
Check your flash drives before opening them. You can even use a separate computer for this.
Use a virtual keyboard for important inputs. Some banking websites offer this option. Spyware typically doesn't intercept keystrokes from the on-screen keyboard.
Scan your system once a month. Malwarebytes and HitmanPro are helpful.
Don't log in as an administrator all the time. Create a regular account without administrator rights for everyday tasks. This will make it harder for a spy to gain access to your system.
Hardware spies are a separate topic.
A quick word about hardware. There are devices that fit between the keyboard and the computer and record every keystroke. Antivirus software doesn't detect them. They can only be detected physically.
Protection is simple: inspect the system unit, don't connect other people's keyboards, and use wireless keyboards with encryption.
What to do if the data has already been leaked
If you suspect a spy has already sent data, act quickly.
Change your passwords. On all important services: email, social media, banks, forums.
Enable two-factor authentication. Wherever possible.
Check linked devices. You can see where logins were made in your account settings.
Monitor suspicious activity. If you see strange transactions in your bank or email, block them immediately.
Report to support. Banks and services can help if you react quickly.
My mistakes
As usual, there were some mistakes.
Problem 1. I downloaded a program from a torrent and turned off my antivirus to stop it from complaining. It spied on me. I found out a month later when I noticed strange transactions at the bank.
Problem 2. I thought the antivirus would protect me from everything. But it didn't because the spyware was fresh and hadn't yet been added to the databases.
Problem 3. After the infection, I didn't change my passwords for a long time. A month later, they reappeared. I had to reissue everything.
Problem 4. I didn't enable two-factor authentication. Because I was lazy. I later regretted it.
Problem 5. I used the same password for everything. After it was stolen, I had to change fifty accounts.
Problem 6. I inserted someone else's flash drive into my work computer at the office. My boss later explained why we had a virus on our network.
Problem 7. I thought incognito mode protected me from surveillance. It doesn't save history, but the spyware still sees what you're typing.
A practical example: how I caught a spyware on a virtual machine
I decided to see how modern spyware works. I downloaded a fresh sample from a forum and ran it on a virtual machine.
It immediately registered itself in startup under the guise of a system driver. In Task Manager, it showed up as svchost.exe, but with a different digital signature. It created a hidden directory in the Windows folder where it stored logs.
It sent the logs to the server once an hour. If there was no internet connection, it saved them locally and waited for a connection.
It also took screenshots every 10 minutes and sent them as well.
Malwarebytes only found it after updating its databases. Before that, the antivirus was silent.
That's how it works.
In a nutshell
Spyware is a real threat. They can sit quietly in your system and leak everything you type and do.
The best defense is not to catch it. Don't download unauthorized software, don't open suspicious emails, and don't visit dubious websites.
Use two-factor authentication and a password manager.
Scan your system once a month with specialized software.
And remember: antivirus software isn't a panacea. It can miss infections, especially new ones. Your best defense is your own mind.
DataSQL
New
User.
February 24, 2026
#1
detecting-spyware.png
I was sitting one evening, drinking tea, browsing forums. I came across a thread where a guy was complaining: "I noticed my computer is slow, my antivirus isn't working, and there are some random processes running in Task Manager." I messaged him privately and said it looked like spyware. He asked what it was and how to fix it. I started explaining, but then I realized it was easier to write a long post than to tell everyone privately.
This is a really important topic. Spyware isn't the kind of virus that hacks everything and asks for a ransom. It sits quietly in your system, collecting your passwords, messages, and card details, and then it all goes to whoever ordered it.
I've been through this myself. A couple of years ago, I caught a virus and couldn't figure out why my emails were flooded with spam and why someone was trying to log in to my social media accounts. It turned out I'd had a spyware program for a month, leaking everything I could.
I decided to get to the bottom of it. I combed through a bunch of forums, tried different protection methods, and even tested them on virtual machines. Now I'm sharing everything I learned.
What is spyware and where does it come from?
Spyware is a type of spyware. It doesn't hack your system, encrypt your files, or demand ransom. It just sits quietly in the background and collects information. What exactly is it? Everything:
Website, email, and social media passwords
Bank card details
Messenger conversations
Browser history
Photos and documents
Keystrokes
Screenshots
Camera and microphone data
All of this is packaged and sent to the owner. It's up to them to decide what to do with it: cash it out themselves or sell it on the black market.
Where do they come from? There are tons of ways.
Pirated software. Download "free" Photoshop from a torrent, run the installation, and get a spyware free of charge. The installer may look pretty, so there's no suspicion.
I once downloaded a dozen popular programs from Rutracker as an experiment. Eight of them contained spyware or stealers.
Phishing emails. A message arrives: "Your order has been placed," "Invoice," "Photos from a party." Inside is an attachment or a link. You open it—and there's a spy on your computer.
I once received a letter from Russian Post with a tracking number. Inside was an archive. I opened it on a virtual machine—a Trojan emerged and immediately started collecting data.
Hacked websites. You go to a website, and there's a script that searches for vulnerabilities in your browser or plugins. If your browser isn't updated, it can pick up an infection without your knowledge.
Browser extensions. You install a useful extension, and it collects all your data. They especially like to disguise themselves as VPNs, ad blockers, and weather forecasts.
Flash drives. Someone left a flash drive in the office, you plug it in, and voila.
How to tell if you have spyware
There are almost no direct signs; otherwise, they would be quickly detected. But some things can be alarming.
Your computer is slowing down. Spyware eats up resources, especially if it also takes screenshots. If your computer used to run smoothly but is now slow, it's time to check.
Antivirus software is shutting down on its own. Some spyware can suppress protection to avoid detection. If your antivirus software stops running or keeps shutting down, that's a warning sign.
Strange network activity. If your internet connection is flickering when you're not doing anything, it's possible your data is leaking. You can check the Task Manager to see which processes are hogging your network.
Unusual processes in the Task Manager. They'll look in the Task Manager and see something with a suspicious name. If you don't know what it is, Google every unfamiliar process.
Your browser is behaving strangely. Extra tabs are opening, the start page is changing, new toolbars are appearing.
You're receiving notifications about logins from new devices. If this happens without your intervention, your passwords may have already been leaked.
But the surest way is to run a system scan with specialized programs. You might not notice anything with the naked eye.
How to scan for spyware
Standard antivirus software often misses spyware, especially if it's new. You need specialized utilities.
Malwarebytes. The best free program for scanning for all sorts of junk. I always start with it. Download, install, and run a scan. It finds what antivirus software missed.
HitmanPro. Also excellent. Scans in the cloud, compares program behavior with databases, and often finds even new samples.
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. A free utility from Kaspersky Lab. It cleans up infections well.
AdwCleaner. Specializes in adware and unwanted programs. Sometimes it also catches spyware.
Spybot Search & Destroy. An old, but still useful program. It specifically searches for spyware.
Process Explorer. An advanced task manager from Mark Russinovich. Lets you see hidden processes and see what files a program has open.
AutoRuns. Also from Russinovich. Shows everything that runs at system startup. If a spyware program has registered itself in startup, it will be visible there.
I usually do this: run Malwarebytes, then HitmanPro, then check AutoRuns. If nothing is found, but suspicions remain, I open Process Explorer and dig through the processes manually.
How to remove spyware
If programs detect an infection, they usually offer to remove it themselves. But sometimes they can't, because the files are locked or the spyware is deep in the system.
Then we take action manually.
Disconnect the internet. Immediately. To prevent the spyware from sending collected data and receiving commands.
Boot into Safe Mode. Press F8 when starting (for older Windows) or through the system settings. Many spyware programs don't start in Safe Mode and can be removed.
Search for files. Use the paths the program showed. Delete anything suspicious.
Clean the registry. Start -> regedit, search for the spyware program's name, and delete the keys. Be careful not to delete anything unnecessary.
Check startup. Use AutoRuns or msconfig to see what's left.
Clean the Task Scheduler. Spyware sometimes registers itself there to run on a schedule.
Clean browser extensions. Go to settings, look through the list of extensions, and remove any suspicious ones.
Reset your browser. As a last resort, you can reset the settings to factory defaults.
After all these steps, reboot and check the system again.
If you're unsure, it's easier to reinstall Windows. It's more reliable.
How to protect yourself from spyware
The best protection is to avoid infection. But there are no guarantees, so use a combination of measures.
Don't download from torrents. Yes, it's a waste of money on decent software. But losing data can be more expensive. There are plenty of free alternatives that don't require cracking.
Don't open unauthorized emails. Even if it's from a friend and they're writing something strange, it's better to call and ask. Accounts are hacked all the time.
Update. The more recent your system, the fewer holes there are through which a spyware can be installed without your knowledge. Enable automatic Windows updates.
Use an antivirus with behavioral analysis. Not just signatures, but analysis of the program's actions. Kaspersky, Dr.Web, ESET—they all have this feature.
Turn on a firewall. It can block spyware attempts to send data outside. Windows has a firewall by default, just make sure it's enabled.
Check your browser extensions. Don't install everything. If an extension requests access to all websites and data, it's likely collecting something.
Use a password manager. This saves you from having to manually enter passwords every time. The manager automatically inserts them into forms, and the spyware only sees a meaningless string of characters.
Enable two-factor authentication. Even if your password is stolen, they won't be able to log in without the second factor. This saves you 90% of the time.
Check your flash drives before opening them. You can even use a separate computer for this.
Use a virtual keyboard for important inputs. Some banking websites offer this option. Spyware typically doesn't intercept keystrokes from the on-screen keyboard.
Scan your system once a month. Malwarebytes and HitmanPro are helpful.
Don't log in as an administrator all the time. Create a regular account without administrator rights for everyday tasks. This will make it harder for a spy to gain access to your system.
Hardware spies are a separate topic.
A quick word about hardware. There are devices that fit between the keyboard and the computer and record every keystroke. Antivirus software doesn't detect them. They can only be detected physically.
Protection is simple: inspect the system unit, don't connect other people's keyboards, and use wireless keyboards with encryption.
What to do if the data has already been leaked
If you suspect a spy has already sent data, act quickly.
Change your passwords. On all important services: email, social media, banks, forums.
Enable two-factor authentication. Wherever possible.
Check linked devices. You can see where logins were made in your account settings.
Monitor suspicious activity. If you see strange transactions in your bank or email, block them immediately.
Report to support. Banks and services can help if you react quickly.
My mistakes
As usual, there were some mistakes.
Problem 1. I downloaded a program from a torrent and turned off my antivirus to stop it from complaining. It spied on me. I found out a month later when I noticed strange transactions at the bank.
Problem 2. I thought the antivirus would protect me from everything. But it didn't because the spyware was fresh and hadn't yet been added to the databases.
Problem 3. After the infection, I didn't change my passwords for a long time. A month later, they reappeared. I had to reissue everything.
Problem 4. I didn't enable two-factor authentication. Because I was lazy. I later regretted it.
Problem 5. I used the same password for everything. After it was stolen, I had to change fifty accounts.
Problem 6. I inserted someone else's flash drive into my work computer at the office. My boss later explained why we had a virus on our network.
Problem 7. I thought incognito mode protected me from surveillance. It doesn't save history, but the spyware still sees what you're typing.
A practical example: how I caught a spyware on a virtual machine
I decided to see how modern spyware works. I downloaded a fresh sample from a forum and ran it on a virtual machine.
It immediately registered itself in startup under the guise of a system driver. In Task Manager, it showed up as svchost.exe, but with a different digital signature. It created a hidden directory in the Windows folder where it stored logs.
It sent the logs to the server once an hour. If there was no internet connection, it saved them locally and waited for a connection.
It also took screenshots every 10 minutes and sent them as well.
Malwarebytes only found it after updating its databases. Before that, the antivirus was silent.
That's how it works.
In a nutshell
Spyware is a real threat. They can sit quietly in your system and leak everything you type and do.
The best defense is not to catch it. Don't download unauthorized software, don't open suspicious emails, and don't visit dubious websites.
Use two-factor authentication and a password manager.
Scan your system once a month with specialized software.
And remember: antivirus software isn't a panacea. It can miss infections, especially new ones. Your best defense is your own mind.
