If you are weary of malware or spyware hiding in your computer, one of the best tools to have in your arsenal is Trend Micro's free utility - HijackThis. This free software scans your computer and the registry for changed settings and registry entries. It then creates a log file that shows the list of registry entries that may or may not be manipulated by a malware. The downside of this utility is that it is not intelligent. When you decide to remove a registry entry, Hijackthis automatically removes it be it harmful or not.
But, do not worry too much. I have visited many forums dedicated on helping computer users interpret the log file HijackThis creates. Or, you can let a friend with troubleshooting expertise take a look at the log file.
To analyze your computer, start HijackThis and run a scan. HijackThis will display a list of areas on your computer that might have been changed by spyware. Do not change any settings if you are unsure of what to do. There are many popular support forums on the web that provide free technical assistance by using HijackThis log files to diagnose an infected computer.
You can download HijackThis, here.
