Yesterday afternoon I noticed my computer was running slowly, particularly the Internet, which had slowed to an absolute crawl. Dial-up would have been faster than the speed I was getting. The first step I like to take when it appears something is wrong with my computer is to restart it. After rebooting, I noticed that among the usual programs that appeared on startup was an Internet Explorer window labeled "RelevantKnowledge".
RelevantKnowledge presents itself as a survey, with the goal of helping to improve online shopping experiences by including the thoughts of anonymous survey-takers. In truth, however, agreeing to the survey will allow RelevantKnowledge to get its hooks into your computer. All further Internet browsing you do will go through RK's servers (which is why everything was so slow). In addition, your web history is tracked by RK, as are the details of anything you purchase online.
Fortunately, I knew that something was wrong, and instead of letting RelevantKnowledge work its magic, I quickly looked up how to get rid of it on my iPod Touch (to avoid the slow connection). It turns out that although RelevantKnowledge is difficult for virus scanners to detect, it is fairly easy to wipe out if you can find it. I was able to delete it from the Control Panel with minimal fuss. After restarting again, RelevantKnowledge was gone and my Internet speed back to normal.
How did this program get on my computer in the first place, anyway? It turns out that RK likes to come along for the ride with some free downloadable programs, even safe and trusted ones. There is a very good chance that you will run into a virus like RelevantKnowledge as you use your home computer. Just follow these simple (and no-cost) steps and your computer will be safer.
To prevent from getting viruses in the first place:
-Make sure Windows Defender is on by checking your Control Panel.
-Do not click on suspicious advertisements or check "I Agree" to programs you don't trust.
-Use Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome to browse the Internet.
-If you have Firefox or Chrome, download the AdBlock addon. This feature disables most advertisements, allowing for safer and less obtrusive browsing.
-If a website, download, or program name looks suspicious or shady, do some research on your favorite search engine and find out more about the questionable item.
-Be very careful on Facebook - this website's very high popularity makes it a great place for hackers to spread their infections. Do not believe claims of things like a "downloadable Dislike button".
-You must be extremely cautious when dealing with websites that require personal information, especially things like your Social Security Number. Don't give away your credit card numbers either unless you are absolutely certain you're on a secure website such as Amazon.
To stop a virus that has already gotten onto your computer:
-If there is another Internet-capable machine in your house (another computer, an iPhone, a 3DS, etc), use that machine to look up instructions to help your computer.
-Try deleting the offending program from the Control Panel or by just browsing through your program list. Most viruses are too smart for this to work, however.
-Restart your computer in Safe Mode. The method of turning on Safe Mode may vary depending on your operating system. In Vista, for example, you access Safe Mode by repeatedly pressing F8 right after turning your computer on, then selecting "Safe Mode" from the list of options. Check and see if the virus is still being an issue in Safe Mode.
-Within Safe Mode, you can do a System Restore. System Restore is one of the easiest and best ways to stop a virus or other significant issue. It basically resets your computer to a time several days earlier - hopefully a time when there was no virus.
-If nothing is working and the Internet cannot provide any further assistance, you may need to take your computer to a professional or even buy a new computer entirely.
http://www.spywareremove.com/removerelevantknowledge.html
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/safemodevista.html
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