# Is ''Privacy Scanner'' spyware/adware, etc.?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-privacy-scanner-spyware-adware-etc/298250>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 7, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-privacy-scanner-spyware-adware-etc/298250 "2005-04-07T17:10:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-privacy-scanner-spyware-adware-etc/298250/1 "2005-04-07T17:10:36Z")

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My computer was heavily infected with spyware and viruses recently. I took it to some technicians who did a pretty good job of cleaning it up. However, they left behind something called “Privacy Scanner.” I don’t recall installing it myself, and I don’t think it was included in my software when I originally got the computer.

So. . .

What is “Privacy Scanner,” and do I need to worry about it?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-privacy-scanner-spyware-adware-etc/298250/2 "2005-04-07T17:36:15Z")

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Does [this](http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php?filter=privacy+scanner) sound like it? In that case, it should go.

I’ve never heard of any required program by the name of “Privacy Scanner,” so removing it shouldn’t cause problems.