1st. Install a firewall. A firewall prevents unauthorized intrusions into your system, either from the outside or from within with embedded spyware.
2nd. Install a spyware remover! Be sure to run your spyware remover before you activate your firewall. This will simplify the settings on your firewall, if you have to make them.
3rd. Install a virus scanner and remover. Since the days of DOS, this has been and continues to be a problem. They are still with us.
Finally... Perform all critical and recommended updates for Windows! Many vulnerabilities will be corrected that cannot be managed otherwise.
