CompTIA focused only on spyware incidents that affected end users' ability to use their PCs and/or that required an IT professional to step in. Typical symptoms of a spyware infection include:

• New search bars and/or tool bars appearing in Web browser
• Web home page changing without user having reset it
• Pop-up and pop-under ads becoming more frequent and disruptive, even when users are not surfing the Web
• Some or all of the above causing PC slowdown and/or freeze-ups, requiring shutdown or reset