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Social Security File Scanner Application (Cornell Spider)
Microsoft Windows Computers Only

Directions For Installing, Configuring, And Executing Cornell Spider - Step By Step

The Spider program will scan every file on your computer for possible Social Security Numbers. Depending on the number of files on your machine, the application may take a few hours before Spider is finished. You may want to run Spider once you leave for the day and review the log file once your shift begins again.

NOTE: It is only necessary to run Spider on computers running Microsoft Windows. The application will not run on Apple Mac OS, Linux, or other operating systems.

Before You Begin
- Delete Temporary Internet Files (Click Here For Instructions)
- Empty The Recycle Bin (Click Here For Instructions)
Download And Install Spider
- Download the Cornell University Spider application here and save the file to your Desktop.
- Double click the Spider zip folder on your desktop once the file is downloaded.
- Copy all of the files in the zip folder to your desktop.
- Run the Setup Spider file that was copied to your desktop.
- Click the Next button on the Welcome to Spider3 Setup Wizard window.
- Ensure that the Folder text box value is C:\Program Files\Spider3 on the Select Installation Folder window.
- Click Next on the Select Installation Folder window.
- Select the Install button on the Ready to Install window.
- Once the installation is complete, click Finish on the Completing the Spider3 Setup Wizard window.
Running Spider
- Double click the Configure Spider file that was copied to your desktop from the zip folder.
- A message box should appear with directions and Spider will begin scanning for social security numbers.
- You can safely delete the files that were copied from the zip folder (Configure Spider, Setup Spider and CFG).
- Once spider is finished, a list of possible files that contain social security numbers will appear. Below is an example of a typical log file.

You can highlight a line of text in the log file by pressing the CTRL + C keys on your keyboard. Open the My Computer folder (or Computer for Windows Vista users). Click on the Address bar text box and paste the path and file name to open the file.

Typically, only files under C:\Documents and Settings, C:\Users, or files you recognize should be cleaned. You do not have to clean files listed in the Paths & Files To Ignore section below.

Paths & Files To Ignore (False Positives) - Where C:\ is the drive Windows is installed to

All files under C:\Dell

All files under C:\Windows

All files under C:\i386

All files under C:\Program Files\Common Files

All files under C:\Program Files\MSO Cache

All files under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates

All files under C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings (Where "user" is your login name)

All files under C:\Users\user\Local Settings (Where "user" is your login name)

All files under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 7

All files under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8

All files under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9
All files under C:\Program Files\MSDN\

If a line ends in one of the below types of files, you may also want to clean the social security number.

Cleaning a file consists of either removing the Social Security number from the file or deleting the file from your computer.

Common File Types To Clean

.doc

.docx

.xls

.xlsx

.ppt

.pdf

.txt

Once you have cleaned the files, empty your recycle bin again and re-run Spider by following the steps mentioned above in the Running Spider section.

Do Not delete the log file or uninstall Spider from the computer until an IT Computer Technician has visited your computer personally to check your log file.

If you have a question regarding how to setup Spider, contact the OSU IT Helpdesk.
Phone: (405) 744-4357
E-Mail: helpdesk@okstate.edu

We ask that you do not send log files to the Helpdesk or ask about potential files to be cleaned in your Spider log. The technician who will visit your machine will be able to answer questions regarding log files.

Social Security File Scanner Application (Cornell Spider)Microsoft Windows Computers Only

Social Security File Scanner Application (Cornell Spider)
Microsoft Windows Computers Only