What Is Spyware?
You have probably heard of spyware before, but it isn’t a term that many people know it’s meaning. We all know it’s a bad thing, but it’s important you understand what spyware is and why it has gotten such a bad rap.
Put simply, spyware refers to various programs and software that gets installed on your computer without you knowing. These programs then go on to cause “malicious” activity - some examples of this are:
1) Steal your personal information. Spyware can “spy” on what files are on your computer and capture the passwords and other personal information you enter while you are online.
2) Install additional or unwanted computer programs causing the computer to perform well below par.
3) When you are online, you are redirected to certain websites that have other harmful files such as viruses or other infections.
4) Change computer settings to create holes in your system that will be used to attack it when required.
As you can see, spyware can be a big headache!
Apart from the activity above, Spyware also slows down your Internet connection and make life miserable when you are surfing the Internet - many of those annoying pop-ups appearing out of nowhere are the result of spyware making its way on your system.
How exactly does you computer get infected with spyware?
Most of the time you will never know for sure where the spyware on your computer came from. It sneaks its way onto your computer in various ways - some examples are:
1) Shareware that offers downloads for music or movies. These programs are famous for installing spyware on your computer without you ever knowing.
2) A common way systems get infected is from “utility” type programs that are downloaded and come bundled with some form of spyware. There are all sorts of programs that are offered for free download on the internet - although they may serve a purpose many of them will also install spyware on your system.
3) Another method used by Spyware developers is to mimic the operating system’s messages so that you click on them. When you click on them the Spyware gets installed.
As an example if you are using Microsoft windows on your computer, a message might popup that looks like it is a message from Microsort. You innocently click on the message and the spyware gets installed.
How can you tell if there’s Spyware on your computer?
Most people will start to notice their computer starts to slow down and they may also get more advertisements popup when they are browsing. Spyware is famous for making computers run a little “sluggish” - this is one of the first signs that your computer is infected.
Many people notice that there computer is running slower than usual and they just assume it’s a hardware issue, however spyware is often the culprit.
It’s important that you protect your computer and make sure you destroy any spyware on your system starting today!
It is estimated that over 90% of computers are infected with spyware - it’s next to impossible not to pick something up if you are connected to the internet. You need to make sure you are using a quality anti-spyware program so that your computer and personal information is protected.
Look for a spyware remover that has received positive reviews and that can remove any spyware that is already on your system (along with protecting against new infections). You want a program that scans your computer for any current spyware, kills off anything it finds and then provides protection against future spyware.