Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The Cost of Spyware on your Computer

Spyware is known to be software, or sometimes hardware, that is installed in a computer outside of the user's knowledge so the spyware can gather information about the users and send it back to the spyware controller. Spyware is generally broken into two categories-surveillance spyware and advertising spyware.

The surveillance form of spyware includes keyloggers, screen capture devices and Trojans all used by companies, private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies and suspicious spouses, among others.

Advertising spyware are programs installed along with other software downloads due to activex controls. Many users are aware that adware is being installed when the download certain programs.

This advertising spyware records information on the user's internet activities, passwords, email addresses, browsing history, buying habits and the computer's hardware and software configuration. They then use the information to target users with product specific advertisements.

Advertising spyware uses up a computer's resources making the computer administrator front the costs for running the applications. It also utilizes the computer's bandwidth to connect to the internet and upload information gather by the spyware program and then to send the advertisements to the user. Without making users aware of its presence, advertising spyware can be classified as theft.



By : Mitch Johnson
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.1st-in-remove-spyware.com/ , a site that focuses primarily on spyware detection software, as well as tips on how to avoid spyware from popping up on your computer. His articles have also been featured on related spyware sites such as, http://www.best-in-spyware-detection.com/ as well as http://www.best-sypware-removal-reviews.com/

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Arming Yourself Against Spyware

While clicking from site to site on the internet you are likely to land yourself on a website that downloads spyware onto your computer system. Even while using familiar or unlikely and secure web site you run the risk of being infected with unwanted spyware.

Most commonly, spyware detects and records your internet and computer usage information so advertisers can bombard you with pop ups and email ads they feel are appropriate to your interests. More malicious spyware applications can identify, record and send to intruders your credit card, bank account and social security information to intruders who use it for identity theft.

Computers users often leave themselves vulnerable to spyware infection because they assume their anti-virus software will protect against spyware. Spyware is a computer parasite separate from computer viruses.

A virus seeks out computers to destroy their functions while spyware is designed to work along side the computer, all the while recording your private information and sending it out to intruding individuals or sold to companies. Spyware can and does build up on your computer, causing crashes among other malfunctions.

Spyware is capable of overtaking your web browser and forcing your to access unwanted sites. The best way to avoid this situation is by using one or more of the many spyware scan and removal tools.

Spybot Search and Destroy has become one of the most used free spyware programs. It works first by scanning your computer for current spyware infections and then safely removing them. Their latest version can protect against spyware while you surf the internet by blocking the sites from downloading unauthorized spyware onto your computer.

For additional information and advice on finding and using an anti-spyware program it may be helpful to visit one of the many message boards or online forums where you can get input from people dealing with similar spyware problems.



By : Alicia Johnson
Alicia Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/ , a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htm as well as spyware doctor, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_list365.htm

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Infested with Spyware ? Here are some solutions

When conducting business online every computer user, business and personal, is in jeopardy of being infested with spyware. By clicking on insecure sites or pop ups and downloading freeware programs you may be letting in spyware applications.

Once in your computer system spyware collects, sends out or sells then uses information about your computer usage and internet habits. Some types of spyware are even capable of logging your credit card, social security and bank account numbers.

The many ways spyware is able to download itself onto your computer means users are more at risk of being infected. With some downloads computer users agree to allow spyware to run on their computer by complying with the user agreement.

To rid your computer of spyware infections and avoid highly possible future invasions all computer users should have a secure firewall, which will usually alert you when a file is trying to download so you may allow or decline the download.

Researching a bit more into spyware will help you find other ways to deal with spyware. Downloading and/or purchasing spyware scan and removal tools can detect and remove current spyware infections.

By keeping your spyware tool up-to-date and running scans regularly you lessen the chances of spyware invading your privacy again. Spyware also comes in the form of malicious emails.

To reduce spyware threats in that area and decrease the amount of spam you receive by automatically blocking unwanted emails through filtering them past a list of unacceptable or adult words and eliminating an email if it contains the unauthorized dialog.



By : Mitch Johnson
Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/ , a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htm as well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm