Protect Your Computer from Spyware and Adware
Spyware and Adware are the most insidious threats to Internet users. It poses a growing risk to individuals and businesses alike, endangering privacy as well as the security of financial data and other types of proprietary information.
What is Spyware?
Spyware is computer software that collects and reports information about the use of the system it is installed on without the user's knowledge. Spyware comes in a variety of forms with intentions that range from Internet usage tracking to outright theft.
What is Adware?
Adware is software that shows advertisements on your PC while browsing the internet. These advertisements pop suddenly on your screen. Some companies offer "free" software in exchange for being publicized on your screen, and it is a fact that when you install one of these shared programs it will also copy spyware without being aware of this.
Most computer users don't know what spyware is, how it spreads or the real dangers it poses. Installed on the sly by Web sites, or hidden and installed unknowingly by the user within other programs, Spyware applications collect information about the user without their knowledge and send it out via the Internet to advertisers or other interested parties to be used for marketing or other purposes.
Spyware applications are delivered through a variety of mechanisms, including e-mail, Web sites, pop-up ads and images and to be installed without a user's consent. Visiting a Web site or viewing an HTML e-mail message can trigger a "drive-by download," installing the Spyware invisibly. In other cases, the user unknowingly installs Spyware along with other applications in a process hidden by software engineers.Has your computer been affected by Spyware?
Adware and Spyware are installed without permission on your PC through one of these methods:
· Misleading yourself, so that you click on a link that installs it. Links to spyware are not what they seem to be, they make you believe that you are connected into another site. Sometimes, people that promote spyware will put a false title on an empty window and later they would install spyware when you try to close the connection.
· When you install free software that includes it. For example, you can install a program for file sharing that installs Spyware without your knowledge. File sharing programs can be a big source of Adware.
How to protect yourself from Spyware and Adware?
Without help, you have no way to prevent Adware or Spyware. Old antivirus programs don't even prevent Adware, since they didn't consider them viruses or worms. First, you usually give permission to install Adware, although you do so unwittingly because Adware and Spyware pushers are deceptive. Second, Adware doesn't behave like a typical virus or worm. They don't usually do actual damage to your computer, other than wrecking its performance, and they don't spread themselves using your address book.
Without help, you have no way to prevent Adware or Spyware. Old antivirus programs don't even prevent Adware, since they didn't consider them viruses or worms. First, you usually give permission to install Adware, although you do so unwittingly because Adware and Spyware pushers are deceptive. Second, Adware doesn't behave like a typical virus or worm. They don't usually do actual damage to your computer, other than wrecking its performance, and they don't spread themselves using your address book.
Things are changing for the better, though. Most popular antivirus products now include Adware and Spyware scanning. For example, the latest versions of McAfee Virus Scan, Norton Antivirus , and Trend Micro now scan for some Adware and Spyware.
In addition, some Internet Services Providers (ISPs) already include protection from Adware and Spyware. For example: America Online (AOL) 9.0 Optimized, EarthLink also offers protection from Adware and Spyware in the latest version of its software.
How to avoid programs from being installed without your consent?
Companies that promote Adware and Spyware depend on these two things: the user's desire for free software and taking advantage of naive individuals.
It is very important to be sure that the program you want to install does not contain Adware:
· Most free software programs include Adware. This is the way their creators make money. If you have any doubts when installing software, read the license contract with care and you should also verify who created the website. If you are still not sure, do a search in a internet search tool such as Google with the name of the program and the keyword Adware or Spyware. If it finds no comment regarding this, then it is probable that you should not have any problems.
· Do not unconsciously install adware or software. If you have any doubt regarding the software that you are going to install do not do so, you should only install Internet software that you really need.
Spyware and virus scanners with spyware signatures can help the fight against these programs. Nevertheless, the best strategy is to be very careful with what you decide to download and install on your computer.
Labels:
Adware,
Internet Activity,
Spyware
1 comment:
Most computer users don't know what Spyware is, how it spreads or the real dangers it poses.
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