| What is spyware and why should you care? | | | | Ad-Aware |
| Spyware is computer software that is installed without | | | | Alert Spy |
| your knowledge on your computer to intercept your | | | | OptOut |
| personal information or take partial control over your | | | | Pest Bot |
| interaction with the computer, without your consent. | | | | Spyware Doctor |
| When you hear spyware you might think of software | | | | Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware in two |
| that secretly monitors your behavior, the truth of | | | | ways: |
| spyware is that it extends well beyond simple | | | | 1. By providing real time protection against the |
| monitoring. | | | | installation of spyware software on your computer. |
| Spyware programs can collect various types of | | | | This type of spyware scans all incoming network data |
| personal information, internet surfing habits, sites that | | | | for spyware software and blocks any threats it may |
| you visit, and can even interfere with your control of | | | | see. |
| the computer, in ways such as installing software, | | | | 2. Anti-spyware software programs can detect and |
| redirecting your web browser, accessing websites that | | | | remove spyware software that has already been |
| can cause even more harmful viruses, or diverting | | | | installed onto your computer. This type of spyware |
| advertising revenue to a third party. | | | | protection is generally easy to use. You can schedule |
| Spyware can even change your computer's settings, | | | | weekly, daily, or monthly scans of your computer to |
| resulting in a slower internet connection, changing your | | | | detect and remove any spyware software that has |
| home page, even the losing some of your programs. | | | | been installed. This type of anti-spyware software |
| Spyware usually gets on a system by deceiving the | | | | usually provides a list of any threats found, so you can |
| user or through exploiting vulnerabilities in the software. | | | | choose what you want to get rid of and what you |
| Spyware rarely spreads in the manner that a | | | | want to stay. |
| computer virus or worm does. Usually, an infected | | | | Fake anti-spyware programs |
| system does not attempt to transmit the infection to | | | | Malicious programmers have released a large number |
| other computers. | | | | of fake anti-spyware programs, and run ads warning |
| The majority of spyware is installed without your | | | | you that your computer has been infected with |
| knowledge. So it usually gets on your computer by | | | | spyware, and then telling you to purchase programs |
| piggybacking software that you want or by tricking | | | | which do not actually remove spyware but sometimes |
| you so that you install it without knowing. | | | | add even more spyware to your computer. |
| When you download a program and install it, the | | | | Other than installing anti-spyware here are a few |
| installer additionally installs the spyware. Although the | | | | things you can do to protect your computer. |
| desirable software itself may do no harm, the bundled | | | | Install a web browser other than Internet Explore, such |
| spyware does. | | | | as Opera or Mozilla Firefox. Though no one browser is |
| Sometimes spyware authors can infect a system | | | | best, Internet Explorer has a great risk for spyware |
| through security holes in your web browser or other | | | | infection because of its large user base and security |
| software. | | | | holes in the programming. |
| Since the emergence of spyware, an anti-spyware | | | | Use network firewalls and web proxies to block |
| industry has sprung up to create and maintain | | | | access to web sites known to install spyware |
| anti-spyware software. Running anti-spyware | | | | Download programs only from reputable sources can |
| software has become a widely recognized element of | | | | also provide some protection from this source of |
| computer security practices for all computer users. | | | | attack. |
| Here are some popular anti-spyware programs: | | | | |