| SpywareSpyware, Hijackers, Adware, Dialers, or | | | | or downloaded software. Once installed, it will dial |
| Keyloggers: Get free protection from all of them! Have | | | | charge lines even when the user is not viewing a |
| you ever had the experience of finding programs | | | | pay-per-view web site. Charges may range from a |
| installed in your computer without your knowledge? | | | | few pennies to dollars per minute. |
| What about being annoyed by numerous popup | | | | • Keyloggers - Also known as keystroke |
| advertisements? How about your start page or home | | | | loggers, keyloggers record your keystrokes in the |
| page changing all the time? What about your search | | | | computer (more sophisticated types may even |
| results suddenly changing or your computer dialing out? | | | | capture screen shots) and will log or report them to |
| Chances are you have been a victim of spyware, | | | | the individual who installed them. Some companies use |
| hijackers, adware, dialers, or keyloggers. Terms | | | | the commercial type to monitor employee resource |
| Defined Let’s take a look at some of these | | | | use or monitor corporate spies. Law enforcement |
| computer menaces. | | | | agencies may also use keyloggers to collect evidence |
| • Spyware – This is an infectious | | | | against suspected criminals. However, some may use |
| program installed surreptitiously in the computer | | | | these keystroke loggers to spy on their co-workers |
| system and supplies the software writer or the | | | | and bosses. Protection Where do we get protection |
| website which installed it confidential information about | | | | from these computer security threats? |
| the user, may it be the websites you often visit, your | | | | What should we look for a free spyware and |
| activities in the computer, or even your password and | | | | what-have-you removal system? There are a few |
| credit card number. It can get into your computer in the | | | | things that we can take into consideration before we |
| form of a software virus or as a consequence of | | | | download a free spyware remover from the Internet: |
| installing a program. | | | | 1. A good spyware remover should provide effective |
| • Hijackers – Sometimes called | | | | protection against the software infections mentioned |
| hijackware, this program changes your | | | | above (since they are the main software infections |
| computer’s browser settings in such a way | | | | that give away confidential details about the user and |
| that you are brought to web sites that you had no | | | | decreases the efficiency of your computer), as well as |
| intention of looking into in the first place. These | | | | all other malicious software invented by man if |
| hijackers are often start pages and search pages to | | | | possible. |
| customers who pay for the service because of the | | | | 2. Your free spyware remover should come with |
| traffic generated by them. This malware may slow | | | | cleaners so that you’ll be able to detect |
| your computer and cause your browser to crash. | | | | spyware online. Free spyware cleaner programs also |
| • Adware – This is a program designed | | | | remove spyware programs that are running currently |
| to display advertisements on your personal computer. | | | | in your computer. After installing your free spyware |
| And we are not talking about your normal | | | | remover, download the current anti-virus definitions |
| advertisement every time you visit a website. Adware | | | | available in the Internet. You may use two or more to |
| uses popup ad windows or even voice messages that | | | | guarantee that all malware threats are discovered and |
| are not by any means connected to the websites that | | | | removed quickly. Also, you may want to have a full |
| you often visit. | | | | system scan every week. Make sure that your |
| • Dialers - These are programs installed into | | | | security program and anti-virus are always enabled to |
| your computer system, which may rake you | | | | scan all e-mails, may they be incoming or outgoing. |
| thousands of dollars in phone bill. A web dialer can be | | | | What are you waiting for? Clear your computer now |
| installed like a virus, Trojan, or any other malicious code | | | | of malicious software and programs. |
| into your computer system through e-mail attachments | | | | |