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Avoiding Spyware And Malware Attacks |
By:
Paul Wilcox |
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Avoiding Spyware And Malware Attacks
Paul Wilcox
Spyware and other types of malware are more than just a pain in the neck - they can cause other programs to malfunction and even make your computer unstable. And of course there's all the privacy issues that go along with it.
This type of software is often installed without a user's consent and often can't be uninstalled without special tools. When distributors use tricks and deception to install uninvited software, trust is destroyed.
The best defense against spyware is common sense. Always be watchful when you download software from the internet. Don't install software from unknown websites that you don't know if you can trust and be sure you always read through the license agreement. Sometimes the license will disclose that spyware is installed along with the program (although usually not in so many words) but they're counting on the fact that hardly anyone ever reads the license anyway.
Before downloading any new software, look for guarantees that it's spyware free. Even so, be on your guard - the file-sharing program Kazaa has been claiming to be spyware-free for years. Anyone who installs this software soon has an opportunity to test this claim.
How will you know if you've been infected by spyware? Some of the most common problems include unusual pop-up ads, a change to your homepage, new toolbars showing up in your browser and your computer acting strangely, such as freezing up or rebooting out of the blue.
If you do get infected with spyware, there are ways to get rid of it. A number of companies make software designed to get rid of it. These programs will scan your computer and check through their database of known spyware for any matches. These databases get updated frequently as new forms of spyware are found.
Some of these programs are free while others will cost. The paid versions sometimes have additional features, such as automatic scheduled scans. None of them are 100% foolproof however, so it's a good idea to run more than one of them.
Some kinds of spyware are notoriously difficult to get rid of. They may make changes to your Windows files that help them hide from the scanners. On occasion, you may need to delete them manually to be sure they're gone.
Needless to say, this should be performed only by skilled users. Deleting the wrong files can damage your programs and even your operating system.
Once you've got rid of any spyware on your computer, you can help keep it clean by running a scan on a regular basis. Whether this is scheduled, or you do it manually is up to you.
And, of course, beware those tempting looking free offers. You may get more than you bargained for.
How can you keep your computer safe from viruses, spyware, identity theft and other http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com/ online security attacks? You don't need to be a technical genius to be safe. Learn the insider secrets that will keep you safe at http://www.onlinesecuritytoolkit.com You can get a http://www.uberarticles.com/?id=36156&b=79 unique content version of this article.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article61045.html |
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