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What Is Spyware? |
By:
Jack Mason |
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What Is Spyware?
Jack Mason
You have probably heard of spyware before, but it isn't a term that many people know it's meaning. We all know it's a bad thing, but it's important you understand what spyware is and why it has gotten such a bad rap.
Put simply, spyware refers to various programs and software that gets installed on your computer without you knowing. These programs then go on to cause "malicious" activity - some examples of this are:
1) Steal your personal information. Spyware can "spy" on what files are on your computer and capture the passwords and other personal information you enter while you are online.
2) Add all sorts of extra programs and add-ons to your computer which you haven't authorized. This is usually used to monitor your online activity and will cause your computer to run a lot slower than usual.
3) Automatically make your web browser take you to websites that have other harmful files such as viruses or other forms of spyware.
4) Change computer settings to create holes in your system that will be used to attack it when required.
As you can see, spyware can be a big headache!
Apart from the activity above, Spyware also slows down your Internet connection and make life miserable when you are surfing the Internet - many of those annoying pop-ups appearing out of nowhere are the result of spyware making its way on your system.
How exactly does you computer get infected with spyware?
Spyware is always introduced into a computer through deceptive means, and the user will have no clue when this infiltration happens. Here are some instances of how Spyware can enter your system:
1) Download programs that offer movie or music downloads. These are often offer for free and will automatically install spyware on your system.
2) Many programs that you download will come with spyware when you install them. These are usually "utility" type programs that offer some type of benefit - some examples are "toolbars" or foreign exchange rate calculators.
3) There are some spyware programs that will try to mimic your operating system's messages in order to get on your computer.
If you are using MS windows, you might get a popup with a message that looks like it's from your operating system, however when you click on it you end up installing some form of spyware.
How can you tell if there's Spyware on your computer?
Most people will start to notice their computer starts to slow down and they may also get more advertisements popup when they are browsing. Spyware is famous for making computers run a little "sluggish" - this is one of the first signs that your computer is infected.
Unfortunately, many people end up blaming their computer's hardware if their system is running slower than usual. More often than not it is nothing hardware related - it is the fact that spyware has made its way onto their computer.
It's important that you protect your computer and make sure you destroy any spyware on your system starting today!
It is estimated that over 90% of computers are infected with spyware - it's next to impossible not to pick something up if you are connected to the internet. You need to make sure you are using a quality anti-spyware program so that your computer and personal information is protected.
You need a solid and reliable anti-Spyware program developed by a trusted manufacturer, and you need it as soon as yesterday! Remember, only top-ranked anti-Spyware programs can effectively remove the malicious Spyware from your computer and protect it from future Spyware attacks, so don't let yourself put it off. A quality anti-spyware program will scan your computer for any existing infections, kill them off, and then protects your system from any future infections.
http://www.bestspywarereviewed.com/ Click Here to find out how to use a free scan using the most popular spyware remover. You can also read http://www.bestspywarereviewed.com/ spyware reviews to find out which program is best suited for your system.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article71595.html |
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