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What Is Spyware You can think of spyware as “spy software”. Spyware is a computer software that spies on you. Spyware is installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Once installed, it will run in the background undetected. Without the help of anti-spyware software, you would not know the existence of spyware on your computer. What Does Spyware Do? Spyware is a piece of malicious code that posts real threats to you and your family: 1. It Invades Your Privacy: As soon as the spyware is installed on your computer, it starts monitoring your online activity actively. It will then transmit the gathered information to the spyware creators. Some marketing companies are involved in using spyware to monitor online activity of their target market unethically. 2. It Steals Confidential Information: Spyware is very dangerous because it is a tool that is used by hackers or identity thefts to steal confidential information such as credit card information and social security numbers from your computer. 3. It Slows Your System: Spyware is running in the background utilizing CPU resources to do all sorts of things including collecting information and transmitting information to the creator. Spyware degrades the performance of your computer. It also affects the stability of your operating system. 4. It Redirects You To Undesirable Websites: A less intrusive version of spyware called adware. Adware is normally bundled with freeware or shareware. By agreeing to end user licensing agreements of the freeware, you are also agreed to install the adware. This version of spyware generates targeted pop-up ads. Some of these ads will direct you to undesired websites such as adult or gambling websites. These are not the things you want to show on your computer especially if you are sharing your computer with your children. How Do You Get Infected By Spyware Spyware can be transmitted through the few channels: • e-mail • from certain websites • freeware • shareware You check our email and surf the Internet almost everyday. You often install cool free tools, such as file sharing applications, recommended by your friends or family. If your computer is not protected by an anti-spyware program, the chances of your computer infected by spyware are pretty high. Signs of Spyware 1. Degraded Computer Performance: If your computer is infected by spyware, your computer will be running slower than usual. Your computer may take longer time to start up. Some programs on your computer such as browsers may take longer time to load. 2. Pop-ups: You start seeing a lot of pop-ups directing you to undesired websites. 3. Change in Browser Settings: Your internet browser automatically redirects you to undesired web sits when it is loaded. These are all signs of spyware.