Article Title
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.
