A Basic Introduction To Spyware

What Exactly Is Spyware?

It is the software that collects data about your computer usage and/or the user of the computer. If you get spyware on your computer
system, it may be relatively harmless or it may be devastating to the point of crippling.

Certain spyware like coolwebsearch and new.net are capable of paralyzing a computer system. Laws to regulate spyware are
pending in many states but could take years to enforce.

It is installed on one computer and sends data to another computer.  Some spyware is embedded inside shareware programs
like the Weather Bug, Bear Share and Kazaa These are knowingly downloaded and installed by users,
this is how the programmer justifies giving you the program for free.  Other spyware is installed without the knowledge or permission of
the user when you browse to certain websites.  This usually occurs in the form of some sort of advertisement.

How Does Spyware Affect A Computer?

Symptoms of spyware infection includes:

* Your homepage changing mysteriously on its own.
* The website you type into the address bar will not come up.
* Excessive pop-ups, or pop-up on sites likes Google,
   Yahoo and MSN, which do not use them.
* You can only get your browser to visit sites, which are
    trying to fool you into purchasing spyware removal software.
* Your PC performance is slow while browsing the Internet.

How To Deal With A Spyware Infected PC.

First and foremost:
BACK UP ANY DATA YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE!  Any documents, music, videos, spreadsheets, email, etc.  Basically
your loose files and any installation programs you may have downloaded instead of purchasing the actual disk versions of the software.
Copy them to DVD, USB storage, external hard drive etc.

There are many spyware detection and elimination programs that are available for free on the Internet.  You have to do your research
because some malicious software writers will trick you into using a program that infects your computer with spyware rather than rescue it.

One of the tools I recommend highly is Spybot Search and Destroy.  It scans a computer for spyware and harmful programs. It
shows a list of problem areas to the user and allows him to delete any or all of them.  If you are using a spyware supported shareware program it will stop working once you remove the spyware part of the software.

A Comprehensive Solution

It may be a good idea for most computer owners to get a bundled comprehensive PC security solution such as Kaspersky, Norton and
McAfee, AVG and Avast now offer a complete security suite consisting of anti-virus, personal firewall, anti-spam, privacy offerings, and anti-spyware options.

These are quite easy to install and allow parents to monitor children who use the computer. There are many threats on
the Internet, from which these suites can protect your computer.

Written and adapted by Richard Glass