| Spyware usually refers to software that is | | | | trigger pop-ups which may then come up on |
| created with the sole purpose of taking | | | | your screen. Most of these pop-ups make you |
| partial or complete control of a person's | | | | click on them because they are usually |
| computer without the permission of the owner | | | | offering one free promo or the other. When |
| of the computer. What spyware does is that it | | | | you click on them however, they do something |
| uses the resources in your computer to report | | | | else. This something else is usually the |
| certain information to someone else that you | | | | installation of one form of malicious |
| do not know. Simply put spyware spies on you | | | | software or the other. Most times you hardly |
| and on your computer. | | | | ever notice anything. At other times you see |
| | | | a whole lot of annoying pop-ups or your |
| What kind of spying does spyware do? | | | | homepage gets changed to something else. |
| | | | |
| Spyware monitors what you do on your computer | | | | |
| and then forwards your information to someone | | | | |
| else by using the Internet. The spying that | | | | How can you get rid of spyware on your |
| spyware carries out differs, spyware can keep | | | | computer? |
| track of the websites that you frequent and | | | | |
| then send this information to someone else. | | | | A whole number of computer software programs |
| This information usually allows other people | | | | exist which can help you get rid of any |
| to see the sort of information that you're | | | | spyware on your computer. These computer |
| interested in and they can then send you | | | | software programs are usually called |
| different adverts in the form of spam. | | | | anti-spyware programs. Different forms of |
| Legitimate companies may also use spyware to | | | | popular software in this category exist and |
| advertise to you. In this case such spyware | | | | they are: SpyBlaster, Windows Defender, |
| is usually called adware. Adware isn't as bad | | | | WebRoot Spy Sweeper and a number of other |
| as spyware but it may just be as annoying if | | | | software programs. Some of these programs may |
| not even more so. | | | | be free but the best of these programs |
| | | | usually come at a price. Some Internet |
| Other forms of spyware may have a more | | | | providers also provide you with some of these |
| dangerous way of operating. Some of these | | | | software programs for free. Regardless of the |
| dangerous forms of spyware may record every | | | | type on anti-spyware you will need constant |
| stroke that you make on your computer. These | | | | updates as newer versions of anti-spyware |
| forms of spyware can detect you passwords and | | | | become available. |
| collect other information such as your credit | | | | |
| card and bank account information. Anything | | | | How often should you run your anti-spyware |
| you type on your computer is in the domain of | | | | program? |
| these criminals and they can steal everything | | | | |
| from your money to your identity. | | | | Making sure you're really safe is a personal |
| | | | task and if you want to make sure that you're |
| Where does spyware come from? | | | | absolutely safe, you should run your |
| | | | anti-spyware program every time that you use |
| Most forms of spyware usually come from | | | | your computer. These programs are quick and |
| visiting websites that install something on | | | | easy to use and they can work in the |
| your computer. Some of these websites have | | | | background wile you focus your efforts on |
| different forms of spam on them and they | | | | doing something else. |