What is Spyware and How to Protect Against It
These days, Spyware is very common on the internet and you need to know how to stop it. Spyware is a malicious piece of software that is installed on computers for the purpose of collecting information about the computer user. The spyware program collects this data without user permission, the user in most instances, will not be aware that spyware is even installed on their computer. But some Spyware will spawn pop-ups and interfere with computer usage.
Spyware can collect user information, browsing habits, web sites visited, keystrokes and much more. In many cases, There are many times when the Spyware will also interfere with the computer settings. It may redirect certain webpages, change the browser homepage, install other Spyware and it can drastically reduce your PC performance.
Find and Remove Spyware
Sadly, Spyware can be very difficult to detect. Unless you are a compting expert, you probably have no idea about Spyware and if it has infected your PC. Removing spyware can be even more difficult. It often recreates itself on startup and is very tricky to remove completely. It also adds itself to the Windows Registry, which should not be edited, except by experts.
The best advised method for detecting and removing spyware is with the use of third party tools. There are many programs available on the market, from FREE to very expensive. Most products will do a pretty decent job, but generally you will need more than one anti-Spyware product to be completely safe.
For keeping your computer completely free of Spyware, we recommend XoftSpySE and PC Tools Internet Security Suite. Both of these are free downloads and you can scan your PC right now to ensure it is free from Spyware and other nasties. You can find these anti-spyware tools here, for free download. These programs will also block further infections, keeping your PC safe into the future.
Some tips for preventing Spyware:
- Take caution with the websites you visit
- Never install untrusted activeX or .exe files from a website
- Never open email attachments unless you are completely sure it is OK and from a sender you trust
- Always use a firewall
- Always lock your computer when you are away from it
We recommend that you scan your PC on a very regular basis. You never know when Spyware will invade your computer, and some of it can be very harmful. Stay Safe! Learn more about removing Spyware.