What is Spyware?
Spyware (sometimes called adware) collects information about you without your direct consent.
Spyware to some might appear only as just a nuisance, however, spyware poses a serious threat to you and the security of your computer. In the best case scenario spyware will simply clog up the internal workings of your computer, slowing down your applications and eventually causing your system to crash.
Spyware is intended to do precisely what it sounds like-spy on you, your computer, your personal information and your browsing history. Once it has this information it takes it back to its creator. This means your credit card information, bank account numbers and passwords have the potential to become public knowledge.
After you get the typical telltale sign of a very slow computer (spyware infected), you should have your computer repaired as a top priority!
HOW IS A VIRUS DIFFERENT FROM SPYWARE?
Viruses are designed in such a way that once installed on your computer will cause intentional damage to the computer itself. This can be in the form of corrupting files on your computer, damaging documents, photos and music and can even render your computer completely unusable.
Like human viruses, computer viruses also replicate themselves and spread by embedding into email attachments and other shared files. It only takes one file getting "infected" and distributed online to spread at alarming rates, if that file is accessed by others.
WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT SPYWARE?
What's so bad about Spyware? Spyware programs maliciously infiltrate your computer sometimes buried in email attachments or downloaded files. These executable files run in the background to capture information about you, send annoying advertisements to you or to report your every keystroke to an outside party. More and more people complaining of slow system performance and annoying pop-ups eventually realizing that their computer isn't outdated but infected by malicious software instead.
Even if you don't save important or personal information on your computer, spyware infection can create risks. With spyware unsuspectingly installed on your computer you may be at risk when online shopping, online banking and even having a personal conversation via e-mail or instant messaging software.
Spies look for and through your personal information, steal your identity and slow down your system.
Alternatively a VirusProof and SpywareProof computer elliminates all fears and risks from infection.
HOW DOES A COMPUTER GET INFECTED BY A VIRUS?
A virus is often secretly distributed by e-mail, instant messaging, shared files, downloaded "free" music, joke emails from unsuspecting friends or business colleagues. Often a frustrated computer User searching for a solution to their computer problem will download free software promising to repair their problem.
A computer virus then spreads itself from computer to computer.
HOW DOES YOUR COMPUTER GET INFECTED BY SPYWARE?
Spyware can get installed on your computer through a virus, secretly downloaded and installed with other software you've chosen to install. Most computer Users know of and have heard of the well known viruses, but it is the modern day spyware that catches them unprepared. Typically once infected with spyware a computer will start to run slow and continue to run slower with the weight of the spyware programs running in the background.
DEFINITIONS
Malware (MALicious softWARE) - Unwanted software that infects your computer This can include viruses and spyware.
Adware- Adware used to not have the bad wrap that it has today. Companies would produce free software that would display adverts to the user will running the program. Then companies started secretly recording/transmitting the users actions instead of simply displaying an ad. Thus spyware was born.
Today Adware will often change your home page and your search engine to sites that earn income from various advertisers. This income is dependent on, for example, how many people visit the adware site, or how many people click on the links or advertisements at the site.
Spyware- Software that unknowingly collects and/or transmits user data, using it to display annoying adverts or relay sensitive personal data about the user to someone else.
Virus- Self replicating computer program that is harmful to your computer. Viruses erase data, corrupt files, and cause usability problems to the computer that they infect.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT SPYWARE?
Naively most polite computer Users provide personal information and email address on forms provided by companies, when surfing the Internet. By doing this action they have highly increased the likelihood of some sort of spyware infection, as many companies share this information or some even sell the information to other companies.
If your computer has ever been infected with spyware and adware, you found that your PC slowed down and you started to get quite a few annoying pop-ups. There are several ways to prevent spyware and adware from downloading to your PC in the first place.
Never ever click on a pop-up ad. You will almost surely become infected with spyware or adware if you click on it. Even by attempting to close the pop-up you can become infected. You should always click on the “X” to close it, never the “yes” or “no” or even the "cancel" button.
Never download free screensavers or smiley faces. Those websites are known offenders in the online world that will infect your PC with adware and spyware.
Never download "free" software to repair your computer, typically this is where most spyware comes from, FREE (sic) software.
If you are serious about eliminating viruses and spyware from your computer forever, then consider a VirusProof, SpywareProof computer.