A malware or malicious software that is placed on your computer without your knowledge is called spyware. When you visit online websites that offer free downloads of games, when you download videos or music, or any share files, such as when you download that comic e mail from your friend, then this can possibly happen. At the same time you download a file, spyware programs are piggybacked into your machine. Millions of home computers today are being infected by spyware.
What spyware does is track your online computer habits. Each site that you visit and what you have looked up on that site is what it is aware of. Some spyware even tracks each keystroke you make, including every bit of information you fill out on a form, such as name and address, and credit card information when you make a purchase. Those in the online world are therefore worried that this can lead to identity theft and stealing of credit card numbers. Your computer surfing habits and personal information is then sold to businesses. A billion dollar industry is the spyware business and it has lots of people getting rich by selling your information without your knowledge.
With spyware, another problem is that unless you run anti spyware software often, then you don't know that spyware been installed until your computer starts to slow down. When your computer slows down because of spyware, then it's likely that you could have as many as six or seven different spyware programs running in the background.
By running any of the number of anti-spyware programs available on the market today, you could get rid of spyware. These programs should be run often. There are those who will suggest that you should re-boot your computer and run the software again after you run the anti spyware program in order to make sure that there are no ticklers. Ticklers are designed to reinstall spyware.
If you want to avoid spyware then the best way is to stay away from downloading freebies. You should never open unsolicited email and in fact, delete it before you open it. When downloading any software, even legitimate software programs from the internet read the end users agreement thoroughly. In some of these agreements, they will state that they are installing spyware type software and you are agreeing to let them put software on your computer if you download their program. If you know this then you have the ability to say yes, or no and protect your personal information.
What spyware does is track your online computer habits. Each site that you visit and what you have looked up on that site is what it is aware of. Some spyware even tracks each keystroke you make, including every bit of information you fill out on a form, such as name and address, and credit card information when you make a purchase. Those in the online world are therefore worried that this can lead to identity theft and stealing of credit card numbers. Your computer surfing habits and personal information is then sold to businesses. A billion dollar industry is the spyware business and it has lots of people getting rich by selling your information without your knowledge.
With spyware, another problem is that unless you run anti spyware software often, then you don't know that spyware been installed until your computer starts to slow down. When your computer slows down because of spyware, then it's likely that you could have as many as six or seven different spyware programs running in the background.
By running any of the number of anti-spyware programs available on the market today, you could get rid of spyware. These programs should be run often. There are those who will suggest that you should re-boot your computer and run the software again after you run the anti spyware program in order to make sure that there are no ticklers. Ticklers are designed to reinstall spyware.
If you want to avoid spyware then the best way is to stay away from downloading freebies. You should never open unsolicited email and in fact, delete it before you open it. When downloading any software, even legitimate software programs from the internet read the end users agreement thoroughly. In some of these agreements, they will state that they are installing spyware type software and you are agreeing to let them put software on your computer if you download their program. If you know this then you have the ability to say yes, or no and protect your personal information.
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