Spyware and adware
Spyware and adware are devious programs that can infiltrate your computer and compromise your security. Spyware can be used to glean personal information, such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and passwords. Adware is often used to track online behavior and target ads and pop-ups toward individuals for better chances of selling something (whether it be a real product or a scam). Both can be annoying, invasive, and often dangerous.
If your computer is infected with adware or spyware, the best case scenario is that the program doesn't steal any of your information, it only slows down your system's performance. That may not seem so bad, but over time the delays can get worse, until your system crashes altogether. With a little time and effort, you can protect your PC (and yourself) from the dangers of adware and spyware.
First you will need a good anti-virus program. Most people already have one installed on their computer, but if you don't, check out comprehensive programs such as "Norton 360 or Kapersky. (Or for a free anti-virus program, try AVG.) The anti-virus program should also come equipped with a firewall and realtime protection. Once you have your anti-virus program up and running (and set to run regular weekly scans), it's time to install an anti-spyware program.
Most anti-virus programs will also do a decent job of blocking spyware, but to be safe, install a free adware/spyware blocker such as Ad-Awarep or Spybot. Both of these programs are free and run fairly light, so you shouldn't notice a decrease in performance from them. Set them up to run routine scans once a week or more, and make sure their auto-update feature is turned on.
Now you're on your way to being protected. Your Internet browser should have a pop-up blocker; if it does, check that it's enabled. If it doesn't, see if your anti-virus program has an optional pop-up blocker. If not, you may want to consider using "Internet Explorer 7 (or another web browser with a pop-up blocker).
Avoid using peer-to-peer transfer programs such as Limewire or Kazaa. These programs are tempting because you can often get sought-after music or movies for free, but whatever you download may come with an unwanted visitor or two. Not too long ago I had to remove viruses from a relative's laptop who had been using Limewire to download files.
Your system should now be pretty safe from spyware. If you use the Yahoo! Toolbar, run the CA Yahoo! Anti-Spy program every once in a while (the shield icon on the toolbar) and delete the cookies and files it finds.
Hopefully spyware will no longer be an issue for you, but be sure to only visit websites that you know are legitimate, and don't download anything that you think is questionable. If your computer does happen to get infected by spyware, run a scan with your anti-spyware program and anti-virus program, and if neither of them can get rid of the spyware, try running the Windows One Care online scanner. If you know your way around your computer's registry, run a scan with HijackThis and see if you can locate the intruder.
There are plenty of forums online where techies are just itching to answer your questions, so if you aren't sure about something, find a forum and ask. If that still doesn't help, contact a professional PC technician.
If your computer is infected with adware or spyware, the best case scenario is that the program doesn't steal any of your information, it only slows down your system's performance. That may not seem so bad, but over time the delays can get worse, until your system crashes altogether. With a little time and effort, you can protect your PC (and yourself) from the dangers of adware and spyware.
First you will need a good anti-virus program. Most people already have one installed on their computer, but if you don't, check out comprehensive programs such as "Norton 360 or Kapersky. (Or for a free anti-virus program, try AVG.) The anti-virus program should also come equipped with a firewall and realtime protection. Once you have your anti-virus program up and running (and set to run regular weekly scans), it's time to install an anti-spyware program.
Most anti-virus programs will also do a decent job of blocking spyware, but to be safe, install a free adware/spyware blocker such as Ad-Awarep or Spybot. Both of these programs are free and run fairly light, so you shouldn't notice a decrease in performance from them. Set them up to run routine scans once a week or more, and make sure their auto-update feature is turned on.
Now you're on your way to being protected. Your Internet browser should have a pop-up blocker; if it does, check that it's enabled. If it doesn't, see if your anti-virus program has an optional pop-up blocker. If not, you may want to consider using "Internet Explorer 7 (or another web browser with a pop-up blocker).
Avoid using peer-to-peer transfer programs such as Limewire or Kazaa. These programs are tempting because you can often get sought-after music or movies for free, but whatever you download may come with an unwanted visitor or two. Not too long ago I had to remove viruses from a relative's laptop who had been using Limewire to download files.
Your system should now be pretty safe from spyware. If you use the Yahoo! Toolbar, run the CA Yahoo! Anti-Spy program every once in a while (the shield icon on the toolbar) and delete the cookies and files it finds.
Hopefully spyware will no longer be an issue for you, but be sure to only visit websites that you know are legitimate, and don't download anything that you think is questionable. If your computer does happen to get infected by spyware, run a scan with your anti-spyware program and anti-virus program, and if neither of them can get rid of the spyware, try running the Windows One Care online scanner. If you know your way around your computer's registry, run a scan with HijackThis and see if you can locate the intruder.
There are plenty of forums online where techies are just itching to answer your questions, so if you aren't sure about something, find a forum and ask. If that still doesn't help, contact a professional PC technician.
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