Spyware

Over the last few years, a new form of annoyances produced by the internet has appeared. Before, viruses were the main concern. But now computer users also have Spyware to deal with. This tutorial is designed to educate you with basic knowledge about Spyware and Spyware removal.

Q: What is Spyware?

A: Spyware is any program designed to collect information about you and your web practices. Many people are unaware that their computers are infected with Spyware agents that have secretly installed themselves onto their hard drives. These agents have been created for a number of reasons. Some are for advertising purposes, telling marketers what users search for, what they download, what sites they visit, etc., in order to send them pop-up advertisements that cater to their individual interests. Not only is this an invasion of privacy and the cause of annoying strings of pop-ups, but the affected computers may also become more susceptible to hackers. Some forms of spyware are more malicious then your average advertisement popper, designed instead to transmit email addresses for spaming, as well as various forms of identification such as social security and credit card numbers.

Q: Okay, so how did it get on my computer?

A: Most Spyware comes with other programs. For example, when you download something like Kazaa or other file sharing programs, they often come with Spyware that is installed along with program. Sometimes there are options allowing you to not install these programs with the originally downloaded program, but often times they are hidden "features" that get onto your computer without you even knowing it.

Kazaa is full of extra spyware programs that are easily overlooked. Unfortunately there is no way around downloading these

Another way spyware gets onto a computer is through carelessness on your part. Always be careful what you click on while browsing the web.

Clicking on popups is an open invitation HINT: You have not won anything, no matter how much it flashes. Also avoid punching the monkey, taking quizzes in popups and any banner that doesn't tell you who posted it.

Always read carefully any security warning that pops up. Unless it is something you are trying to install, or from a company name you actually recognize ALWAYS CLICK NO!!! No matter how many times it pops up again, always click no! And NEVER check to Always trust content from..., even if you do trust them.

Q: How do I protect myself from Spyware?

A: Unfortunately, there is not much in the way of automated Spyware blocking. Most of they protection comes from your own actions of safe browsing. There are some tools to aid you though. The Google Toolbar has a built in popup blocker that stops most popups from appearing, saving you the trouble of accidentally clicking on something. You can also try using an alternative web browser, such as Mozilla Firefox. Not only does Firefox have built in popup blocking, but most Spyware is designed to infect Internet Explorer users. Finally, SpywareGuide.com has created a registry key that prevents many Spyware programs from operating. It doesn't block everything, but does help in the fight.

Q: What do I do if I already have spyware on my computer?

A: In order to help you protect your computer from the hungry eyes of advertisers, we have provided programs to remove these often overlooked spying agents. We recommend Ad-Aware 6.181 for Spyware removal, but we also provide HijackThis and SpyBot Search and Destroy for more advanced users. All of these programs are available for download on the downloads page . (Note: If you are unsure about what programs are Spyware, please use ONLY Ad-Aware. The other two programs can remove not only Spyware, but also components that are needed for your computer's internet connection to function properly. They are for advanced users only)

For instructions on removal using Ad-Aware, click here.

Remember, you may not even know that your computer has been invaded. Take those extra few minutes out of your day and give your computer this extra degree of protection.