WHAT IS SPYWARE AND HOW DO I REMOVE IT FROM MY COMPUTER?
Dean Erickson
Spyware is a menace to any computer, but there are many free Spyware removal products online to help out.
It sounds rather sinister, doesn't it? In a way, it really is. Spyware (another name for Malware or Adware, which is Internet-speak for "advertising supported software") enters your computer without your explicit consent. You see, Spyware normally comes packaged with other programs, which you do want and actually choose to download. If you aren't too cluey about how to detect Spyware in a potential download (and let's face it, who is), you simply won't know that you've downloaded and activated the Spyware software.
What does Spyware do? It collects information about you and your business or organization to help advertising companies place better targeted advertising copy on the websites you visit. That is, advertising that may actually be of interest to you. OK, in theory, it's a reasonable idea. You are going to be surfing anyway and these days websites survive thanks to their advertising, so wouldn't you rather see ads that may be of some relevance to you? For example, if you are sitting at a computer in New York, Spyware will tell advertisers your geographical position and hence target ads that are relevant to New Yorkers (restaurants and stores in the area or events taking place in the area). If you happen to visit the same website from Paris, those ads will be French ads.
How does Spyware work? Once the software program sneaks into your computer (via some download you've made, for example, Kazaa) it follows you around as you surf the net. It collects information about you from your hard drive. It sounds illegal doesn't it? Well, it isn't. Not yet anyway.
What it is really interested in is your surfing history. It wants to collate all the information that will help advertising companies better target you as a consumer. And so, it collects information on what you like to read online, which websites you browse to and, most valuable of all, where you go shopping on the Internet and what you buy.
But once in your system Spyware can be very annoying. At its worst it can severely impair your computer's ability to function, using up to 50% of its memory. It doesn't do it on purpose, it's not vicious like a virus, but it is destructive whether it wants to be or not. It can block your Internet access and just generally cause your computer to be so slow that you cannot use it without banging your head on your keyboard. Or, unless you format your hard drive.
There are lots of ways to protect your computer from this menace. Spyware removal programs help you track Spyware and purge your system of the software. Try an Internet search for Free Spyware Removal or Free Spyware Removal Program. This will bring up various results including the Lavasoft's Ad-Aware program, which is the most popular. Some websites will also offer you a Free Spyware Removal or Adware Removal online.
About the author: Dean Erickson. Journalist, and web site builder Dean Erickson lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of free-spyware-removal-finder.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.
The latest information and news on Spywaredude:
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Court Slams Door On Sale of Spyware (Slashdot)
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WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking. (PRWeb Nov 21, 2008) Read ...
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Error.com's missed opportunity PayPal, the online payment service that is a major target of phishers, has been caught sending customer emails that confuse its own login page with a third-party landing site that offers spyware protection and a bevy of other products.?
WOT Releases Extended Protection for Web-Based Email Users (PRWeb via Yahoo! ...
WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking.
FTC get CyberSpy?s RemoteSpy banned in the U.S. (Geek.com)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been successful in its bid to get the RemoteSpy spyware application released by CyberSpy Software banned in the U.S. For now the ban is temporary, but the FTC are pushing to make it permanent. The ban stems from a complaint (PDF) lodged by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) back [...]
Microsoft to offer free anti-virus software (The Manila Times)
Microsoft has announced plans to offer free anti-virus software to PC users starting next year. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant said the software, code-named "Morro," will "provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans."
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Microsoft Will Replace OneCare with Security Software (NewsFactor via Yahoo! ...
Microsoft plans to stop accepting paid subscriptions to Windows Live OneCare in mid-2009. The security software is slated to be replaced by a free offering code-named Morro, which will focus on providing consumer PCs with core protection from viruses, spyware, rootkits, trojans and other forms of malware.
Week in review: Yahoo to replace Yang (CNET)
Search giant searches for new CEO, while Microsoft takes its security strategy in a new direction. Also: Sing along with DRM.