Are You Being Watched: Signs and Prevention of Spyware

Spyware is a general term used for software that performs advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, usually without your consent. Publishers create spyware and adware to snoop around on what you're browsing, invading your privacy and pushing those annoying pop-ups to your screen. Other spyware causes your computer to run much slower than usual and makes annoying changes to your computer. Spyware makers have found a viable advertising technique of sending annoying and harmful software to your computer, legally or not. Nine out of ten computers connected to he internet are infected with some form of spyware. All internet users should be mindful of the dangers of spyware.

There are a number of ways that unwanted software such as spyware can get on your computer. Spyware can be installed automatically as a package when you download seemingly innocent free software such as file sharing programs, toolbars, and free games or programs. Because of the stealthy way it gets onto your computer, it can be a pain to remove it. However, most people are familiar with the symptoms of a spyware infection. A slow computer, increased pop-ups, unauthorized homepage and other configuration changes, and mysterious search results are all signs that you have a spyware infection. These spyware programs can disable your uninstall abilities, monitor your keystrokes as you type, access files on your drive, disable your applications, reset your browser's homepage and display advertising content which you did not request. Spyware is not just about spying on you when you're on the internet. It can also record your keystrokes when you're offline, writing in a word processing program or spreadsheet.