What is Spyware?
Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computerto intercept or take partial control over the user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent. While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habit, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, accessing websites blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Spyware can even change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and loss of Internet or other programs.
Other spyware behavior, such as reporting on websites the user visits, occurs in the background. The data is used for "targeted" advertisement impressions. The prevalence of spyware has cast suspicion upon other programs that track Web browsing, even for statistical or research purposes. Some observers describe the Alexa Toolbar, an Internet Explorer plug-in published by Amazon.com, as spyware, and some anti-spyware programs such as Ad-Aware report it as such. Many of these adware distributing companies are backed by millions of dollars of adware-generating revenues. Adware and spyware are similar to viruses in that they can be malicious in nature. However, people are now profiting from these threats, making them more and more popular.
How does a computer become infected?
1)The distributor of spyware usually presents the program as a useful utility—for instance as a "Web accelerator" or as a helpful software agent. Users download and install the software without immediately suspecting that it could cause harm.
2)Spyware can also come bundled with shareware or other downloadable software, as well as music CDs. The user downloads a program and installs it, and the installer additionally installs the spyware. Although the desirable software itself may do no harm, the bundled spyware does.
3)A third way of distributing spyware involves tricking users by manipulating security features designed to prevent unwanted installations. Internet Explorer prevents websites from initiating an unwanted download. Instead, it requires a user action, such as clicking on a link
4)Some spyware authors infect a system through security holes in the Web browser or in other software. When the user navigates to a Web page controlled by the spyware author, the page contains code which attacks the browser and forces the download and installation of spyware.
Effects of Spyware
1) Dramatically slows the computer down. Remember Spyware is also a program and has been coded in such a way as to eat most of your computers recourse.
2)It Collects your private data and sends that information off to a third party.Can collect information such as credit card numbers, key strokes, bank pin numbers, and any other information that is stored or used on that computer.
3) Annoying pop-up ads. Not to mention ads that portray sexual explicit material.
4) They logging of all information done on that specific computer, such as what web pages do you visit, if you subscribe to a pay site it will collect that password and user name as well.
5)Can dramatically slow down your internet connection, because its constantly sending information.
Summary
Practically speaking if you are infected with Spyware, you belong to the great spyware network. People have access to your computer and can monitor almost everything you do on that computer. They can install more additional programs on that computer to make sure that you stay in there network.
How to remove Spyware
There are free programs on the internet that remove spyware, however because these programs are not the authors main priority, simple things such as software updates do not happen frequently. The best way to go is to purchase spyware removal tools and spyware blockers. What i have done is shortlisted the best spyware tools on the net and put them on one page for you to view. All these spyware tolls are great and will get the job done, if you have a problem deciding which one to take.
My web page
Please bookmark this blog as i will be doing more reviews and giving advice in the next coming days.
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