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Spyware

What is Spyware?

How Spyware affects your system?

Tips to protect your PC from Spyware

Latest Anti Spyware Softwares

 

What is Spyware?

Spyware is any software that performs sneaky activities behind the user's back--these activities can range from installing itself onto your computer, gathering information on you and transmitting it across the Internet, downloading files or running programs on your computer, messing with your system settings, or even trying to silently pass itself on to others.

Spyware, as the name specifies, “spy” on you. These applications reside on your systems and capture information related to frequently used sites and also confidential data as usernames and passwords. Spyware usually gets onto the system as a result of something you do, like clicking a button on a pop-up window, installing a software package or agreeing to add functionality to your Web browser.

Adware are advertising supported software that has its vivacious presence in the internet. These are programs that attack your PC for profit, usually found along with free downloads or pop up ads, which deliberately gets installed in your system causing damage. Not all adwares are harmful.

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How Spyware affects your system?

Are you experiencing something strange with your computer, be careful, you may have Spyware or other unwanted software installed in your system. Some of the problems that you would encounter will be as:

My browser settings have changed and I’m not able to reset them

Some Spyware gets installed on your computer without your consent and has the ability to change your browser settings as changing your home page or search page. Every time you try to reset the settings you end up coming back to the same settings.

My computer is jam packed with pop-up ads

Some of the Spyware irritates you by popping up unwanted advertisements which are no way related to any of the sites you visit on any of the searches you make.

Additional components get installed on my web browser

Spyware is capable of adding additional components to the toolbars to your web browser that you don't want or need. Even if you try to remove them, they would appear every time you restart your system.

I lost my file which I saved

Some Spyware attacks specific programs manipulating the functions of the application. Every time you open the application or document after saving it, you will find them empty.

My computer seems slow

When Spyware tries to interrupt the normal functioning of your system, the system slows down or can even crash at times.

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Tips to protect from Spyware

1.    Avoid visiting sites that are spammed with pop-ups and ads. More often than not, these sites contain hidden scripts that automatically install Spyware into your system when you enter their site.

2.    Always click on the X symbol to close a window of any advertisement than clicking on the Cancel button.

3.   Avoid programs that install other programs along with it as some Spyware originate with  free downloads and software programs.

4.    Read the License agreement carefully before you attempt to download any software.

5.     Avoid emails from unknown senders as the mail by itself may be a malicious one or it may contain attachment or links that can harm your system.

6.     protect your system using legitimate antivirus software that also protects your system from Spyware and Adware

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Latest in Anti Spyware softwares

There are many anti Spyware products available in the market today. Some of them being Spyware doctor, Spy Sweeper, Max Spyware Detector and so on.

References:

http://www.system-protector.com/antispyware-reviews.html

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