Spyware

Spyware is the name given to a form of tracking software that is installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is a "malware" program.

There are many different types of spyware. They generally fall into the following categories:

• System Modification Software - This is type of spyware changes settings on your computer. These changes include your home page or some default internet or computer settings. Some names for this type of spyware include browser hijackers or rootkits.
• Tracking Software - This is also known as snoopware or a screen scraper. This type of spyware does exactly what it is named for, tracking. It is used to gain information about the user's internet habits, or even gather personal and private information about a user. This type of spyware is divided into two categories. The first category is active tracking software, which includes keyloggers. The second category is passive tracking software which includes tracking cookies.
• Advertising Display Software - This is most commonly referred to as adware. It is a form of spyware that generates pop-up ads while you surf the web. While not a malicious form of spyware, it is annoying to have adware installed on your computer.
• Remote Control Software - This form of spyware is one of the more malicious forms of spyware and allows remote access or control of your computer. Some common names for this type of spyware include backdoors, botnets and droneware.

Spyware is everywhere on the internet and it hides in all sorts of places. Commonly spyware comes from downloading a free application from the internet. The spyware gets installed with the program. Some places or types of programs where you might get spyware include free screensavers or backgrounds, cartoon cursors, weather or news alerts, or messenger programs. Not every program or application you download for free from the internet has spyware but it is a common place for it. There are a lot of legitimate programs and applications out there and it's not fair to classify every one as a spyware producing application.

Here are a few suggestions to help protect your PC from spyware:

• Use good PC security programs and keep it up to date. PC security programs include anti-virus, anti-spyware and personal firewalls.
• If you get a pop-up ad, don't click "no" or "cancel", instead in Microsoft Windows use the ALT+F4 option, or click the "x" in the corner. Even if you click "no" or "cancel" in the ad, it usually will still download spyware onto your computer.
• Only download programs from trusted web sites.

The above recommendations should help to prevent you from getting spyware on your computer. It is also very important to be careful while surfing the internet because spyware and malicious software are everywhere and not always easy to see. One of the best suggestions we can make to help protect you from spyware is to use a good anti-spyware program that both removes spyware from your PC and prevents spyware from being installed on your PC. Check out the programs we review on this site for trusted and proven spyware protection programs.