SPYWARE

Spyware
Threat Type First appeared
1 Gator Adware Sep 11, 2003
2 Virtumonde Spyware Oct 08, 2004
3 SaveNow Adware Sep 11, 2003
4 ClientMan Spyware Jul 27, 2004
5 WUpd Adware Sep 03, 2004
6 ActiveSearch Adware Oct 28, 2004
7 BaiduBar Adware May 02, 2005
8 MarketScore Spyware Sep 17, 2004



SPYWARE EXPLOIT USER INFORMATION
The spyware problem is an invasion of privacy, although different from cookies, technically speaking. Spyware is a program that runs on your computer and again, tracks your habits, tailors these patterns for advertisements, etc. Because it is a computer program, rather than just a bit of text in a cookie, spyware can also do some nasty things to ensure that the spyware keeps running and keeps influencing what you see.

HOW DO I KNOW IF SPYWARE IS RUNNING ON THE COMPUTER?
You can use detection programs such as Ad Aware and others. Similar to anti-virus software, these programs compare a list of known spyware with files on your computer and can remove any that it detects, but again, what some consider unacceptable is perfectly acceptable to others.

HOW DOES SPYWARE INSTALL ITSELF ON COMPUTERS?
Common tactics for surreptitious installation include rolling up advertising programs into "free" shareware program downloads, and once the spyware is installed it can download advertisements 24 hours a day and overlay them on Web sites and programs you are using. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware from being installed, but the best strategy is to discriminate what you choose to download and install.

CAN SPYWARE SEND TRACKED INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE?
Some forms of spyware monitor a target’s Web use or even general computer use and sends this information back to the spyware program's authors for use as they see fit. To fight this kind of problem, a spyware removal tool is obviously helpful, as is a firewall that monitors outgoing connections from your computer. Other forms of spyware take over parts of your Web browsing interface, forcing you to use their own search engines where they can track your browsing habits and send pop-up advertisements to you at will.
The biggest concern regarding spyware is that most of them are poorly written or designed. Many people first realize their computer is running when it noticeably slows down or stops responding, especially when doing certain tasks such as browsing Web sites or retrieving email. In addition, poorly written spyware can often cause your computer to function incorrectly even after it has been removed.

Are Spyware Threats Taking Over Your Computer?

Are you fed up with the amount of spyware that roams onto your computer? Most of the time you can't really do anything about the threats but deal with them. Furthermore, most people do not realize that most of the simple things they do while on their computer is what makes their computer becomes affected with various spyware threats.

For instance have you ever downloaded a type of program off the internet whether it was from a secured website or from another person? Most of the time people may not know that when they download something of interest off the internet whether it is free or paid for, it may include spyware threats that are attached within the program. Usually, when the spyware threats are included in these programs they are stated within the license agreement that most people are too lazy to read. They are more quick to install the program that they dont take the time to read the license agreement to find out if any type of threat will be included with the program.

If you are a big fan of downloading off of the internet then you may have some experience with spyware threats being on your computer from some files that you may have downloaded. Have you ever experienced those continuous pop-ups that may appear while you are on the internet? Again, your computer has been infected with spyware. This can be very frustrating to deal with because as you surf the internet the pop-ups just keep on rolling and rolling whenever you click on something new.

Spyware threats can be a pain to deal with and they just make your computer slower and slower to the point where you don't even want to get onto your computer anymore. Most people compensate this problem by shelling out hundreds of dollars just to get their computer cleaned.



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