What is spyware ?
Spyware is a general term used to describe software that performs certain behaviors, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent first, such as:
- Advertising
- Collecting personal information
- Changing the configuration of your computer
What does spyware do ?
- Knowing what spyware does can be a very difficult process because most spyware is designed to be difficult to remove. Other kinds of spyware make changes to your computer that can be annoying and can cause your computer slow down or crash.
- These programs can change your web browser's home page or search page, or add additional components to your browser you don't need or want. They also make it very difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you had them.
How to identify spyware?
- Your computer slowing down to a crawl.
- Porn sites popping up in your browser when you are surfing the net
- Your computer mysteriously dials up phone numbers during the middle of the night, normally to expensive porn chat lines leaving you with a huge bill.
- When you enter a search into your search bar, a new and unfamiliar site handles the search.
- New sites are added to your favorites list without you adding them
- Your homepage has been hijacked and even though you remove the new site it keeps coming back.
- You get pop up adverts that address you by your name, even when your computer isn’t connected to the internet.
Best freeware (spyware)scanner:
- Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org
- Adaware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com
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