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You have probably heard of spyware before, but it isn't a term that many people know it's meaning. We all know it's a bad thing, but it's important you understand what spyware is and why it has gotten such a bad rap. When you hear the term spyware, it is refering to programs or software that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge. These programs can cause all sorts of problems on your system - here are a few examples: 1) Sniff out personal data and pass it on to the programmer of the spyware. There have been many cases where even financial data have been compromised. 2) Add all sorts of extra programs and add-ons to your computer which you haven't authorized. This is usually used to monitor your online activity and will cause your computer to run a lot slower than usual. 3) When you are online, you are redirected to certain websites that have other harmful files such as viruses or other infections. 4) Change computer settings to create holes in your system that will be used to attack it when required. I could make the list a lot longer, but you get the point - spyware is a pain in the 'you know what'! Spyware is also notorious for slowing down your computer's performance and creating all sorts of pop-ups or annoying ads when you are online. Wondering how spyware makes it way onto your computer? Most of the time you will never know for sure where the spyware on your computer came from. It sneaks its way onto your computer in various ways - some examples are: 1) Many shareware and freeware software programs have Spyware built into them. Software such as music/video download programs are normally given away free, and sometimes they come bundled with Spyware. 2) Some software makers bundle Spyware with a program that they claim is a utility. For example, if you download a program (from some obscure website) that promises to accelerate your Internet speeds, then you can safely assume that such "utility" programs are loaded with Spyware. 3) Another method used by Spyware developers is to mimic the operating system's messages so that you click on them. When you click on them the Spyware gets installed. For example, if you are using MS Windows, the Spyware manufacturer may develop a pop-up that looks exactly like a message from Microsoft. When you are browsing, this pop-up may entice you to click on it - and when you do that - presto; you've just opened the doors for the Spyware. How can you tell if there's Spyware on your computer? Spyware creates a huge volume of unwanted activity on a computer, causing it to slow down or even crash. Spyware also slows down browsing speeds as it keeps accessing advertisement websites or passing out the user's data to hackers or other advertisers. If your computer runs slower than it used to or you seem to be getting more advertisements, you like have some spyware on your computer. Unfortunately, many people end up blaming their computer's hardware if their system is running slower than usual. More often than not it is nothing hardware related - it is the fact that spyware has made its way onto their computer. You have to take the right steps to kill Spyware now! It is estimated that over 90% of computers are infected with spyware - it's next to impossible not to pick something up if you are connected to the internet. You need to make sure you are using a quality anti-spyware program so that your computer and personal information is protected. You need a solid and reliable anti-Spyware program developed by a trusted manufacturer, and you need it as soon as yesterday! Remember, only top-ranked anti-Spyware programs can effectively remove the malicious Spyware from your computer and protect it from future Spyware attacks, so don't let yourself put it off. A quality anti-spyware program will scan your computer for any existing infections, kill them off, and then protects your system from any future infections.
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