Spyware is the virtual plague of the new Millenium. You no longer
have to receive emails with viruses in them or even click on
dangerous links on websites. Simply surfing the web can now leave
you wide open to the scourge of spyware. You may also hear spyware
referred to as malware.
Laptop Battery What is spyware?
Spyware is when a program is placed on your PC without your
consent. The most common way for this to happen is when you install
a separate application such as a file sharing program or free
download utility on your computer. The program you install also
places some "extra" programs on your PC. These extra programs
perform tasks from
recording what websites you
visit to popping up ads on your screen. More worrying are the
spyware programs that record everything you type on your
keyboard. That's right. Your most private instant messages,
emails and chat room discussions can easily be stored and
transmitted without your approval. Scary stuff!
Spyware is the virtual plague of the new Millenium. You no longer have to receive emails with viruses in them or even click on dangerous links on websites. Simply surfing the web can now leave you wide open to the scourge of spyware. You may also hear spyware referred to as malware.
Thinkpad Are there different types of spyware?
There are many different classifications of spyware but the
following are the most dangerous types:
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Microsoft Adware
The most common type of spyware. These are small programs which
sit on your computer waiting for you to go online. Once the adware
detects that you're connected to the Internet it starts sending you
popup, popover and popunder ads for anything from airline tickets
to porn site membership. Not only that but information on your
viewing habits is then sold on to marketing companies who will then
send you more junk email and popup ads than you ever thought
possible.
Spyware remover main console window Console main window The main Console window allows you to install the Agent or the License Server onto remote computers. Computers with the Agent installed appear in the Network list. Having connected to any of them, launch immediately or schedule spyware removal tasks, disable the Spyware Shield for proactive protection from spyware installation, install the up Blocker ups while surfing the Internet, update the Spyware Base site. The Tasks area displays the operations, scheduled or currently executed on the selected computer.
Laptop Computers Browser Hijacker
These are just plain annoying. These install themselves on your
computer and change your default homepage and search engine to
something else. Every time you start your web browser it will bring
you to a page filled with ads, porn or other unwanted material.
This interrupts your web browsing and is intensely annoying. Most
browser hijackers are also data miners. A data mining program
reports your web browsing habits to a central database. This
information is then sold on to marketing companies.
What is a Network Interface Card (NIC) The most important PC device is the network interface card (NIC). Each computer on the network, including the servers, is required to have one installed. It is the NIC that provides connectivity between the PC and the network's physical medium, optic cable. Most of the new motherboards available today for PCs and servers have the network interface card integrated with the motherboard. Older computers and some newer computers do not provide onboard network interfaces which will equire a NIC to be added.
Laptop Computer Keyboard Logger
These programs are designed for one thing - theft. When you log in
to your online banking these can record
your PIN number. When you check your private email account these
programs can record your password. Keyboard loggers are
potentially one of the most damaging pieces of spyware because of
the potential financial dangers and theft of personal
information.
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Desktop Computer Modem Hijacker
Potentially the most costly spyware. Modem hijackers are also
referred to as diallers. Diallers normally install themselves to
your computer via a virus infection or from warez, mp3 or adult
websites. A dialler is a small piece of software that will dial
long distance, premium rate phone numbers when you're not at your
PC. These phone numbers are normally for adult chat line services
located in Russia, China, South America and the Phillipines. I have
personally seen unlucky victims receive $2,000 bills for one month
of telephone calls.
Notebooks How do you remove spyware from your PC?
Thankfully several responsible companies have made it their
mission to help eradicate the menace of spyware. You'll need 2 - 3
programs to remove spyware from your PC. The first of these is Ad
Aware which is a free download. The second application is Spybot
Search and Destroy which is also a free download. Last but not
least I'd recommend also
getting yourself a copy of
CrapCleaner 1.0. These applications can only remove the spyware
already on your PC - they cannot protect your PC from being
cluttered with new spyware.
Lenovo How do you stop spyware infesting your PC?
1. Do not click on links offering free movies, competitions, prize
draws, free software or anything that looks suspicious. If it looks
like a dog, smells like a dog and walks like a dog... well it's a
dog.
- Install firewall software. This is absolutely critical for
Broadband or Highspeed users. All computers connected to the
Internet today should have firewall software installed - regardless
of your connection speed.
- Make sure your antivirus software is updated. Good antivirus
software can find and delete the most harmful types of
spyware.
Hard Drive If you'd like more information on fighting spyware drop by
www.affiliate-advocate.com for our spyware fighting
guide.
Travelstar This article was provided courtesy of the Spyware & Malware
Guide website. The site itself had lots of useful information on
spyware removal
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