What is a Spyware?

Spyware is another term for adware or malware. Spyware is inadvertently downloaded onto your system in the process of downloading some program or code from the Internet. This is malicious software that loads itself onto your computer and begins to work covertly in the background collecting information pertaining to your computer and your activities. This information can include details of the kind of sites that you like to visit, the software that you are using, the online activities such as online banking, trading and worse, Spyware can also record your credit card information and secretly mail it to the person who put the Spyware on the Internet in the first place.
   
   
 

Who creates Spyware?

Spyware is created and hosted on the Internet for many reasons. The two main reasons are for marketing research and for hacking people’s accounts. Many companies that offer free downloads on the Internet do so because somewhere in the agreement is a catch. This invariably is in the form of the users agreement whereby the user, or the person who is downloading the free software, agrees to a Spyware being downloaded for use on his system and that the user does not mind the Spyware collecting browsing information from the users computer and mailing it to a certain host. In this case the ‘Spyware” is called Adware because it is only collecting information pertaining to the users browsing habits. This information is bundled and sold to online marketing companies. Since the user, knowingly or unknowingly, agreed to the installation of the adware it is not illegal.

Spyware is also used for illegal or malicious purposes. Spyware can be programmed to collect personal information of users who frequently work on secures sites such as online banking or stock trading. Usernames and PIN information is collected by Spyware and mailed to the host of the Spyware. This is a form of hacking and this information is primarily used for embezzlement and fraudulent activities.
   
   
 

Is Spyware a Virus?

Spyware can be described as a virus only in the way it downloads and installs itself on the system. Because it is covertly installed and operates in the background it is hard to detect. Like a Virus Spyware is a program that uses the system files to locate and transmit data through the Internet Explorer. Spyware is different from a virus in that it does not cause damage to the system itself. It does not delete critical information and system files like a virus does. Spyware also does not replicate itself in the system. Spyware just installs itself and operates secretly in the background of the operating system.

   
   
 

How do I know there is Spyware installed on my system?

Though Spyware operates in the most secret ways known, there are some telltale signs that something is amiss with the system. Spyware, as the name suggests, is designed to conceal itself in the background of the operating system. Among the hundreds of system files and applications the Spyware hides and carries out its deadly task of gathering information and mailing it to its master. Here is where the Spyware can let its presence be known. In order to gather information it must stop many system processes and then access the Internet or wait for the Internet to be accessed by the user in order to transmit its cache of information. In stopping the processes the Spyware will delay or slow down many processes. This slow performance of the system is the greatest indicator of Spyware on an unprotected system. The second way to detect Spyware is to run anti-Spyware software and remove any Spyware or adware on your system. It is always advisable to install and run anti-Spyware on the computer just like an anti-virus utility to protect the computer from adware and Spyware attacks.
   
   
 

How does Spyware get installed on the computer?

Spyware is designed to ride on the back of other installations that the user downloads from the Internet. In the process of downloading the user may be prompted to download ActiveX components in order for the download to run. Along with the ActiveX control the download will also download the Spyware. This will then automatically install itself and begin to work in the background unknown to the user or the operating system.

   
   
 

Are there anti-Spyware tools that can monitor and remove Spyware?

Like anti-virus software there are anti-Spyware and anti-adware tools as well. Anti-Spyware utilities are installed on the system and run along with the other programs when the computer starts or boots. This software will constantly monitor activities on the compute and when it detects any Spyware activity it warns the user. If the user desires, which is almost always the case, the Spyware will be removed from the system. This removal of Spyware can be set to automatic or manual as the user desires. Manual is better because the anti-Spyware might mistake some other critical activity as Spyware activity and delete the process.

   
   
 

Is Anti-Spyware expensive?

There are many free versions available on the Internet. Anti-Spyware software is mostly incorporated along with the anti-virus program you purchase. However, if you find the need for anti-Spyware or anti-Adware then download a free version of the software or a trial version. These programs work very efficiently protecting the system from any sort of attack and keep the users private information safe.

   
   
 

Do I need to make any manual settings in Internet Explorer to prevent Spyware from attacking?

The Anti-Spyware programs usually make the changes for you when you install them. However, in the event of you not having anti-Spyware on your system it is advisable to go to Internet Explorer and click on the ‘tools’ link on the menu and select ‘Internet Options’ then Select the ‘Security’ tab and ensure that it is set for at least ‘Medium’ or higher security. Then click on the ‘Custom Level’ button and adjust the Download values to prompt whenever a sites tries to download an ActiveX control. Follow all the instructions to disable any download or run function that the system is set to carry out. This will ensure a good level of protection of the system until you install anti-Spyware on the system.

   
   
 

How effective is Spyware removal software?

It is advisable to run an anti-Spyware program on the system to detect and remove Spyware from the computer. Then, since the anti-Spyware does not clean the registry and leaves traces of the Spyware on the system, it is advisable to run a registry cleaner to remove every trace of the Spyware. Doing this will prevent the traces from locating the missing links on the Internet and download them to start operating again.

   
   

 




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