What is “Spyware”?

Spyware is software that gets installed on your computer either with
or

without your permission. Once installed it goes about its job of


collecting information without your knowledge. The type of information


that it collects, and who that information gets reported to, varies

depending upon the spyware program, or programs, that run on your PC.

How does this Spyware get installed in the first
place?

Some spyware gets installed with your permission although you may not

realize that it is spyware. These "legal" spyware programs, such
as


KaZaa Toptext, Comet Cursor, Gator, and Bonzai Buddy do notify you that


you are installing spyware (although they don't call it that exactly)

but they bury the fact in the fine print so you're not really aware.

Malicious, or "illegal" spyware often comes hidden inside of
MP3 player

software, games, and web sites that pop up a box asking you click "OK"

to accept something that they are trying to download to your PC.

Of course, not everything that you are asked to click "OK" for
is


spyware, but you should check a bit further before blindly accepting

downloads onto your PC. This is doubly true if you are at an adult or

gamers site.

What does spyware spy on?

The "legal" spyware typically keeps track of the web sites
that you


visit, the links that you click on, your shopping habits, and how long


you remain online each day. This information is used by the Spyware

companies to develop an online "profile" of you which they then either

use to send popup or banner ads to your browser, or they sell that

information to marketers who splatter you with ads.

The illegal spyware may actually record your personal information such


as your e-mail address, physical address, credit card and bank account


numbers, Social Security number, and other sensitive information that

you may type while on line. These people use this information to steal

your identity and your money.

What can I do to protect myself against Spyware?

Your first defense if to not use "free" software programs that
are


offered to you on the Internet. Nothing is truly free (well, some things


are but you're not going to find them being offered on most of the web

sites that the average user visits), and these software programs are

typically paid for by third part advertisers who get your marketing

demographics through the software that you download.

Next, you should get a good Spyware scanning program and run it once
a


week or so. There are plenty of Spyware scanners out there, but there


is only one that I recommend.

A moment ago I said that nothing was free except for a few things that

you weren't likely to run across. Here is one of those few free software

programs that are worth downloading.

The product is called "Spybot - Search and Destroy" or "Spybot-S&D" for


short. It was written by Patrick M. Kolla. Not only is it the most


comprehensive Spyware scanner and remover available today, but it is

100% absolutely free! Don't worry, there is no Spyware inside of

Spyware: Search and Destroy. He supports the software by asking for

donations. You don't HAVE to make a donation but, if you use the

software, go ahead and send him a few bucks. It helps to keep the


software current.

Beware! There are a lot of imitators who use names for their software

that are deceptively similar to Spybot-S&D. These imitators DO have

Spyware in them and some versions are very dangerous. To protect

yourself, only download from this link:

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

After you install the software let it run. Depending upon the speed of


your PC, and the size of your hard drive, this could take up to several

hours the first time. It's worth the wait though and you can simply let

it run while you sleep. I'm willing to bet that if you have been online

for more than a week that you have some Spyware on your PC right now.


Take what you've learned in this article and get rid of it. Your

personal information may be at risk!

Here are two other safe Spyware removal programs that many people use.