What is spyware?

The simplest definition is software that was made with the intent to harm your computer and/or steal personal information from your machine. Unfortunately you usually aren’t aware that the spyware is being installed. It’s usually done behind the scenes without you even knowing about it!

What does it do?

Spyware is designed to infect computers by the millions. It’s designed with the intent to steal your personal information otherwise known as identity theft. It can also track your online activity and record your personal information which can then in turn be sold to thieves. A very unsettling thought to say the least.

What other terrible things does it do?

It uses your computers resources, hogging them up and causing your computer to run slow. It can take up your internet bandwidth so your internet searching slows down as well.

It can be designed to watch and record your web surfing to learn your common searches and/or purchases that you’ve made online.

It can steal your banking and credit card account numbers.

It can disable, change or delete files that are saved on your computer that your operating system needs to function.

Can open another inlet or door on your computer that will leave it open an vulnerable to other spyware or virus invasions.

Uses your computer to send spam email without you knowing it. Your computer takes the form of a “zombie”.

Enables pop-up ads even though you may have disabled them manually.

Causes your computer to crash or cause conflicts with other software that you’re running.

Can record your keystrokes to determine you usernames and passwords using something called “keyloggers”.

It can take you email addresses and others that you have saved.

Redirect your homepage on your web browser, change you bookmarks and favorites.

How do I get spyware on my computer?

Stay way from ads or noticed stating that you won something or virus warnings. You can always run a scan on your computer with legitimate software to determine if your computer has been infected with spyware, viruses or worm.

Some spyware programs are built into websites by a simple link that you are unaware of when you click on them.

It hides in software that you download online. Often found in free software online or screensavers, games and the like.

You may receive a warning email that if you don’t click on a button you’ll actually get spyware or a virus, so you click on it and actually end up installing spyware rather than preventing it.

You may receive an email that looks like a card or funny joke that you need to download or click on a file to get it to work.

How do I protect myself from spyware?

Some internet browsers are more prone to spyware than others. Firefox is one browser that actually has some great defenses against spyware!

Stay away from free software, especially music files. Monitor what others are downloading in your household. Make it a house rule that nothing gets downloaded without first being inspected by the individual you appoint to monitor this activity.

Be sure to schedule spyware scans regularly for all of the computers in your household.

Believe it or not there are actual programs that appear to be spyware removal products or scans and they’re the opposite. Their scams themselves! They don’t work and often put more malicious software on your computer. Beware of free spyware or virus software. Always purchase software or be sure the software is a legitimate resource.