What is Spyware?
Spyware is a major cause of concern for all computer users. Spyware programs usually come packaged with freeware programs and stealthily install on your computer. As the name suggests, spyware programs spy on your computer to track your Web browsing and computer activity. These programs may also steal your confidential information such as information related to bank accounts, credit cards, usernames, and passwords and transmit it to external sources for malicious use.
Symptoms of Spyware Infections
Although spyware infections rarely display visible symptoms or error messages, you may detect them when you observe one or more of the following conditions on your computer:
- Increase in pop-up ads even with no Web browser Window open. One of the most common tasks of a spyware is to track your Web browsing activity and collect data on what kind of Websites you browse and type of data you search for. This data is sold to affiliate Websites who then use it to send and display content-specific pop-ads (adware) on your computer. So, if you are suddenly frequented by this unauthorized ads, beware, your PC might have a spyware.
- Slow computer. Spyware add several processes to your computer. Usually names of these processes are quite similar to the programs already running on your computer, such as svchost.exe and iexplore.exe. These programs feed on your system resources and dramatically slow down your PC.
- Internet Explorer Errors. The main purpose of many spyware programs is to get users to advertised content. This is the reason why, when your system is infected by a spyware, you may notice that the homepage of your Internet Explorer has changed to some affiliate Website, your bookmarks may change, and your searches may show results only from advertising Websites. What’s more, whenever you type a wrong URL in Internet Explorer, you may be redirected to an affiliate or advertising website.
Getting Rid of Spyware
To keep your PC safe from malicious effects of spyware programs, it is important for you to take certain preventive measures. Some of these are listed below.
- First and foremost, install a good and reliable antispyware tool on your computer. If you already have an antivirus program, then first check it if it scans for spyware also. If it does not, then you may have to install a separate antispyware tool on your computer. You can search for an antispyware tool over the Web. However, you must be very careful while making your choice, and only download a tool that is from a reliable resource. This is important because there are many spyware programs disguised as antispyware lurking over the Web. After you have downloaded and installed an antispyware program, perform a full system scan to detect and remove spyware from your computer.
- Many spyware programs add embedded—non-removable—entries in the registry. These registry entries enable spyware to reinstall itself even after you remove it. This is the reason why it is recommended that you use a reliable registry cleaner tool to perform a deep and thorough registry scan to weed out these malicious entries from it and ensure complete spyware removal.
To prevent spyware problems, you must be a vigilant user and avoid visiting dubious Websites, downloading freeware software from doubtful Websites, and opening attachments that come with spam and unsolicited e-mails.
Leave a Reply