How to Prevent Spyware How to prevent your computer from becoming infected with spyware
What is spyware? Spyware is a form of malware (a generic term for pretty much anything that shouldn't be on your computer). Spyware is put on your computer by web sites for a variety of reasons. Collecting statistics, causing malicious damage, contacting unwanted websites, popping up adverts, dialling premium rate lines. Unlike viruses, worms and trojans - whose writers just seem to want to prove they can cause havoc, spyware tends to be written for commercial gain. Heavy infestations of spyware can slow your computer down and cause increasing frustration when using the internet. How to Prevent Spyware Effective prevention of spyware is not easy. The definition of spyware is flexible. Some internet security suites have spyware prevention built in, some don't. Some antivirus only programs will prevent/remove items of malware that others ignore. Some antispy programs will remove items of malware that others ignore. Beware of much of the so called spyware removal software. There are dozens of spyware removal programs advertised on the internet. But how do you know if it is a genuine piece of software? Much of the so called spyware removal software is spyware itself. It will remove existing spyware and then add spyware of its own. Some software claims to scan your computer and then frightens you by telling you it has found dozens of items which need fixing. Will it fix it? No - it wants you to PAY for a subscription. Not a spyware removal tool - just a money making machine for the writers. Use antispyware that has been recommended. (If in doubt - do an internet search for a product BEFORE downloading it. See if you can find any reviews or recommendations or avoidance stories.) There are two kinds of antispyware programs. Some are proactive. You install them, they keep themselves updated and keep scanning for spyware. Some you have to remember to run. They will do nothing unless you tell them to update and scan your computer. You can use more than one antispyware program (unlike antivirus software) so long as only one is proactive.
These are several reliable antispyware programs - this is not a definitive list. They are all free. Spybot Search and Destroy. Available free from www.download.com. Look for their spyware center Windows Defender from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com) This is proactive and will update itself and scan your computer daily Adaware free and paid for versions (www.lavasoft.com - look for the Adaware SE Personal edition, which is free) Beware of other programs with similar names. Adaware will blow a very rude raspberry through your speakers when it has finished scanning your computer. Adaware is bot proactive. You should run the software periodically. Always ask it to check for updates before scanning the computer. Sadly spyware usually attacks computers that run Microsoft products - they are, after all, the most common. If you are really worried about spyware try changing your web browser. Use Mozilla Firefox or Opera. If you have children - get them their own pc. They will want to spend hours downloading the latest cool toolbar addons or instant messaging software. They will be downloading music and videos. All are frought with danger from a spyware point of view. Keep your work computer to yourself and take care which sites you visit too. If you have a taste for spyware ridden adult sites - use a separate computer!