Spyware is a form of malware that lurks in your personal computer without your knowledge or permission. It secretly collects your personal information like your habits on the internet and the websites you visit. They have even been known to change computer settings. Spyware can cause you to lose the functionality of your computer and we can’t allow that!
Spyware has been around since 1995. Since it has been around many people have come together to make programs that will help battle the spyware, and these are anti-spyware programs. These programs are easily accessible and easy to use, so spyware is usually not too hard to deal with. However, spyware is very tricky. Nobody knows when they are installing spyware, so how does it get on your computer? Easy, it uses a disguise. It will pretend to be something, like a song that you download on your computer. Sometimes advertisers bundle spyware with other programs like Bonzi Buddy, which was a “program” that used children as their targeted audience and a way to get downloaded. This was the ad they used:
“He will explore the Internet with you as your very own friend and sidekick! He can talk, walk, joke, browse, search, e-mail, and download like no other friend you’ve ever had! He even has the ability to compare prices on the products you love and help you save money! Best of all, he’s FREE!”
So, how will you know if your computer or registry is infected with spyware? If your computer randomly freezes, you have difficulty connecting to the internet, unwanted behavior, extremely slow load times, or random advertisements, then you probably have downloaded at least one or more spyware programs on your PC. Some programs that you should watch out for are: Dope Wars, Kazaa, Morpheus, Radlight, DivX, and MagicJack. Also, beware of programs claiming to be Anti-Spyware unless is verified. Do not use or download: AntiVirus 360, 2008, or 2009, Errorsafe, Perfect Defender, or Windows Police Pro. These are actually spyware themselves, hoping and waiting to be installed. Good luck and be careful out there on the web!