Spyware and adware have become as annoying to computer
users as the virus that are going around. 90 per cent of computers have
some type of spyware or adware infection. The question is how bad has
the system been infected?
What is spyware you may ask?
Spyware is software that has either knowingly or unknowingly
installed on your computer. To me spyware is an invasion of our privacy.
The software will track your online activity gathering information about
your surfing habits. Different versions of spyware gather information
that is used for advertising, armed with the types of products you
purchase or even look at online. Some types of spyware is installed
while visiting a web site without your even knowing. Some gets installed
while you install some types of free services.
What is adware?
Adware is software that not only watches where you go online, the
software then displays an advertisement about the type products or
subject you are looking at while online. Not all adware gathers and
stores information as spyware does. Adware software just pushes an
advertisement to your desktop, trying to sell you products.
Both spyware and adware are not wanted or desired by computer users.
This software can and in most cases does slow your computer down along
with your online speed.
The answer is to get software that will scan your computer, detecting
the many types of spyware and adware.
There are also malware, trojan and other software called data miners
that needs to be scanned for and removed. Trojan software will actually
take control of your system and communicate back to the installing
group, giving them control of your computer.
