Protect Your PC From Spyware & Adware

What Is Spyware & Adware?

Spyware and, to a lesser extent, adware occupy a category of malicious software alongside viruses, and trojans and are capable of being just as nasty as them too. Small programs that install themselves on your computer, they track your surfing habits and collect personal data that's then sent back to their creators. They can run behind the scenes on your computer, and you might not even know that they're there.

Spotting The Problem

They're certainly harder to spot than they used to be. One of the symptoms of a PC infected with spyware or adware was that its performance would drop when online as the malicious programs sent and received data. When on a dial-up internet connection this could consume a great deal of bandwidth but nowadays, when high-speed broadband connections are commonplace, the rise in data traffic isn't sufficient enough to create a noticeable impact.

It's only when more overt symptoms reveal themselves that spyware and adware can be recognised and that only happens when they've been programmed to do so. It's here that spyware and adware differ. Spyware is manifestly malicious and is created to collect details about what websites you visit, what your usernames and passwords are for various sites and even your login details for your online bank account. One of the most common types of spyware is the keylogger, which records exactly what keys you type on your keyboard and is able to correlate this information with the URL that was open in your internet browser at the time. Consequently spyware tends to remain hidden. Adware is far more flagrant and presents you with pop-up and pop-under adverts as well as redirecting your internet browser's home page to a site other than that which you selected.

How Your PC Is Infected

Spyware and adware can arrive on your PC in a variety of ways. One is by hiding within another program. When you see pop-up adverts promoting programs to fix your PC's registry, update the system clock or, ironically, clean the tracks of your internet surfing, often a piece of spyware or adware is installed alongside the supposedly useful program. Adware is often bundled with more legitimate programs, particularly ones that you don't have to pay for, such as free file-sharing applications. Other pieces of spyware and adware will install themselves from a website that you're visiting or be introduced by a virus.

Anti-Spyware Software

However it arrives on your computer, you'll need a special piece of anti-spyware software to remove it. These programs will scan your PC for any existing spyware or adware, remove it safely and then safeguard your computer against further attacks. You can also avoid installing spyware on your computer by reading the terms and conditions you're agreeing to in free programs that you've downloaded and are going to install and making sure that no third-party programs are going to be installed alongside it. You should also avoid installing programs from pop-up windows that appear, unrequested, in your internet browser. Then, with a little wariness and anti-spy software, you can stay spyware and adware free!