pyware has to be the most
talked about PC security At the other end of the spectrum
threat of 2005. It has now spyware programs can record what
surpassed the computer virus as you do on your computer including
the No. 1 menace to computer user individual key strokes. This
both at home and in the information is then shared with a
enterprise. Despite efforts from third party. This data is then
Microsoft and independent sold to marketing companies or
security software companies, the used to profit from. For example,
spyware menace is set to continue the program may have captured
through 2006 and beyond. The your bank log-in details or
research firm Radicati Group credit card information.
expect worldwide anti-spyware
revenue to surpass $1 billion by Profit from these activities
2010. drives spyware development and
deployment. According to
There are numerous types of anti-spyware vendor Webroot Inc
spyware with some more dangerous advertising revenue generated
than others. At one end of the from spyware is much more
spectrum spyware pushes annoying lucrative than trying to generate
ads to your computer as is profit through Spam Email.
usually referred as "Adware." It
is still spyware as the ads are Here are the common ways spyware
generally pushed to you based on gets onto your computer:
your surfing habits. A bad
infection can also dramatically • Bundled with free software
impact your computer's like screensavers or P2P file
performance as your desktop sharing programs which you
slowly gets overwhelmed with pop download. For example Kazaa, a
up adverts. P2P file-sharing application,
installs adware onto a user's following categories:
computer even though it claims to
contain "no spyware." Waterfalls • Gaming sites
3 from Screensaver.com installs
spyware and Trojan horses. • Music download sites (I
Examples are courtesy of a report interpret this to mean "legal"
from StopBadware.org's website. music sharing sites like
dailymp3.com or where you can
• Opening Spam email find P2P applications)
attachments.
• Adult sites
• Being enticed into clicking
on links in pop up adverts which • Celebrity sites
then downloads spyware. These pop
ups usually display messages to • Wallpaper / screensaver sites
do with winning money or entering
a special prize drawer. Here are some tips and strategies
to reduce the chance of spyware
• "Drive-by downloading" - this infection:
is when spyware is automatically
downloaded onto your computer • Switch on your browser's pop
from the website you are surfing. blocker.
Earlier this year a report • Install an anti-spyware tool
published by the University of with active protection which
Washington revealed categories of helps prevent infection in the
websites which are mostly like to first place.
host spyware or infect users
through "drive-by downloads." • Keep Windows and other
Their research revealed the Microsoft applications like
office up to date with the latest recommended.
patches.
• If you are a frequent visitor
• Use SiteAdvisor of the high risk categories
(http://www.siteadvisor.com). please consider changing your
This is a free plug-in for your surfing habits or at least making
browser which tells you whether a sure your system is fully
site is safe or not based on protected.
their testing. This is new
software which is highly
About the Author:
Richard Rogers is a owner of a number of computer related sites. One of his sites offers Computer Help for Windows XP Users - http://www.pcshield.co.uk
Read more articles by:
Richard Rogers
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
