Is your computer infected with spyware?
If you are receiving a lot of
popup ads while connected to the Internet, your computer may be
infected with spyware. Another symptom is a sluggish computer or
inability to download files from the Internet. Spyware can stop you
from getting online altogether and may hijack your homepage or your
desktop. Your browser home page could be redirected to another site or
new toolbars, programs, or icons could suddenly appear on your desktop.
What is spyware?
Spyware
is a general term for software that advertises, collects personal
information, or changes the configuration of your computer without your
knowledge. It often sends personally identifiable information from your
computer to some place in the Internet. Originally, the term spyware
meant software that tracks personal or sensitive information.
Variations have appeared such as the following.
Adware
does not transmit personally identifiable information, or at least the
collector promises not to sell it. Instead it collects aggregated usage
information or monitors you for the purpose of delivering
advertisements to you that are especially tailored to your habits.
Tracking cookies
are used all over the Internet in useful and less useful places.
Advertisement companies often set cookies whenever your browser loads a
banner from them. From then on, the company knows every site you visit
that contains their ads.
System monitors
include keystroke loggers and screen-capture software that secretly
record a user's behavior and send that data to a remote location.
Keystroke loggers can grab login names, passwords, credit card numbers,
and other sensitive information that malware authors can use to break
into your online accounts or steal your identity. Other system monitors
periodically capture screen shots of your activity and send them on to
hackers, who can use them to glean information about you.
Malware
is the fastest growing sector of spyware – and the most malicious. More
malicious spyware is being invented at this very moment.
How do you protect your computer?
The best way to protect your computer is:
- install more than one spyware removal program,
- scan daily,
- update your detection programs weekly, and
- switch from Internet Explorer or Netscape to a less targeted browser.
Our technicians can install
your choice of spyware scanning programs, clean your computer of
spyware, and give you instructions on how to do your own spyware
maintenance. You can also download free software from the links below.
Spybot Search and Destroy
Ad-Aware SE Personal
Use
these programs at your own discretion. Computer Geex assumes no
liability for damages that may occur from downloading and using this
software.
We also recommend purchasing AVG AntiMalware from the link below.
AVG AntiMalware
Additional Information
The Montana Department of Justice provides
additional information about protecting yourself from spyware and where to file a
complaint. Click here to go to their
Internet Security link.
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