What is spyware?
Many names have been used for spyware, such as: spyware, adware, hijackers, dialers, malware, and freeware. Malware is the generic term that classifies any program that perform a harmful effect on computer without the owner's knowledge or consent. Some malwares are viruses, trojans, backdoors and worms.
Adware is not necessary spyware, but it can be. As the name indicates, it is a nuisance piece of software that pops up advertisement on your computer, most of them are freewares, since the advertisements were suppose to pay for the development of the software.
Spyware is the term usually used to describe programs that causes problems for you. The damage they can do is worse than viruses, in my opinion. There are many types of spywares that perform pop up adv., browser hijack, search engine hijack, steel personal information such as credit card, bank and social security numbers, it does website redirection, and since it is usually not efficiently coded, it slows down your computer.
In today's world, if you are connected to the Internet and downloaded and installed software on your computer, the chance of infection of spyware is very large. You are probably infected if:
- You have downloaded music online
- Your PC is running extremely slow
- You are pestered by those horrible popup ads
- Your homepage keeps changing
- Your search keyword are changed without your knowledge
Don't let people invade your privacy and slow down your PC!
posted by Ruth Williams at 8:59 AM
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