How to Get Rid of Spyware

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Spyware is a software that gets installed on a computer without an owner’s consent, with a malicious intent. This software has the capacity to take over your computer, partially or completely. As the name suggests, the spyware collects information of a user and spies on their activities. The more advanced spyware not only collect information but they also record the sites that the users browse, installing other software without their knowledge, browsing various websites that allows ad revenues for the site owners, etc.

What Spyware Can Do to Your Computer

These advanced spyware also have the ability to change homepage settings, remove installed programs, decrease internet connection speed, change personal computer settings, collect user names and passwords of web mail, bank accounts, credit card numbers, or information from other online platforms like PayPal, etc. With spyware installed on your computer, all your personal information is at risk.

History of Spyware

These spyware were first identified in 1995. Slowly and gradually we started to hear about different antispyware swamping the market. AOL conducted a study in 2005. This was a focused study based on computer hijacking by spyware. The statistics of this study were shocking. There were about 91% individuals whose computers were tested positive for spywares and they said that they have not installed it on their computers.

The major connection of spyware infection in the computers was linked to Internet Explorer vulnerabilities. Since the explorer hooks up in different ways with the operating system, this allows the spyware to enter various files of the operating system as well. This is nothing but a disaster. It was in 2006 that spyware was termed a serious threat and the users throughout the world were cautioned about it.

Do you know that the software you are downloading can be bundled up with a spyware? There are software, which claim they have useful utilities but by installing them you are installing a spyware on your system. That spyware will keep on working in the background and will monitor all your computer activity and will pass that information on to the people who have wrapped up the software with the spyware.

How to Tell if Your Computer is Infected

How can you say if your computer is infected with spyware? If your computer is infected with a spyware, you will see pop-up advertisements on your screen even at times when you are not browsing the internet, your homepage settings change, and even after trying to set it back to prior settings, it reverts back to the changed ones, such an activity clearly shows that you have a spyware on your computer.

With a spyware infected computer, your web browser will install new toolbars, will work really slow and might often crash. It will also take a longer time for your computer to start and will have poor performance. These are all the symptoms, which will alarm you of a spyware presence. If your computer is showing any of the above mentioned activity, then it is time to scan your computer for spyware and to get rid of them.

Getting Rid of Spyware Infections

Let us observe as to how you can prevent spyware from getting installed on your computer. The first step is to change your browser security settings to a medium level. If your security settings are set on a low level, then this needs to be changed immediately. After pulling up Internet Explorer, you can click “Tools”, then click “Internet Options”, and the second tab from the left is security, it is where you need to change the security level to medium or high depending on the security level you want.

Be very cautious when you are downloading and installing software because a lot of the software that you download contain malicious spyware, adware, malware. Always download software from a trusted site such as www.download.com where they test software for any malicious agents. I referred this site because they have a reputation and you can report any software that you think raised security concerns for you.

The spyware also creep in a computer through email attachments. So it is best to open up these attachments if you receive them from a trusted source. Activate your windows firewall or the firewall that you have on your antivirus software to combat against these threats. Last but not the least, we all can get rid of spyware by installing an antispyware software. You can download free antispyware software from www.download.com and operate your computer in a secure environment.

I hope this article will equip you against the threats that are lurking out there!

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