Spyware

Defnition

Spyware, generally refers to programs installed on your computer, usually without your knowledge. It can transmit personal information to companies. These companies use this data in a number of ways including selling it to others, using it for marketing data, or tracking browsing habits.

This is getting to be a big reason why people are getting so much spam e-mail.
Spyware can also install other software at the same time or make your computer vulnerable to other programs being installed.

Symptoms

There are several general symptoms that your computer is infected with spyware.

1.Home Page and Search Pages changing
2.There are a lot of pop-up windows.
3.The computer recently has poor performance and is crashing frequently.
4.There are icons being added to your Desktop or Favorites that you didn't put there.

Prevention

1. Do not click on any links in an E-mail with unless you are absolutely sure that the website will not infect your computer.

2. Be very careful of music or peer-to-peer file sharing web sites.

3.Do not install any software from the Internet unless you are absolutely sure it will not infect your computer. This includes freeware, greeting cards, screensavers, music, on-line games, extra toolbars, cutsie little add-ons, etc.

Removal

There are several removal programs available to remove the spyware successfuly,
I Listed some good Anti-spyware programs here.

1. Spysweeper.
2. Ewido.
3. Ad-Aware.
4. Pest Patrol.
5. Microsoft Anti-spyware.
6. Kaaza Be Gone.
7. HiJack This.
These are the programs I used with great success in removal of spywares.

Now, run the programs you installed and updated to scan for and remove spywares.

Recommendation

1. It is best running these programs in Safe-mode, always. Because, This loads a minimal set of drivers (which is why the screen display is not as clear) as well as not start most of the items that are selected to start automatically. This is why a scan from Safe Mode can be more effective, since hopefully the spyware hasn't loaded yet and can mores easily removed.

2. Only use Hijack This if you are an experience computer user. It is very good for disabling programs that are starting automatically. But you also need to be knowledgeable for what to remove