| After repeated attempts at fixing the hard drive crash | | | | spyware, malware, and misleading adware . Badware |
| himself, Donald called the computer repair store | | | | is malicious software that tracks your moves online |
| nearby. They assured him they'd have the problem | | | | and feeds that information back to unscrupulous |
| fixed in less than four days, but there was no | | | | marketing groups so that they can ambush you with |
| guarantee that any of his documents or work could be | | | | targeted adverts. |
| salvaged. Does this or similar sound Familiar? Has it | | | | If your every move online is checked by a pop-up ad, |
| happened to you? The cause was probably Spyware | | | | it's highly probable that you, like 59 million Americans, |
| of some sort. | | | | keep spyware or other malicious badware on your |
| They come in several forms - viruses, spam e-mail | | | | computer. |
| messages, pop-up adverts, hacker attacks and | | | | What's particularly difficult about Spyware is that you |
| "spyware" -- and they are exceedingly annoying. | | | | may not know that you downloaded it. Various |
| Spyware exists solely for the benefit of the | | | | Spyware manufacturers package it with other |
| unscrupulous operators WHO either want your money | | | | programs without disclosing that it's part of the |
| or to cripple your computer. Favourite internet search | | | | package. Others put their programs on your PC when |
| engine Google is starting to warn users about | | | | you visit certain websites or playonline games. |
| websites that could harm their computers or worse if | | | | Unfortunately, incessant pop-up ads aren't the only |
| entered. | | | | possible side-effect . At times peoples' computers |
| Spyware makes computer users targets for hostile, | | | | slow down or even crash. Sometimes peoples' |
| often underhand,marketing schemes.There have been | | | | personal information is misused, and there have been |
| reported cases of identity theft from Spyware . | | | | reported cases of identity theft. What's even |
| The warnings on Google will appear when users click | | | | morefrightening is that these programs are hidden in |
| on a link to a site that has been identified as | | | | your computer, making it difficult to recognize and |
| dangerous by the "StopBadware" coalition. | | | | remove them. Your Normal ADD/REMOVE program |
| Badware includes: Spyware: software that | | | | will not touch them! |
| clandestinely gathers user information through the | | | | Why do Spyware providers make the effort? |
| user's internet connection, usually for advertising | | | | Because it is big business, amounting to a $2 |
| purposes. Once installed, the spyware monitors user | | | | billion-a-year industry. |
| activity on the internet and transmits that knowledge in | | | | The best and most important thing is for you to learn |
| the background to someone else. | | | | how to clean Spyware off your computer and to |
| Spyware can also harvest information about e-mail | | | | share your knowledge with those you know. An |
| addresses and even passwordsand credit card | | | | important aspect when installing any software |
| numbers. Spyware is software designed Solely to | | | | application is whether you have agreed to its |
| damage or harm a system, such as a virus or a | | | | installation and understand what it will do. |
| Trojan horse. | | | | Certain types of Spyware not only adversely affect |
| Deceptive adware: a form of spyware that collects | | | | your browsing experience, but how your computer |
| information about the user in order to display | | | | itself functions. Some Spyware is known to interrupt |
| advertisements in the operator's web browser based | | | | your internet connection or even occasion |
| on the knowledge it collects from the operator's | | | | yourcomputer to crash. |
| browsing patterns. | | | | As you can see - Spyware is NOT something you |
| What is badware? There are several commonly | | | | want anywhere near your computer! |
| recognized terms for specific kinds of badware - | | | | |