Just when you thought you were Web savvy, one more privacy, security, and functionality issue crops up - spyware. Installed on your computer without your consent, spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your keystrokes, which, in turn, could lead to identity theft.
Many experienced Web users have learned how to recognize spyware, avoid it, and delete it. According to officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, all computer users should get wise to the signs that spyware has been installed on their machines, and then take the appropriate steps to delete it.
The clues that spyware is on a computer include:
- a barrage of pop-up ads
- a hijacked browser - that is, a browser that takes you to sites other than those you type into the address box
- a sudden or repeated change in your computer's Internet home page
- new and unexpected toolbars
- new and unexpected icons on the system tray at the bottom of your computer screen
- keys that don't work (for example, the "Tab" key that might not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)
- random error messages
- sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs or saving files
The good news is that consumers can prevent spyware installation. Experts suggest that you:
* Update your operating system and Web browser software. Your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software "patches" to close holes in the system that spyware could exploit.
* Download free software only from sites you know and trust. It can be appealing to download free software like games, peer-to-peer file-sharing programs, customized toolbars, or other programs that may change or customize the functioning of your computer. Be aware, however, that some of these free software applications bundle other software, including spyware.
* Don't install any software without knowing exactly what it is. Take the time to read the end-user license agreement (EULA) before downloading any software. If the EULA is hard to find - or difficult to understand - think twice about installing the software.
* Minimize "drive-by" downloads. Make sure your browser security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized downloads, for example, at least the "Medium" setting for Internet Explorer. Keep your browser updated.
* Don't click on any links within pop-up windows. If you do, you may install spyware on your computer. Instead, close pop-up windows by clicking on the "X" icon in the title bar.
* Don't click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware software. Some software offered in spam actually installs spyware.
* Install a personal firewall to stop uninvited users from accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your computer is sending information out.
If you think your computer might have spyware on it, take these three steps: Get an anti-spyware program from a vendor you know and trust. Set it to scan on a regular basis - at least once a week - and every time you start your computer, if possible. And, delete any software programs the anti-spyware program detects that you don't want on your computer.
For the latest news, articles and resources related to spyware, head over to http://www.no-more-spyware.com and http://www.no-more-spyware.com. You can also download a trustworthy spyware remover, the PAL Spyware Removal tool, to run an absolutely FREE spyware scan on your system and see if you have spyware residing on your PC !
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareI have always regretted how Microsoft price gouges and rips... Read More
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can... Read More
Have you ever noticed that when you look at your... Read More
Programming Help for BeginnersWe write programs to instruct computers. When... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains version 8.5, 8.0, 7.5, Great... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more... Read More
Around the same time Microsoft made its move with .Net... Read More
Microsoft CRM and IBM Lotus Notes Domino seem to be... Read More
Three highly respected names in Human Resources have joined forces... Read More
Several years ago Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software, then Navision... Read More
As Mozilla Firefox nears 10% market share, with well over... Read More
COMMAND LINE FUNCTIONA powerful command line script processor has been... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains serves the wide spectrum of horizontal markets.... Read More
The Windows registry is a huge database that ensures normal... Read More
Innovative Maintenance Systems (IMS) is one company that offers solutions... Read More
Stealing company information used to be the specialty of spies... Read More
Need help making sense of algebra? Have algebra lectures in... Read More
Microsoft CRM is relatively new player on the now becoming... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions ? Navision is an integrated solution for... Read More
The first topic we are going to discuss... Read More
Microsoft CRM is winning market share step-by-step from such the... Read More
Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used software... Read More
What is 'adware'?Adware is basically software or scripts that are... Read More
Siebel is traditional CRM market leader, however and mostly due... Read More
This article illustrates the best practices to improve the performance... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Microsoft Great Plains is now standard mid-market ERP application, serving... Read More
Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular,... Read More
What is Groupware?Have you ever had to manage document collaboration... Read More
In the early days of the personal computer, we're talking... Read More
Task Manager is a Windows system utility that displays thetasks... Read More
If you are in a business that passes documents around... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions.The whole... Read More
This article is for advanced Microsoft CRM SDK C# developers.... Read More
IntroductionSurprised, by the title? well, this is a tour of... Read More
Microsoft SQL Server is the leader for inexpensive and middle... Read More
Great Plains Integration Manager scripting and translation - overview for... Read More
If you are software developer or database administrator - we... Read More
Shareware is software that you can try before you buy;... Read More
A few months back I really got sick of my... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main accounting / ERP application... Read More
It is a well known fact that Java as a... Read More
How many steps does it take you to locate and... Read More
Navision Software was purchased by Microsoft and now it is... Read More
Having from five to ten and more favorite screensavers is... Read More
Siebel is traditional CRM market leader, however and mostly due... Read More
Some companies that are in need of fleet management may... Read More
Around the same time Microsoft made its move with .Net... Read More
To all web designers out there, this article is for... Read More
With thousands of web pages added to the Net every... Read More
In the previous ISDN article, we looked at how and... Read More
Software |