What is spyware?

Spyware/adware is, in my opinion, the biggest problem in computer security. Most people know about viruses. Many people have protection against viruses. But very few people know about spyware.

Some people want spyware on their computer to monitor things that other people do on that computer. However, the same programs can be used to steal someone's credit card number, or monitor their email or online chats.

Spyware is a program that gets installed on your computer and "spies" on you. Sometimes people install a program because it does something they want, but it also had secret parts to the program that are always running. Like the Gator wallet, Kazaa, or programs that change your mouse cursor. Some spyware can even install themselves!

Once spyware is on your system, it can do many things. It will watch what websites you go on to, and what things your interested it. It contacts the company that made the spyware program, and tells them your web surfing habits. It then download instructions as to what ads should pop-up on your screen, or effects what adds you see on other websites. Or, it can spy on your keyboard and copy your credit card numbers or bank passwords.

These programs slow down your computer, and people can steal your credit card or banking information. Many times I have done spyware scans on peoples computers, and their computers starting running much faster. In fact, it runs like when it was brand new.

Get rid of spyware!

To download Spybot-S&D view it's page on Download.com.

There are many free anti-spyware programs you can use. I run a spyware scan at least once a month. Because no anti-spyware software will catch everything, I use two different programs: Spybot-S&D, and Lavasoft's Ad-aware SE Personal.

Other programs

I have also heard good things about Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta). However, it also wrongly identifies other software as spyware.

More resources

For a good introduction to spyware, there are a series of articles, starting with Inside Spyware: Part 1. Also see part 2, part 3, part 4.
For a comparison of anti-spyware software, I recommend Home Firewall Guide's Anti-Spyware Guide.
For more information on spyware, you can also read Wikipedia's Spyware article.

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