Spyware is software installed without a user’s knowledge to monitor his or her computer and Internet usage. It falls under the larger category of “malware” meaning “malicious software.” Spyware is often disguised as or included with other software, which is usually how it gets on to a user’s computer. Once there, it can perform a variety of undesirable actions. These can range from recording and transmitting personal information to a third party to redirecting Internet traffic and search engine results.
If you’ve ever seen a strange-looking toolbar in your browser, or found that searching the web doesn’t work the way it used to, you may have spyware. By redirecting the flow of data between a personal computer and the website it is trying to access, spyware can download additional programs or even use a user’s computer to connect to other sites without that user’s knowledge. This often results in a noticeable slow-down in Internet traffic, as the invisible downloads will take up valuable bandwidth. You may also have trouble visiting sites that you haven’t had trouble with in the past.
Luckily, eradicating spyware is almost as easy as getting it. There are a number of powerful and free spyware scanners that quickly find and delete spyware on person computers using a database of known spyware. But be careful; sometimes clever spyware creators make their programs look like spyware or virus scanners. Educate yourself about the program you choose to download before you run it.
Whatever program you eventually choose to use, it is important to restart your computer before running it. At any given point, multiple spyware programs could be running in the background, and rebooting your PC will quit them and give the spyware scanner a chance to find and delete them. You may have to run it more than once, just to be sure—but if it works, you should see a noticeable increase in your internet speed.
To avoid spyware, it is important to pay careful attention to what you download. Avoid downloading and installing .exe (executable) program files unless you completely understand what it is you are installing. Be wary of “free” offers that seem too good to be true but require you to download something onto your computer; these are often digital trojan horses that aren’t as free as they seem.
It is also important to maintain and update the “definition” files for your spyware scanner. Scammers are constantly looking for new ways to take advantage of unwary Internet users, and by keeping up with the spyware definitions, you can be sure to eliminate any new threats as they come. Run the spyware scanner just as often as you would a virus scanner—once a week is a good idea.
Take these important steps to protect your personal information online. Educate yourself about malware and the shady side of the Web, and you won’t have any trouble.