Spyware is the bane of many internet users' lives. Even though it is usually less harmful in absolute terms than the more hardcore viruses and rootkits, it seems to infect computers far more often and presents some really annoying problems including slowdown, instability and even serious security issues. However, what with all the talk of spyware, trojans, adware, rootkits, and more, it can be very difficult for the average non-technical user to even understand what the threats are. In this article we will try to explain what spyware is, how you know you have it in other words, its symptoms and finally, how to stop spyware completely.
Terminology
The terms Spyware, Malware and Virus are often thrown around as though they mean more or less the same thing, but each does have a specific meaning when used correctly, so we should get their definitions out of the way with first, before we proceed with anything else.
Malware is a generic term for anything bad. It is short for Malevolent Software, and is a useful umbrella term for anything intending to do you harm. Therefore, all kinds of viruses, spyware, adware and so on fall under this term, and if you want to talk about bad things generally, Malware is the term you should use.
Unfortunately, some people will use the term Computer Virus in place of Malware. This can cause difficulties in interpretation when trying to solve a problem, as an actual virus is a specific kind of malware not all malware involves viruses. The virus metaphor is directly related to biological viruses the defining feature of a computer virus is that it copies itself.
Spyware refers specifically to a kind of malware that spies on the user's behaviour. It can do this in various ways, but generally it is collecting information about the user without its presence being known. A keylogger is a kind of spyware which can record all of your keyboard presses, therefore making a note of all the text you enter including your passwords, which could then be sent remotely to an attacker's computer to get through your security measures.
Symptoms
The intention of spyware is to avoid being seen while it does its dirty work, unlike say adware which throws advertisements on your screen, so its presence is not always obvious or easy to detect. Sometimes the only way to tell that you have a spyware infection is if your computer seems unusually sluggish. Vastly reduced performance or regular inexplicable crashes can be the result of some nefarious software working away in the background. Unfortunately, there are a whole host of other things that can cause these same symptoms.
Prevention
Obviously the best solution when trying to stop spyware is some sort of internet security suite that will prevent you getting infected with anything to begin with. Running regular scans with this software can also help to find anything malevolent nestling deep in your computer's operating system. It is also worth trying to educate yourself about possible internet dangers and solutions check out sites like Chris Software for this kind of information. If you are careful to pay attention to the warnings your internet security suite is giving you, you are far more likely to avoid infections and keep your computer running safely and securely.
Terminology
The terms Spyware, Malware and Virus are often thrown around as though they mean more or less the same thing, but each does have a specific meaning when used correctly, so we should get their definitions out of the way with first, before we proceed with anything else.
Malware is a generic term for anything bad. It is short for Malevolent Software, and is a useful umbrella term for anything intending to do you harm. Therefore, all kinds of viruses, spyware, adware and so on fall under this term, and if you want to talk about bad things generally, Malware is the term you should use.
Unfortunately, some people will use the term Computer Virus in place of Malware. This can cause difficulties in interpretation when trying to solve a problem, as an actual virus is a specific kind of malware not all malware involves viruses. The virus metaphor is directly related to biological viruses the defining feature of a computer virus is that it copies itself.
Spyware refers specifically to a kind of malware that spies on the user's behaviour. It can do this in various ways, but generally it is collecting information about the user without its presence being known. A keylogger is a kind of spyware which can record all of your keyboard presses, therefore making a note of all the text you enter including your passwords, which could then be sent remotely to an attacker's computer to get through your security measures.
Symptoms
The intention of spyware is to avoid being seen while it does its dirty work, unlike say adware which throws advertisements on your screen, so its presence is not always obvious or easy to detect. Sometimes the only way to tell that you have a spyware infection is if your computer seems unusually sluggish. Vastly reduced performance or regular inexplicable crashes can be the result of some nefarious software working away in the background. Unfortunately, there are a whole host of other things that can cause these same symptoms.
Prevention
Obviously the best solution when trying to stop spyware is some sort of internet security suite that will prevent you getting infected with anything to begin with. Running regular scans with this software can also help to find anything malevolent nestling deep in your computer's operating system. It is also worth trying to educate yourself about possible internet dangers and solutions check out sites like Chris Software for this kind of information. If you are careful to pay attention to the warnings your internet security suite is giving you, you are far more likely to avoid infections and keep your computer running safely and securely.
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