How you get Spyware and How to get rid of Spyware

Spyware is software that gathers information about how you use your computer and transmits the data to a central server. This informatio can include which websites you visit, what applications you are using, or information about your computer specifications. But, more sinisterly, the software can also transmit the usernames and passwords you have typed in online. The truly malicious spyware programs are those that install themselves without your permission and send data silently without you knowing. The data gathered about you might be used to send advertisments to your computer in the form of annoying pop-ups, to send you spam email, or in rare cases to impersonate you online.

Put simply, adware is software that displays advertising on your computer. Often spyware and adware are part of the same program. Adware is, in theory, harmless on its own; some programs are free because they show advertisments which pay for the developer's time. By clicking "I agree" when installing these programs you are often agreeing to see the advertisments in return for free software. But when the software starts silently spying on you, it stops being harmless.

These programsare often installed because your browser or operating system has a security hole which was exploited by a website to install the spyware/adware. This is why keeping your operating system updated regularly is critical to system security. Alternarively, you might have installed a piece of free, advertising-supported software which has also installed spyware alongside the legitimate advertising program. Examples of such advertising-supported programs are P2P file sharing applications (mainly used for downloading illegal copyrighted material such as music and/or movies).

Aviod visiting websites that pop-up offers to install applications that you have not asked to install, such as "browser helper" and "toolbar" programs. Never choose "Yes" to these applications that offer to install while browsing, unless you have consciously requested to do so from the website you are visiting. It is also strongly suggested that you keep an up-to-date working version of an antivirus program that can detect spyware threats such as Norton Antivirus. Ib addition to an antivirus program, you may also wish to run additional spyware scanners such as Adaware SE, Spybot and Microsoft Defender beta2, which are all downloadable for free, and may have already been installed by your system administrator.