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Prevent Spyware With Careful Browsing

You don’t want spyware on your computer.  It is nasty stuff, capable of either stealing your private information or utterly destroying your system.  At best, it’s a major annoyance.  At worst, it can lead to identity theft.  It’s a real threat, and it’s possible to avoid most situations that lead to spyware infections, prevent others, and protect yourself if it does manage to get onto your computer.

What is Spyware?

The most simple definition of spyware is software that spies on your online activities.  It generally provides some sort of profit to the spyware creator.  Most spyware is designed to use your Internet connection to send your data back to the thieves, who can then use it for their own purposes.

How Do You Get Spyware?

Spyware gets onto your computer through a number of methods, but the bottom line in this type of malware is that it must be installed on your computer.  It does not get transmitted like viruses, which attach themselves to programs.  If you can control what is installed on your computer, you can protect yourself from spyware.

The Piggyback Method

Some programs are built with spyware in them.  These programs may provide some function, but they all have a secondary function of stealing your information.  Programs that often have spyware include file sharing programs and browser toolbars used to enhance online games.  You can prevent this type of infection by checking out software reviews before installing a new program, and running an Internet search with the program name and the word spyware to see if you get any results.  Do not install any program you suspect might have spyware in it, as spyware is always harder to remove than to install.

The Trojan Horse Method

Another method used to get you to install spyware is to pretend the program is something else.  For example, you may see a video that sounds interesting and click to play it.  Instead of playing, you’ll get a pop-up that tells you that your computer needs a new codec.  But the pop-up is lying to you, and if you install that “codec” you’ll be infected.

Sometimes while browsing you’ll also get a pop-up that claims your computer is infected.  If you install the “removal tool” from the pop-up, you’ll be infected.  Never install any software from a pop-up advertisement.

The Bundling Method

Some spyware creators take legitimate shareware and freeware and create new installers for them.  They put their own malware in the installation package so when you install the real programs, you’ll also be installing their malicious program as well.  To avoid this, always download shareware and freeware from the original creator website.

Browser Exploits, Viruses, and Physical Attacks

There are three other main methods used, but they are all rare.  Sometime spyware can be downloaded without your permission if you have an unpatched web browser.  Keep your software up-to-date to prevent this.  Other malware is delivered as the payload of a virus.  Run a good antivirus program to stop this method.  It is also possible for someone with physical access to your computer to install spyware.  Secure your computer physically or use a desktop password to prevent this method of attack.

Antispyware is Your Last Line of Defense

Lastly, run a good antispyware program.  While you can prevent the vast majority of spyware attacks with careful browsing, there is always a tiny chance your computer is at risk.  Running regular scans with an antispyware application will prevent a small infection from becoming worse, and will help you keep your computer under your control.

About the Author

Try a free SpyZooka scan now from http://www.spyzooka.com to find out if your computer is infected with malicious programs and protect it from future problems.

The Trojan Horse $3.98 The only picture book available featuring the tale of the Trojan Horse The Trojan Horse is one of the best known and most ingenious plans in the history of warfare. But it certainly raises a lot of questions: How did the Greeks, so far from home, pull off this daring feat? How did the Trojans — surrounded in their fortress — have enough food and water to sustain them for years? How could so tall a wooden horse be built unseen? Albert Lorenz provides his answers to these questions, and others, via art panels, speech balloons, and architectural-style drawings, for a totally unique perspective on the famous conflict. The chorus guides the action, but there is plenty of commentary by the gods, as well as human action on earth. The city, ships, and the horse itself are rendered as architectural cut-aways and elevations to reveal what is going on inside as well as outside. Packed full of well-researched facts and historical details, this book will appeal to readers looking for an adventure story about military cunning and fantastic events.

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War $3.98 Illus. in full color. "An ancient history lesson emerges from this account of the way the Greeks tricked the Trojans and rescued Helen of Troy. The book is well tailored to younger readers with careful explanations and short sentences; a pronunciation guide is appended. Drawings portray the story’s main events. A nice supplement to units on ancient Greece or mythology."–"Booklist. "