 What is Spyware and Adware?
Spyware is a classification of software programs designed to let individuals and companies spy on your web browsing activities or your personal data. Adware is a classification of programs designed to expose you to advertising, whether you want it or not. Though Adware comes in many types the most well-known – and detested – is the popup ad.
The reason Spyware and Adware are usually talked about at the same time is because they often travel together, being downloaded to your computer without your consent. These programs literally invade your privacy, slow down your system, steal sensitive information about you and annoy you with unrequested ads.
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How does Spyware
and Adware affect me?
- Every single piece of information that you enter on the web can be intercepted by an unauthorized person or entity. This includes passwords and bank account numbers.
- Unauthorized websites can wind up on your desktop and in your Internet favorites.
- Every step you make on the Internet can be tracked and watched.
- The information obtained about you can be sold without your consent or knowledge.
- Unwanted toolbars can attach themselves to your browser without your approval.
- Your default homepage and settings can be hijacked so you can't change them.
These programs take up hard drive space that you probably don't want squandered, and, worse yet, they take up computer memory, causing your PC to run slowly and making your applications seem glitchy or sluggish. On top of all of this, Spyware and Adware are designed to stick. They can be installed all over your computer, often in places where it's dangerous to mess with the settings, and they frequently don't just go away when their deleted because they have hidden refreshers either on your PC or in the Web.
This is why having professional anti-Spyware software is such a necessity in today's computing world. A professional scanner knows how to surgically cut out the malevolent programs and cut off their refreshing capacities. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wrong with my computer?
If you are having problems with your system performance, you keep getting bombarded by popups, your computer constantly crashes or your Internet browser seems to have a mind of its own, it's likely you have been infected with Spyware. We all know that computers do become obsolete and begin to exhibit bugs and poorer performance, but nowadays the reason for delinquent behavior is far more likely to be Spyware. In fact, according to a recent article published by CNN over 90% of computers connected to the internet have some form of Spyware running on them.
What is wrong with my Internet browser?
There are several Spyware and Adware types that like to attack browsers. One of the most common tactics is hijacking, a process whereby an Adware program will take over your homepage and won't let you change it. Other Spyware tactics include installing webpage links in your Favorites on your desktop or even in your Start Menu.
How did I get Spyware on my system?
It used to be that only overtly clumsy or reckless practices would get people infected with Spyware. Today though, the programmers who make these malicious applications use every trick in the book to get you to unwittingly download Spyware. The most prevalent source is p2p (peer to peer) file sharing. When you download free music, games, and other media, there is often Spyware bundled with it. The media will function fine, giving no sign that it was carrying Spyware, but the Spyware will be operating silently in the background.
Other common means of contraction include opening bogus email attachments or downloading questionable Browser tools such as unaccredited search bars. These things too will present themselves as legitimate downloads that the user is tricked into activating. There are even some websites that can install Spyware by simply being viewed, using browser exploits to install themselves.
Are Adware and Malware the same as Spyware?
Though the classification of malicious programs isn't very complicated, it does have a hierarchical nature with inclusive general categories sitting over smaller, more exclusive ones. Malware is probably the most inclusive of the them all. It's name comes from the Latin malus, mala which just means bad, wicked or wrong. So Malware is any program that does bad things to a computer without the users assent.
Spyware, though not as general as Malware, is another very exclusive category, indicating any program that secretly watches, records or transmits data about your computer without your knowledge.
Adware is pretty general too, indicating any program that exposes you to advertising you did not ask for and do not want.
Is Spyware a virus?
No, Spyware is not a virus. A computer Virus, like a human Virus, has to infect a host. The Virus can then replicate when it comes into contact with another host. Hence, Viruses are usually spread when an infected disk or application is loaded into a victim computer.
Spyware is different in three major ways:
- The first is that Spyware doesn't self-replicate. When it comes into contact with a victim computer, it is dropped in a single payload and that payload goes to work.
- The second is how it is contracted. Whereas a Virus traditionally needs computer-to-computer contact (usually through a removable media such as a disk) Spyware propagates via the Internet.
- The third is a matter of infection. A Virus must infect its host program, altering the functionality of that program in some way. Spyware though can come bundled to functioning media or software. These host programs are unaffected by the Spyware and can run independently.
Does my computer have Spyware?
If you have been having issues with system performance, if you constantly encounter popup ads, or if your computer is acting up in general, it's likely that you do. The only way to know for sure is to download an anti-Spyware program, like AntiSpywareBOT, and scan your system. Anti-Spyware scanners have large databases with all of the specific names and name variants of the Spyware; it can tell what's supposed to be on your PC and what's not. The best thing about getting a scan is that it's like getting a free estimate. You have nothing to lose by running the scan.
I've already tried an anti-spyware program but it didn't work. What should I do?
An anti-Spyware program is only as good as its database. Therefore, not all anti-Spyware programs are created equal. Many of the Spyware programs available lack the ability to detect variant Spyware threats on your system. Because of this, you can still be infected – even after scanning and removing hundreds of threats.
There are many free anti-Spyware programs available on the Web, but sadly these give you the protection that you pay for. Some of them are merely inadequate, and some are even Spyware in disguise, using the pretense of an anti-Spyware application to trick you into downloading snooping programs.
Is it worth buying anti-Spyware software?
Upon cleaning their PCs with a professional anti-Spyware application, many users attest that their computers' performance shoots through the roof, acting like it did when it was new. They thought it was time to buy another PC when all the system really needed was a good cleaning. Considering a new PC costs an average of over $1,000, the answer to this question is usually yes.
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