Summary:
What is Spyware?

Spyware refers to an extensive class of malicious software designed to seize control of a users computer without permission or informed consent, in order to benefit a third party such as an advertisement agency. Spyware can collect different kinds of user information and track what types of websites are visited, launch popup advertisements etc. In the process, spyware can drain the computer’s resources, adversely affect Internet connection speed, and even…

Keywords:
adware, spyware, removers, removal, security, protection

Article Body:
What is Spyware?

Spyware refers to an extensive class of malicious software designed to seize control of a users computer without permission or informed consent, in order to benefit a third party such as an advertisement agency. Spyware can collect different kinds of user information and track what types of websites are visited, launch popup advertisements etc. In the process, spyware can drain the computer’s resources, adversely affect Internet connection speed, and even forcibly redirect web browsers. Spyware may be classified on the basis of

1. shared program code
2. busness connections
3. common behaviors

Spyware, Adware and Virus:

Spyware is intended to track, report, and re-sell users activity and information without consent, and can be almost impossible to completely uninstall without assistance. Adware, on the other hand, is usually installed with the users consent and comes with an uninstaller. Spyware also differs from virus or worms because they are not specifically designed to disrupt or devastate the functioning of a computer, they hardly ever replicate themselves, and are created for the sole purpose of commercial gain. Spyware can

1. launch pop-up advertisements
2. steal personal information such as credit card numbers
3. monitor web surfing activity
4. and reroute HTTP requests to advertising domains

In more serious cases, when a computer is infected with a large number of different types of spyware, reinstalling the operating system may be the only available option.

Well-known Spyware Programs:

Some of the most notorious spyware applications and packages that have been identified include

1. CoolWebSearch which directs traffic to advertisements on websites such as http://coolwebsearch.com
2. Internet Optimizer which redirects Internet Explorer error pages to advertising
3. 180 Solutions which transfers information to advertisers about the surfing habit of a user
4. HuntBar (or WinTools): which is an example of how spyware programs can install more spyware

Spycheckers:

In order to battle the spyware threat that has invaded the computing world, concerned programmers have come up with several anti-spyware software programs and spycheckers. These applications are designed to eradicate or block the malicious spyware programs, by cleaning an infected system and prevent new infestations with real-time protection. Spycheckers have now become one of the most downloaded programs on the internet.

Some of the popular, most effective anti-spyware tools and spycheckers include

1. Steve Gibson’s OptOut
2. Patrick Kolla’s Spybot - Search & Destroy
3. InterMute’s SpySubtract Pro,
4. Windows AntiSpyware beta or Windows Defender
5. Webroot Spy Sweeper
6. iS3’s STOPzilla
7. McAfee’s AntiSpyware,
8. ParetoLogic’s XoftSpy
9. Sunbelt’s CounterSpy
10. Trend Micro’s Anti-Spyware
11. PC Tools’ Spyware Doctor
12. Allume Systems’ Internet Cleanup,
13. Computer Associates’ ETrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware
14. Aluria Software’s Spyware Eliminator,

Spychecker functions and anti-spyware features, often known as extended threats, have also been incorporated by many major anti-virus companies, such as Symantec and McAfee, to their existing anti-virus programs.

Summary:
Spyware, it is almost an invisible software programs that gathers and transmits personal or companys important data and files without being noticed. The transferred data could be utilized for smashing up your companys credit or might hit hard to its profits. Spyware also cripples your computer and slow your computer to a crawl this is due to the way installs itself and configured to start whenever you boot up your computer system and runs all the time.

Keywords:
Free Software Downloads , free anti-virus software, free spyware detection software, free toolbars, free chat software

Article Body:
If you are actively working online than there is a huge possibility that in some way Spyware will get installed in your computer. After all, it takes is only clicking the wrong site or by downloading some programs. Nowadays there is a new form of Spyware everyday, which has been created by the people or company that is desperately seeking information.

Spyware is also known as a great damager to the companies. It is not so noticeable like spam and virus attacks to the systems.

Spyware, it is almost an invisible software programs that gathers and transmits personal or companys important data and files without being noticed. The transferred data could be utilized for smashing up your companys credit or might hit hard to its profits. Spyware also cripples your computer and slow your computer to a crawl this is due to the way installs itself and configured to start whenever you boot up your computer system and runs all the time.

Another issue with Spyware is the privacy assault, as these programs can gather all types of data from you computer system. Spyware may also collect personal information such as financial, credit card and personal ID along with email accounts for spamming.

Even, anti-virus software and firewalls does not completely protect the computers against the mainstream of spyware and privacy intimidation. Spyware is normally buckled up with software downloads, attached to e-mails, or transferred through networks, so it can appear to be lawful software.

Protection against Spyware - It is recommended that user should fully read and be aware of the license agreement before downloading any software. Stay away from downloading unheard of and fallacious software from the internet. Avoid away from clicking pop-up.

Constantly utilization of anti-Spyware software could prevent incoming of such detrimental programs to your system. The best precautious step is that, a user could apply to block Spyware access via gateway security solutions like the NetApp Internet access and security (IAS) solution, which stops admittance to Web sites offering Spyware.

There are numerous anti-spyware programs available online. These programs search and eradicate Spyware and adware. They can detect and sweep off large number of adware files and modules. You can also download some free software on authentic sites like www.download.com, www.mcafee.com, www.spywareinfo.com, www.all-internet-security.com, www.tucows.com etc or you can use keyword free antiSpyware download in search.

Word Count:
572

Summary:
With so many users on the internet, it feels like open season by spyware. Acknowledging the problem and then taking a few simple steps to protect yourself ensures that you are less of a target. Spyware has become a big problem for computer users. They are programs that sit on a computer collecting sometimes sensitive data and net browsing habits.

Spyware programs can sneakily find their way onto a computer when free software is downloaded or when certain websites are visit…

Keywords:
spyware, anti spyware software, phishing, anti virus software, cyber criminals, phishing scams

Article Body:
With so many users on the internet, it feels like open season by spyware. Acknowledging the problem and then taking a few simple steps to protect yourself ensures that you are less of a target. Spyware has become a big problem for computer users. They are programs that sit on a computer collecting sometimes sensitive data and net browsing habits.

Spyware programs can sneakily find their way onto a computer when free software is downloaded or when certain websites are visited. They can also be picked up through some peer to peer networks. Once on a computer, they can cause a nuisance by redirecting web searches, installing unwanted bookmarks or bombarding a computer user with pop up ads tailored to other search terms. It can also make computers slower and crash machines. And stored passwords can be stolen by malicious spyware. These are serious concerns for anyone concerned about online security.

According to a recent survey, 90% of PCs are infested with spyware. Each computer has on average nearly 30 spyware programs on them. And the Center for Democracy and Technology knows that there are hundreds of cases out there. Many experts would agree that a push for enforcing a new law is needed for online security.

Computer users are urged to regularly scan their machines with more than one anti-spyware program. Its always a good idea to use a combination of anti-spyware software. This means that one might recognize spyware that the other may have missed.

Laws to Protect the Consumer

U.S. law makers have voted to introduce harsher penalties for those who spread spyware on people’s computers. The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for two bills which clamp down on spyware programs. The I-SPY Prevention Act of 2005 makes it an offence to access a computer without permission via spyware programs and introduces sentences of up to five years in prison for criminal activity. The SPY Act means that firms need a users permission before installing programs onto their computers. The bills would also mean harsher penalties for those behind phishing scams.

Phishing scams are where cyber criminals direct people to spoof websites which look like official bank or e-commerce sites fooling them into giving away confidential information. The two bills now go to the Senate for further consideration. Consumers have a right to know and have a right to decide who has access to their highly personal information that spyware can collect. Although the moves by Congress are encouraging, there are still obstacles to preventing criminal use of spyware such as lack of global enforcement policies as well as the complex details involved in distinguishing different types of spyware.

From January 1 2005, California State introduced the Consumer Protection Against Spyware Act which banned the installation of software that takes control of another computer. Companies and websites also have to disclose whether they will install spyware under the Act.

A Few Simple Steps You Can Take to Staying Safe Online

1) Install anti-virus software. Using a combination of anti-spyware software means one might recognize spyware that the other may have missed.

2)Keep your anti-virus software up to date.

3)Install a personal firewall.

4)Use Windows updates to patch security holes.

5)Do not open e-mail messages that look suspicious.

6)Do not click on e-mail attachments you were not expecting.

By taking these few simple precautions, being online can be a much safer and more enjoyable experience. And total piece of mind.

Copyright 2006 Judy Howard

Summary:
In this age of highly advanced information technology, almost everything that we used to do manually can now be done through computers. Paying the bills, transferring funds, reserving a first class airline ticket no matter what kind of transaction you have to do, you can do it over the Internet. Everything is so much simpler and faster.

But of course, there is a catch. When good things happen, there is usually a downside. When online transactions became popular, online t…

Keywords:
Spyware And Adware, Spyware Blocker, Spyware Cookies

Article Body:
In this age of highly advanced information technology, almost everything that we used to do manually can now be done through computers. Paying the bills, transferring funds, reserving a first class airline ticket no matter what kind of transaction you have to do, you can do it over the Internet. Everything is so much simpler and faster.

But of course, there is a catch. When good things happen, there is usually a downside. When online transactions became popular, online theft grew rampant as well. While it is now so simple to open a bank account and transfer money online, stealing that money has become relatively simpler, too.

When the Internet was first used in the conduct of online transactions, many criminals also upgraded their modus operandi. In the past, when preparing for a robbery, crooks used to wear their ski masks and gloves. Now, their preparation involves dispersing spyware and adware all around the World Wide Web. The criminals send out these programs through the Internet like their industrious minions, and most of the programs end up in people’s computer systems.

Spyware and adware are very useful in gathering data from remote locations. They are not actually evil in themselves. In fact, some spyware and adware can sometimes even be used for honest-to-goodness academic purposes. But once they end up in the hands of devious people with selfish intentions, spyware and adware may cause millions of dollars worth of damage. Individuals may possibly file for bankruptcy, and entire businesses may go down the drain, just because of spyware and adware.

It is very easy for online thieves to collect people’s credit card information and other personal and financial data by using spyware and adware. Once the online crooks have this information, it is very easy for them to tap into other people’s bank accounts and steal money. Or they might even use people’s identities in performing online crimes. For more info see http://www.removespywarehelp.com/Articles/Spyware_Cookies.php on Spyware Cookies.

In order to avoid being a victim of spyware and adware, you must enforce strict protection measures in your system. First off, you must install a reliable anti-spyware software. This software will destroy spyware and adware in real-time. This means that whenever spyware and adware programs attempt to enter your computer system, they will be deleted right away, without them having the chance to even change a single part of your registry.

Also, you must make it a habit to practice extreme caution when clicking any website or downloading programs from the Internet. Keep in mind that spyware and adware are usually bundled with attractive software that you may be tempted to download. Before clicking on anything, make sure that it is from a legitimate source, and that it is free of spyware and adware.

Word Count:
616

Summary:
Spyware is no longer a problem just for PC users running Windows. Learn more about the new Spyware designed to infect Mac, and how to protect your computer from intruders

Keywords:
Free mac spyware removal

Article Body:
Fortunately for the Mac users, the Adware and Spyware industry is still, as of 2005, heavily focused on the PC users. Adware and Spyware developers are particularly found of targeting PC users through DILLs and ActiveX controls, and can therefore only attack computers running Windows. This does not mean that Mac users are completely blessed from Spyware and Adware. There are several Spyware and Adware software capable of infesting Mac, and every Mac user should take a look at the Adware and Spyware removal programs available for mac. In 2005, Symantec caused a lot of hullabaloo in the Macintosh community when they warned the mac users about how the OS X operating system was rapidly becoming a target for virus developers and hackers. Symantec cautioned computer users not to relay on their mac alone to safe guard them from spyware infestations. You can no longer assume that you mac is immune from viruses and spyware. The need for free mac spyware removal programs available online is growing rapidly and we will hopefully see a lot of new free mac spyware removal programs on the Internet soon. Since Spyware is still a smaller problem for mac users, the number of available free mac spyware removal programs is currently much smaller than the number of free Spyware removal programs for PC.

When you choose among the available free mac spyware removal programs you should preferably pick one that is capable of scanning and removing both spyware and adware from your mac. A high-quality free mac spyware removal program will also be able to alert you every time an attempt to install spyware or adware on your mac is made. You should also ideally have the option to set the free mac spyware removal program to automatically block all such attempts without bothering you. Some of the free mac spyware removal programs will also protect your mac from several types of remote administration type applications. For maximal protection, you should combine your free mac spyware removal program with a good personal Firewall.

A new Spyware program designed to attack mac computers would probably spread rather slowly, since only around three per cent of systems in use today are using Mac OS. If a mac infected with spyware, or any other type of Malware, tries to spread the malicious software to a new computer, it will find a non-mac computer in 97 percent of the time. What everyone fears is therefore a hybrid Spyware capable of infecting Mac OS as well as Microsoft Windows. If, or rather when, such a hybrid is created it can spread very rapidly. Since many mac users still believe that their mac is immune to virus and spyware attacks, a lot of mac computers will become infected. All mac users are therefore recommended to take advantage of the available free mac spyware removal programs as soon as possible. One such program is available at http://macscan.securemac.com/ .When you have installed your free mac spyware removal program, it is also important that you perform regular updates to make sure that you are protected from new types of spyware. Preferably choose a free mac spyware removal program that you can set to automatically search for updates and download them as soon as they are available. Check the fine print when you choose your free mac spyware removal program. A free mac spyware removal program where the regular updates cost a lot of money will soon turn out to be a very expensive free program. Some free mac spyware removal programs do not allow you to get updates, or will limit the number of updates, until you have bought a non-free version of the free mac spyware removal program.

Summary:
These days most people who regularly use a computer online will be familiar with computer viruses and terms such as spyware and adware. Stories circulate about new viruses all the time and the crippling effect they may have on a network. Although these stories are sometimes blown out of proportion they do unfortunately accurately portray how potentially damaging computer viruses can be.

In addition to viruses over the past few years we have seen the emergence of other comp…

Keywords:
spyware,adware,antivirus,anti spyware,spyware scan,spyware removal,adware spyware

Article Body:
These days most people who regularly use a computer online will be familiar with computer viruses and terms such as spyware and adware. Stories circulate about new viruses all the time and the crippling effect they may have on a network. Although these stories are sometimes blown out of proportion they do unfortunately accurately portray how potentially damaging computer viruses can be.

In addition to viruses over the past few years we have seen the emergence of other computer programs in the form of spyware and adware and these programs have the potential to be equally destructive. Adware on its own is usually undamaging, albeit frustrating. Are you being spammed with never ending or unsolicited advertising chances are an adware program has installed itself on your pc unbeknown to you.

Spyware on the other hand is a much more shadowy program that poses a lot more threat. On initial investigation certain types of spyware seem like simple adware in that you will find that you are inundated with unsolicited advertising. However, beneath its surface spyware allows or enables monitoring and access to information within your computer. Additionally, certain types of spyware will cause further problems by altering your pc system configuration and thereby providing opportunity for an array of further system intrusions.

Fortunately, you can help prevent your system or pc becoming infected by viruses, spyware and adware and some of the most effective methods are as follows:

Check the security settings on your computer Im constantly surprised by the amount of people who are oblivious to security settings on their PC. Obviously, the method for checking these settings will differ depending on your operating system. However, in general you will usually access the security settings in internet options. Everybody has different requirements but a medium security setting is generally recommended for home users. Setting your security setting too high may block access to sites that you wish to access.

Firewalls these days a firewall is a real necessity. A firewall is basically a security program that automatically blocks unidentified programs that try to remotely access your computer. Make sure you are familiar with your firewall settings and how to configure or amend the firewall parameters. This gives you the capability of filtering different program types and limiting accessibility so that data can only be received or sent from specified sources. The only downside of a firewall is that occasionally it may block information you try to retrieve even if the source is known and trusted by you. Again, becoming familiar with your firewall settings will lessen this problem.

There are numerous online companies offering an array of online programs that can be downloaded instantly and are particularly designed to target spyware. When shopping around for anti spyware programs choose one that has the capability of detecting and intercepting spyware on your computer as well as performing regular automatic scans of your system. Its also important that your anti spyware program can detect spyware that may have installed itself prior to running your first system scan.

Finally, always ensure that the company who provides you with antivirus or spyware products includes an update service whereby you will automatically receive updates to tackle the latest virus or spyware that hackers are using.

Summary:
How To get Rid of spyware

Keywords:
spyware, remove spyware

Article Body:
How to get rid of spyware

How to get rid of spyware Spyware is put on your computer without you knowing. It is something used to spy on you and you activities on your computer. Spyware is put on your computer without your knowledge and a lot of the time people don’t even realize they have been infected. It can also be used to take over your computer and perform task you do not wish it to perform. It can be used to record keystrokes, screen info, email logs, chat logs, your internet activity, and hard drive info. If you have spyware on your computer you need to get rid of spyware quickly. Spyware can make changes to your personal computer setting and these changes can sometimes hard to reverse. It can make changes to your homepage, files on your hard drive, and also steal valuable information form you. How to get rid of spyware? First you need to scan your computer with a special type of software that will scan and remove the spyware. You could search forever online for spyware programs and there are quite a few out there. Some of them work some don’t. There are a lot of programs out there but I have actually found some that really work. There are links at the bottom of this page for the software. Some of them even let you scan your computer first before actually buy them. I would recommend considering buying this programs though because they only offer a free scan not a scan and remove like suggested. I would tell you that if you do have spyware on your computer to get rid of spyware as soon as possible. I think you should also scan you computer for spyware at least once a month maybe twice a month if you do come to find that your computer is infected with spyware.

Summary:
Spam is well known all over the world not because its good but because it annoys most people and can make a simple task take a lot longer. Spam not only attacks your email account inbox but also it can have attachments which may download to your computer. These attachments are more than likely viruses which will infect your computer, deleting important files, slowing your processor down as well as having trouble accessing the Internet.

Spam is unsolicited emails that get …

Keywords:
Spam,Spyware,Anti Spam,Spam Software,Spam Blocker,Spam Filter,Firewalls,Spam problems,Computer,unsol

Article Body:
Spam is well known all over the world not because its good but because it annoys most people and can make a simple task take a lot longer. Spam not only attacks your email account inbox but also it can have attachments which may download to your computer. These attachments are more than likely viruses which will infect your computer, deleting important files, slowing your processor down as well as having trouble accessing the Internet.

Spam is unsolicited emails that get sent to random accounts in bulk. They may have attachments and links. The attachments on spam emails may contain viruses which locate important information on your computer as well as slowing down your processor speeds. The links in spam emails are usually to male orientated websites or even a website which looks like your online banking pages where they ask you to enter your account details in.

Spyware has become a big problem within the past few years its estimated that 9 out of every 10 computers are infected with Spyware and Adware. So over 90% of computers have had a breach of security of some sort a scary thought. Spyware programs run invisibly on your computer and are hard to detect. The programs track everything you do online from using your credit/debit card to signing into a website. All the information gathered is passed onto a designated website where the hacker has access to your details.

Spyware is software that is solely created to take control of someones computer without them knowing. So not only does the Spyware spy on your computer but it also spies on you.

There are now many different software programs you can buy instore or online, download free versions online as well as software that comes already installed on your computer. These software programs include:

Anti Spam Software this software tries to eliminate unsolicited and unwanted emails. These emails wont even reach your inbox with the use of a good Anti Spam program. An Anti Spam software package will do all of the below and more.

Spam Blockers these block spam so you dont get spam emails in your inbox. You can block spam before it even reaches your inbox using your service providers mail server or you can block them when they arrive in your inbox using the junk or spam function that most inboxs have in place.

Spam Filters this tries to filter out junk emails before they reach your inbox. They usually are moved to a junk or spam folder where you are able to check they are all spam emails.

Firewalls there is usually a basic firewall installed on your computer when you buy it. The firewall tries to prevent any network intrusion as well as stopping any spam and viruses getting into your computer.

If youre a regular surfing the Internet, chatting to your friends online or playing games online you will need some Anti Spam protection. Not only will they help reduce the amount of spam emails you receive but also help you from receiving unsolicited emails with virus attachments including Trojan Horses and Spyware.

Summary:
Computer viruses generally trick hosts or other types of computers into reproducing copies of the invading organism. They spread from computer to computer through electronic bulletin boards, telecommunication systems and shared floppy disks. Viruses are created by human programmers, for fun or malice, but once they begin to spread they take on a life of their own, creating disruption, dismay and paranoia in their wake.

If the virus is found in any of the PC’s that PC shoul…

Keywords:
blackworm virus, antivirus, computer security

Article Body:
Computer viruses generally trick hosts or other types of computers into reproducing copies of the invading organism. They spread from computer to computer through electronic bulletin boards, telecommunication systems and shared floppy disks. Viruses are created by human programmers, for fun or malice, but once they begin to spread they take on a life of their own, creating disruption, dismay and paranoia in their wake.

If the virus is found in any of the PC’s that PC should immediately be isolated. The virus can be removed by giving an antidote by studying the virus. The machine should be put into use only after the virus is eliminated.
Viruses and such

A Virus is defined as a program inserted into another program. It gets activated by its host program. It replicates itself and spreads to others through floppy transfer. A virus infects data or program every time the user runs the infected program and the virus takes advantages and replicates itself.

There are two types of computer viruses ‘parasitic’ and ‘boot’ virus.

A Parasitic virus attaches itself to other programs and is activated when the host program is executed. It tries to get attached to more programs so that chances of getting activated is more. It spreads to other computers when the affected programs are copied. ‘Jerusalem’ and ‘Datacrime’ are parasitic viruses.

A Boot virus is designed to enter the boot sector of a floppy disc. It works by replacing the first sector on the disc with part of itself. It hides the rest of itself elsewhere on the disc, with a copy of the first sector. The virus is loaded by the computers built-in start-up program when the machine is switched on. The virus loads, installs itself, hides the rest of itself and then loads the original program. On a hard disc, virus can occupy DOS boot sector or master boot sector.
Some Reported Viruses

C-Brain: Amjad and Basit, two pakistani brothers, developed this software in January 1986 to discourage people from buying illegal software at throwaway prices. This was the most famous virus ever found and has a record of damaging few millions of personal computers. This is designed to stay in the boot sector of the disc or near zero sector. The virus enters the machine memory once the PC is booted with the infected floppy.

Macmag: This virus attacked Apple Macintosh computers only. Not much damage is reported because of this virus. This was not noticed on any IBM compatible PCs. It displayed a message of peace on the monitor and killed itself.

Cascade: This virus attacked IBM PCs and compatibles. The letters on the screen could be seen dropping vertically down to the bottom of screen after the virus picked them off in alphabetical order. This is a sort of parasitic virus. It attaches itself to other programs and gets activated when the host program is executed. It gets copied to other PCs when the programs are copied.

Jerusalem: Found in 1987 at Hebrew University, Jerusalem, this virus was designed to activate only on Friday, January 13 and delete all the files executed on that day. This infects the COM and EXE files. This is similar to Cascade virus in that it is parasitic in nature. This virus attaches itself to COM and EXE files to damage the data.

Daracrime/Columbus or October the 13th virus: This virus is similar to Jerusalem and was programmed to attack on October 13, 1989. Track zero of computer hard disk is destroyed and the contents of discs are rendered unreadable. This virus enters COM and EXE files and damages the hard disk. An antidote called ‘Vchecker’ was developed by the American Computer Society. Fortunately the virus was located in March 1989 itself and the damage reported after October 13 was minimal.

Bomb: This is also know as ‘Logic Bomb’ and ‘Time Bomb’. An event triggered routine in a program that causes a program to crash is defined as a ‘bomb’. Generally, ‘bomb’ is a software inserted in a program by a person working in the company.

Summary:
In addition to the common methods of spreading through email attachments, boot infections and program infectors, there are other ways by which viruses spread to your computer. These include:

Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD’s, Tapes, etc.)

Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in the past, are still a very common way viruses being spread from machine to machine. Anyone with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to copy and save files, can also copy and transf…

Keywords:
blackworm virus, antivirus, computer security

Article Body:
In addition to the common methods of spreading through email attachments, boot infections and program infectors, there are other ways by which viruses spread to your computer. These include:

Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD’s, Tapes, etc.)

Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in the past, are still a very common way viruses being spread from machine to machine. Anyone with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to copy and save files, can also copy and transfer the virus. Any use of that same removable disk, by any user, at any time in the future, will most likely contaminate, or re-contaminate the any computer it is used with. The only way to properly clean an infected floppy disk is to perform a low-level format. The normal Windows(tm) “format disk” is often not enough.

With CD’s, all the above holds true with the exception that an infected CD can never be cleaned. To get rid of an infected CD, you need to put it in the trash and never use it again.

Infection from Networks

Peer-to-Peer network, Local Area Networks (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Networks, and the Internet, are all computer networks. They all have the same basic purpose; to share software, and information resources between two or more computers. As with anything else that is shared between computers, networks let users share files, and wherever files are shared, viruses can be shared and spread.

Most network virus/worm/Trojan activity is like what we described earlier, although more and more examples of automatic mass mailing attacks, system resource attacks are being found.

Recently many attacks are designed to specifically target major corporate interests (Microsoft, eBay, Amazon, major Banks etc.) in an attempt to disrupt their online services. Very generally these are called DOS (denial of service) attacks. The way they most commonly work is by secretly infecting thousands of local user computers (like the one you are using right now), and then at a specific time, launching a combined attack from all the infected machines against the primary target.

As you can see, your computer can be hijacked without your knowledge and then used in a major attack against an unsuspecting company. However with up-to-date virus/firewall protection, your computer will be immune to such hijacking.

Other ways by which virus spreads

Other sources of viruses have been found to be the result of software downloads available over the Internet. Software patches, drivers, demonstration software, from reputable companies, generally carries little risk. However, the Internet is also filled with “unofficial” software, pirated programs, and low-budget software from questionable sources that may be intentionally or unintentionally infected with viruses. Files downloaded directly from the Internet (either through file-sharing programs or direct download from websites), are among the fastest growing sources of computer virus infections.

Email, with its nearly universal availability and ease of use; chat rooms and messenger systems, not only make communication simple and quick, also make the transmission and re-transmission of infection simple and alarmingly fast. Creators of newer viruses, and internet worms specifically target these systems because they are widely used, and are often built right into the operating system and used with default settings making them much easier to attack and exploit.

As a point of reference, Internet Explorer, and Outlook/Outlook express email clients are two of the applications most targeted by Internet viruses and worms. Why? Because they are installed on more computers around the world than any other software, and they are installed 99% of the time with default settings (which means virus programmers have an easy blueprint to follow).

If you use an email system or instant message system that is installed automatically with your computer’s operating system you need to install and use current antivirus software. You also need to learn how to turn off certain default settings that can leave your system open to very easy attack.

Summary:
Keeping your computer in top shape is an important aspect to an online business. Why? Without it, you are not in business, or your business will come to a complete halt. There are simple things that you can do to keep your computer safe and running at top-notch speed.

Keywords:
Computer Maintenance, Utility Software,operating system

Article Body:
Keeping your computer in top shape is an important aspect to an online business. Why? Without it, you are not in business, or your business will come to a complete halt. There are simple things that you can do to keep your computer safe and running at top-notch speed.

Your Computer
You can keep your computer in top shape if you maintain it properly. Clean the inside of the unit and make sure that your have enough fans in your unit to keep the components cool. Fans can help extend the life of your computer.

Operating System
If you are going to be doing business on-line, I would recommend XP Professional, this operating system is more robust than the home version.

Utility Software
AntiVirus software is a necessity if you work online. You can go with the free AntiVirus software, although there is no guarantee that they will always be diligent in keeping the antivirus definitions current. Or you can go with the paid AntiVirus, such as Norton antivirus, or CA Associates EZ AntiVirus. Whatever you choose, no protection is definitely online suicide whether you have an online business or you surf the net.

Without any security, I would not do any personal transactions online. Why? You would be a sitting duck for keyloggers — which are hackers that attach a program to catch your log-in info.

I would also run an Adware Program along with your antivirus software, such as Ad-Aware SE Personal, which is free. This will hold you for awhile, but later you may want to move up to the paid version.

One last free option is to scan your computer with an online tool called ShieldsUP. ShieldsUP will scan your system for any possible backdoors in which hackers can get in. Just go to Google Search and type in ShieldsUP for a free scan.

Daily Computer Maintenance
You can manually keep your computer clean and running by doing the following:

Open up your Internet Explorer, hit Tools, hit Internet Options, and go to the Temporary Internet Files. Here you can delete cookies and files online and offline. In addition, go into History, right under the Temporary Internet Files, and clean that as well.

Or you can get a neat program that does a lot of window washing for you. It’s called “Free Internet Window Washer”, and as the name implies it is free. However, they do accept donations to keep their expenses down. This little program washes system files, MS Office programs, Internet Temporary Files for Mozilla FireFox, Internet Explorer, Netscape and Opera, and more. You can grab a free copy by going to my tools section and hitting the “Internet Tools Section”.

Hard-Drive
You know your hard-drive will not last forever (in most cases, it can last about 5 years if you are lucky), so it is always wise to have a back-up hard-drive piggy-backed to the main if the main drive fails. Or, you can have all the information on another computer and run Norton Ghost to upload the info from one computer to the new hard-drive.

Back-up Data
It is always wise to backup your data and software programs, in the event your computer crashes and you have to reload everything from start to finish again. Your back-up data will save you time.

Important data, such as transactions should not sit on your desktop. You should keep them offline to protect yourself from hackers, should one get through to your computer.

It can happen. It’s scary to see a search box pop up in front of you, and it ask’s “what do you want to look at next”! If you see something on that order, shut down your computer to get them off-line, and increase your security — or find out where the hole is in your security system. Such as, turning off a portion of your security and forgetting to turn it back on? Trust me, it may happen once, but after that, it will not happen again.

These tips, though simple, should give you a beginning to protecting your computer and keeping you aware and secure whether you are online or offline.

Summary:
Everyone seems to be asking these days: why is my computer so slow? Well, the answer to that question is usually that its loaded with programs called spyware and adware. Spyware and adware are programs installed, usually without your permission, on your computer so companies can show their advertisements, log what sites you visit so they know what products youre interested in and record keystrokes on your computer so they know what youre talking about. Below are 3 easy ste…

Keywords:
computer,internet,computer beginner,computer newbie,spyware

Article Body:
Everyone seems to be asking these days: why is my computer so slow? Well, the answer to that question is usually that its loaded with programs called spyware and adware. Spyware and adware are programs installed, usually without your permission, on your computer so companies can show their advertisements, log what sites you visit so they know what products youre interested in and record keystrokes on your computer so they know what youre talking about. Below are 3 easy steps to take to start protecting and eliminating your spyware and adware problem on your home computer.

First, stop using Internet Explorer! I know you may be shocked, but Microsofts internet browser has more holes in it than Swiss cheese! The best alternative is Mozillas Firefox, available for free download at Mozilla.org. After installing the browser, it will automatically transfer your bookmarks/favorites and settings over to Firefox. Also, please make sure Firefox is your default browser. Using Firefox will reduce the amount of spyware and adware on your computer by 75%.

Secondly, download these two free programs: Spybot (safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and Ad-Aware (lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/). These two free programs will search throughout your computer, find the spyware and adware and allow you to quarantine and delete it. To be completely safe, be sure to run and update both of these programs twice a week. This will get rid of all spyware and adware currently on your computer and bring your protection level up to 95%.

Finally, be sure to use a firewall. A firewall is just what it sounds like, a wall between your internet connection and your computer. If you have a high speed broadband connection, a firewall is a must. Most Windows XP systems have a built in firewall that you can simply enable (check Microsofts help files if you dont know how) but if youre looking for more protection but dont want to pay, simply download Zone Alarms free firewall at tinyurl.com/7cn6a . Zone alarms firewall may take awhile to configure, but it is worth it in the long run. With a properly configured firewall, your protection level is now at 100%.

Good luck and be safe!

Summary:
One of the biggest threats that computer users are facing today is the probability of a virus invasion. It is possible that your own PC might have been infected with a virus that you have downloaded unknowingly from the internet, or copied from other removable storage Medias like floppies or compact discs. While some viruses are capable of doing extensive damage to your system, some may be completely harmless but simply annoying. Whatever the problem is, its always best to t…

Keywords:
virus, viruses, computers, spyware, antivirus

Article Body:
One of the biggest threats that computer users are facing today is the probability of a virus invasion. It is possible that your own PC might have been infected with a virus that you have downloaded unknowingly from the internet, or copied from other removable storage Medias like floppies or compact discs. While some viruses are capable of doing extensive damage to your system, some may be completely harmless but simply annoying. Whatever the problem is, its always best to try and remove these malicious applications (manually or using anti-virus software) before they can cause any harm, and without deleting sensitive and important files on your computer.

There is no one set of instructions you can follow to deal with a computer virus because all viruses are different. There may be variants but each variant may behave differently and independently. The steps mentioned here are general remedies that may be used if ever your system is infected with a virus.

Active and inactive viruses:

A virus is usually located in a file, and it can be in one of these two states: active and inactive. When the infected file has not been executed, the virus is in an inactive state, and is not necessarily harmful. In such cases it is enough to delete the file. When the infected file begins execution (when started by user, by operating system, or by another program), the virus changes its state from inactive to active, and begins to perform harmful activities on the system.

Identify the virus:

There is a webpage for every virus that has ever been identified by anti-virus companies, that explains how the virus executes itself, and usually how to remove it and disinfect the system. Heres one useful resource available for identifying viruses on your computer:

The Symantec Antivirus Research Center Online Encyclopedia or the McAfee Virus Information Search Center (http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/vinfodb.html): Try using these virus search engines to locate information about the virus on your computer. The Symantec search is capable of identifying viruses according to the symptom experienced by the system (such as the subject line of the email message that contained the virus or the error message the virus causes on the computer), but its best if you know the name of the virus beforehand. Also remember that different computer viruses produce different “symptoms”.

Using Anti-virus Software:

Once the virus has been identified, the best thing to do next is to run an anti-virus software, scan and clean the system. If you have anti-virus software on your computer (most users do), make sure the software is up-to-date.

Most anti-virus software run periodical, scheduled or manual scans on your computer according to preference, and if fully updated, will promptly identify any malicious activity or files on your system. You then have the options of deleting, quarantining or analyzing the virus depending on the type of antivirus you employ. If youre not too acquainted with the software, the only recommendation is to immediately delete the file, thereby eliminating any threat posed to your systems security.

Protect yourself from future threats:

Once you have removed the virus(es), it would be a good time to make sure your computer is protected from future threats by following these simple steps:

1.Make sure the anti-virus software on your computer is always up-to-date

2.Run real-time protection if your anti-virus has the feature (most anti-virus software do)

3.Do not download or run any suspicious or unrecognized email attachments or file from the internet

4.Always run your anti-virus and scan any removable storage Medias before using them

Contact technical support:

If you cant solve the problem yourself, you should contact technical support immediately by phone or email. Every anti-virus company has one. They will be able to help and guide you. Do not take any drastic steps, like formatting any of your drives, if you dont have prior experience.

Summary:
This is a review article to remove spyware

Keywords:
Spyware, remove spyware, spyware removal, spyware removal programs, stop spyware, anti spyware

Article Body:
In order to remove spyware from your pc you will need a program that can detect search and destroy those unwanted programs. Once you remove the spyware program you can feel safe and free to surf the net.

Many spyware programs can disrupt the normal operation of your computer. Most spyware programs will slow your system down because it is taking the time to log each and every one of your keystrokes. This log is then programmed to be sent off to a some one else’s computer. They will then review your keystrokes for passwords and personal information. This is done so that they can steal your credit cards numbers and use your personal information to their advantage.

If you suspect you are infected the first thing you want to do is to remove spyware right away. There are some good programs out on the net that will do this. Some remove spyware programs can be evil and cause even more problems for you.

Spyware is a problem and there is always some one with bad ethics writing the software so they can take advantage of you. It is very important to protect yourself against spyware before you get infected. Sometimes it is hard to remove them once they have been downloaded to your pc. Some remove spyware programs that are reputable can prevent spyware from being downloaded before it is to late.

I have noticed that many sites that offer free services are infected with spyware and even more so adware. I will be discussing adware in another article. Your internet experience can be very fun and enjoyable if you have the right protection so that you can freely surf the internet knowing that you are protected. Make sure that if you do have a remove spyware protection program installed on your computer that you check for updates often. This is very important as new spyware programs are written all the time. The removal spyware programs are good at keeping up with the new ones.

I have just tried out a new spyware program that works very well against the remove spyware battle. There are so many programs to choose from some good and even some very bad. I tend to stay with one that I know works the best.

Please visit some of my sites Spyware Removal Software and Remove Spyware

Summary:
This article is about Spyware removal

Keywords:
Spyware, remove spyware, spyware removal, spyware removal programs, stop spyware, anti spyware

Article Body:
Spyware are programs that automatically download to your computer when you enter an infected website. The files are downloaded in different ways. When you enter a web site that has these types of programs on them they will automatically download to your pc the minute you enter the site. Many times you don’t know they are downloading onto your computer. In order to remove spyware, you will need spyware removal software.

Another way these programs get downloaded to your pc is when you are downloading files or software from a site that has these files. I spent the past 16 years as a systems analyst for a very large company. From this experience I have found that it is helpful to have some sort of spyware removal software on your computer.

It is quite common that many sites that offer free downloads infect your PC with spyware. Once a spyware file is downloaded to your PC it monitors your activity as well as were you go on the web, all your keystrokes, and many other things. The information that the spyware file gathers gets automatically sent off to its host site without your knowledge.

Adware infections are very similar and can slow your computer down the same as the spyware. You may suspect your infected by adware when you keep getting redirected to other sites and receive tons of pop ups.

Spyware programs, once loaded on your computer can really slow your pc down to a snails pace. Sometimes they cause such problems that you can no longer even use your pc. Proper removal of the spyware is crucial in order to clean up your pc.

It is important to choose reliable spyware removal software that will effectively remove spyware and these unwanted spyware files from you computer. It is also important to make sure you have the most up to date spyware removal software on the market.

When choosing what sites to go to on the web you should be safe and carefully choose what site you are directing yourself to. Popular big name companies and such are usually very safe sites to visit. Remember not all sites that offer free software are sites that will infect your computer. However I have noticed that many sites that do offer free stuff to download like games, movies, and free software are many times the source of these spyware files.

Surf the Internet safely and be careful what sites you surf and buy your self a good spyware protection program. One program I have had great success with over the years is NoAdware. The software will remove adware and spyware from your pc. I will post another article soon with a review of the NoAdware spyware removal software. If you would like to see the software please visit my website. If your computer is infected your only choice is to remove spyware files from you computer. If the spyware stays on your computer it will slow your pc right down and in some cases it will prevent you from surfing. Some of these programs make instant changes to your computer settings and also your browser settings.

Please visit some of my sites Spyware Removal Software and Remove Spyware

Word Count:
654

Summary:
Internet connections are infected with Spyware or other types of information-gathering Malware.Supportcave.com offers free antispyware software programs, helping computer users to protect their computers as well as their personal privacy.

Keywords:
Spy Sweeper, spyware, spyware removal

Article Body:
Spy Sweeper named PC Magazine’s Best of the Year 2004 for
antispyware

The very best AntiSpy program on the market -

Webroot Spy Sweeper. Webroot Spy Sweeper was named best
spyware remover 2004 by PC magazine and praised for it’s
efficiency, speed and userfriendlyness.

Spyware and malware are large problems for Internet users today
and can be both annoying and a real threat to you and your
computer. There exist a number of different spy and malware of
which some are relatively friendly and only spies on your surfing
habits, while others like the Trojans can be used to corrupt your
hard drive or steal your usernames and passwords. A Trojan can
even be used to steal your identity by extracting all necessary
information from your computer.

You may think that ad ware might not be that bad, that it is good if
the ads are chosen to fit your interests. This might be true if the
spy ware didn’t have a number of other negative effects, such as
an increased amount of pop up ads, unexplained home page
changes, strange results when searching the web and the fact
that your computer are being slowed down by the spy wares.
These are all very common results and symptoms of spyware and
ad ware. More unusual problems connected with spyware and
Trojans are the corruption of the hard drive, the loss and exposure
of private information and login information and in a worst case
scenario, the theft of the identity of the owner of an infected
computer.

Spyware is a large treat to the security of your online privacy.

There are however steps that you can take to avoid suffering the
negative effects that spy- and ad ware can bring, and start
protecting you computer and building an Identity Theft Protection.
The first of these steps are to get a good antispyware and
antiadware program able to remove spyware. There are a number
of different spyware removers available and two of the most well
known might be Ad Aware and Spybot which are both good
programs. The best available program that is designed to remove
spyware and adware is however at the moment SpySweeper
which was chosen as the best spyware remover 2004 by PC
magazine.

Spy Sweeper can scan your computer 30% faster then other
available products and successfully remove spyware like
CoolWebSearch. Spy Sweeper also uses a system monitor that
automatically discovers spy ware and prevents installation of
spyware on our computer. Spy sweeper is effective for spyware
and adware removal.

The active shield uses System Monitoring to in real time prevent
new spy- and adware programs from being installed on your
computer. This fact combined with the fact that Spy Sweepers
uses a constantly updated database of all available spy- and ad
wares means that this adware remover can clean your computer,
ridding it of any and all spy- and ad ware. Once it has cleaned your
computer it can keep it clean and assure that your computer stays
clean from ad- and spy ware.

By keeping your computer free from spyware and adware Spy
Sweepers also protects your information and keeps your identity
safe. Spy Sweepers prompts you to update it if it has been to long
since it was last updated.

If spy sweeper finds a spyware it will immediately quarantine the
spyware and disable the spy wares functionality until you can
decide whether to delete the file or try to clean the file from
spyware elements and return the file to its original place on your
hard drive.

If you have a problem with Spy Sweeper despite its highly user
friendly and automated design you will have access to an excellent
customer support where experts answers any question you might
have.

Spy Sweepers deserved the title PC Magazine’s Best of the Year
2004 since it can do everything the alternatives can do, but better
as well as faster then the alternatives.

Summary:
The Trojan horse is something out of ancient history that we still use in conversation today. For example, when we call something a Trojan horse we really mean that it is something that is good looking but has an evil intent. A Trojan horse virus is also something that looks good on the outside but has a very evil intent on the inside. Although they have only been around for a short period of time, they have earned a more prominent place in our lives than the wooden Trojan ho…

Keywords:
trojan horse

Article Body:
The Trojan horse is something out of ancient history that we still use in conversation today. For example, when we call something a Trojan horse we really mean that it is something that is good looking but has an evil intent. A Trojan horse virus is also something that looks good on the outside but has a very evil intent on the inside. Although they have only been around for a short period of time, they have earned a more prominent place in our lives than the wooden Trojan horse from the distant past. Here are some of the first Trojan horse viruses that were encountered.

The first Trojan horse virus that we will discuss is known as the pest trap. It is also more commonly known as Spy Sheriff, and has infected millions of computers around the world. This Trojan horse virus is also classified as malware in that it does not destroy any part of your computer, but it does cause some malicious pop-ups to appear. Most of the times these pop-ups will appear as warnings stating that you need to install some type of software in an attempt to trick you into purchasing that software. Once Spy Sheriff is installed on your computer it is very difficult to remove. If you try to delete it through normal means it will simply reinstall itself from hidden infected files on your computer. Antivirus and anti-spyware software will usually not be able to detect this program. It is also impossible to remove by doing a system restore as it affects the components which operate this feature in Windows.

Sometimes these Trojan horse viruses can come in packages that are seemingly harmless. This is the case in the net bus Trojan horse which was actually software that was meant to be used to remotely control windows from another computer. Because of some problems with the software it was used to hack into several computers. One of the most notable cases was that of a professor in which thousands of child pornography pictures were downloaded to his work computer. Whenever the pictures were discovered it was assumed that he had downloaded them knowingly. Although he was eventually acquitted of the crime, the negative affects on him were long-lasting.

Another problem virus that has had far reaching effects is the Vundo virus. This virus uses a lot of Windows memory at various intervals and also has many pop-ups that tell you that you are missing important system files. It has also been known to cause many messages to appear which tell you that you must install certain various security software, of which many are viruses themselves. This virus is a bit easier to remove than most, as there are many automatic programs written to help you with the process.

There are many different ways that a Trojan horse virus can infect your computer. One thing that all Trojan horse viruses have in common is that they cannot be activated unless you activate the file in which they are hidden. That is why it is so important never to open a file that you are uncomfortable with as it may open the floodgates and allow many different viruses to come in.

Word Count:
564

Summary:
Protect your self from Anti-Spyware frauds and download a genuine Anti-Spyware program for free Learn more about how to avoid getting bogus Anti Spyware, and choose a high-quality Spyware remover and download it online for free.

Keywords:
totally free spyware removers available

Article Body:
There are a lot of different types of Anti-Spyware programs out there. You will not only have to decide whether you want a Spyware blocker or a Spyware remover or a program that combines these two features. You must also decide if your want to pay for the Anti-Spyware program or if you prefer a free program. When it comes to Spyware Removers, some are very expensive, some comes with a small fee and there are also totally free spyware removers available. Most computer users choose to begin with one of the totally free spyware removers available online. Some are lucky enough to find the one of superior totally free spyware removers available on the Internet today, and will stick with this totally free spyware remover. Other chose to upgrade one of the not-so-good but totally free spyware removers available, to an enhanced but more pricy version of the program.

By starting out with one of the totally free spyware removers available online, you can try out several totally free spyware removers to find out which one is most suitable for your. Totally free spyware removers available off-line is hardly ever heard of, since it would be too expensive to distribute them. Instead, the programs available on the market today is found online where you can download them directly to your computer - easy and convenient. Despite the enormous amounts of online advertising about this type of programs online, it can be hard to actually find a totally free spyware remover available online. When you read the fine print, you will usually find out the products marketed as totally free spyware removers available online is actually not at all totally free. Sometimes the program it self will be totally free, but the necessary updates costs a lot of money. Since all spyware removers need to be updated regularly to learn about new types of Spyware, such programs will soon turn out to be not-at-all totally free spyware removers available online. Other programs claims to be totally free spyware removers available online, but are only free during a trial period - sometimes for just a few days. As soon as the trial period is over, you will have to buy one of their not-at-all totally free spyware removers available online. The third kind of bad totally free spyware removers available online are those that are so basic that they offer hardly any protection at all against new and clever Spyware.

You should also be aware, not all sites with totally free spyware removers available online are run by sincere Anti-Spyware companies. When the public knowledge about the potential dangers connected to Spyware programs grew, the computer users started to install spyware removers to combat the Spyware. The companies that gain from Spyware countered this by offering phoney spyware removers available free online. These false totally free spyware removers available online will not at all protect your computer from Spyware. Instead, a lot of them will even install Spyware on your computer and start sending information back to their owner. False totally free spyware removers available online can seem great, but will actually do more harm than good once you have installed them. Always use a critical eye when you check out a web site that offers totally free spyware removers available online. Only download free spyware removers from web sites that you know have a good reputation.

Summary:
Spyware is tracking software that is secretly planted on your computer, and used to gather information about your browsing habits. Adware is advertising that comes loaded with freeware and shareware programs. When you use adware-supported programs, you will see ads popping up happening all over your computer screen at regular intervals. Both adware and spyware have tremendous nuisance value and must be done away with as quickly as possible.

You will be surprised to know th…

Keywords:
GoToMeeting, GoToMyPC

Article Body:
Spyware is tracking software that is secretly planted on your computer, and used to gather information about your browsing habits. Adware is advertising that comes loaded with freeware and shareware programs. When you use adware-supported programs, you will see ads popping up happening all over your computer screen at regular intervals. Both adware and spyware have tremendous nuisance value and must be done away with as quickly as possible.

You will be surprised to know that the distribution of online advertisements via spyware and adware is a massive $2 billion industry (Source: Webroot Software, Inc). Both adware and spyware are hostile pieces of software that require a fitting reply from the average Internet surfer.

According to statistics published by the National Cyber Security Alliance, more than 90% of all PCs are affected by spyware. Spyware is programmed so craftily that it slips through firewalls and anti-virus software. Once it gets into the system and begins its act, there’s hell to pay your personal and confidential information is compromised along with your computer’s performance. But there’s a little bit of good news Spyware programs do not self-replicate like viruses and Trojans, and hence removal becomes an easy task once they are caught.

Typically, spyware gets installed on a system in three ways:

1. In most cases, spyware gets into the computer when a user installs it unknowingly. This is because spyware may come bundled with a freeware/shareware program. Once spyware gets installed, it begins collecting data from the user’s hard drive and passes on the data to its author, either for his own use or for selling the information to a third party. Many peer-to-peer sharing programs have spyware and adware built into them, and you should think about the consequences before downloading and installing them.

Before downloading any freeware/shareware program, it is important to read the license agreement. Most license agreements of such software explicitly state that adware/spyware comes bundled along with their software. Unfortunately, most Internet users do not take the time to read and understand these agreements. Some of these agreements include special opt-out boxes, using which the user can stop the spyware from being included in the download. So, remember to pay extra attention to the license agreement the next time you download freeware/shareware.

2. Another method of planting software is by tricking the user by simulating Microsoft Windows pop-ups and prompts. No sooner does a user click on these simulated prompts, the spyware/adware gets installed on his system. This occurrence is common amongst users of Internet Explorer. Anyway, the latest version of Internet Explorer does make life a little more difficult for these hackers.

3. Finally, developers of spyware design it in such a way that it attacks the vulnerable security areas of the browser/operating system, and manages to worm its way into the system. You have to be careful before visiting websites that allow you to download music free of charge or other websites with explicit and objectionable material, because every page on such sites is armed with adware/spyware waiting to worm into your system.

Summary:
Notebook computers bring a tremendous convenience to personal computing. Just sit within range of a wireless hotspot and you can connect to your office or home network, access your email, and complete important projects for work. However, roaming from one unsecured wireless network to another can leave your computer vulnerable to malicious software attacks.

Keywords:
virus scan,spyware,virus protection,laptops,notebooks

Article Body:
Notebook computers bring a tremendous convenience to personal computing. Just sit within range of a wireless hotspot and you can connect to your office or home network, access your email, and complete important projects for work. However, roaming from one unsecured wireless network to another can leave your computer vulnerable to malicious software attacks.

Spyware and Viruses

If you are connected to a wireless network without its own firewall, hackers can easily intercept the signals you send and receive across the airwaves. Malicious individuals can also install spyware and viruses on your computer.

Spyware refers to an application designed to track a computer user’s internet activities, keep note of sites visited, and gather other information. The term, “spyware,” can also refer to any non-viral malicious software, including software that takes over your internet connection, pops up unwanted advertisements, or even blocks your internet connection. A tracking program is technically labeled as spyware only if the computer user does not consent to the download or installation.

Spyware collects information and sends it back to the spyware controller. The owner of the spyware program usually sells gathered information to marketers. For instance, spyware can get a computer user’s email information, using that information to bombard the user with advertisements and spam. Spyware is also known as “malware” (Malicious Software), as it can be used to aid identity theft and fraudulent activities (some spyware programs mine credit card information and other sensitive financial information). Keylogging programs, used to steal credit card information and passwords by monitoring everything a user types, fall under the umbrella of spyware/malware.

Viruses are another type of malicious software. A virus is a piece of code that attaches itself to a program, a file, or your boot sector. These malicious programs are called viruses because they work much like a viral infection they spread to other files, programs, and even computers, and they are designed explicitly to damage your files and destroy your applications.

Protecting Your Notebook from Spyware and Viruses

Protecting your notebook computer from spyware and viruses protects you against fraud and protects your privacy, too.

The first thing that you need to do is install a secure web browser. Internet Explorer is particularly vulnerable to unauthorized scripts which could be run and installed on your computer without your knowledge. Instead of using Internet Explorer, you can try using Mozilla Firefox, one of the most secure web browsers around. Firefox will always inform you about any download or installation, inform you about suspect sites, and update your browser automatically to continually improve security.

Aside from using Firefox, it is important that any computer user install a personal firewall to block unauthorized access attempts. For Windows XP users, Comodo Personal Firewall is a free option (there is an Alpha version of Comodo Personal Firewall Version 3, which adds Vista support, but this would not be a stable option until they reach the final release). Even the best firewall can sometimes allow spyware through, however, so scan your computer with a free program like Spybot: Search & Destroy or Ad-Aware SE, two of the very best anti-spyware programs available. You should not neglect to install anti-virus software, too. If you have an anti-virus program you already use, stick with it, but the free home edition of Avast and the open-source (free) anti-virus product ClamWin are two excellent options. Be sure to keep your security software updated (most programs will automatically update themselves, but they will sometimes prompt you for your permission) to give yourself the very best protection against malicious software.

This article may be republished freely as long as this copyright notice and box of resource links are included at the bottom.

Copyright 2007 MALIBAL, lLc