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What is Spyware?
Spyware is a type of malware that tracks your personal information. Spyware may record which websites you visit, collect personal information such as credit card numbers, and redirect your browser specific websites. The information is taken without your consent, and often without your knowledge.
Spyware sometimes comes packaged with Trojan horses. By masquerading as legitimate and helpful software, spyware can slip itself onto your system completely unnoticed. The creators of spyware are trying to make money. The information they take from you may be sold to businesses or used to enhance an individual or company's advertising.
Concerns for Parents
Spyware is certainly a risk, but for the most part, your computer's ability to function properly is what is at stake--not your child's safety. Spyware can...
- Steal personal information from your computer
- Slow down your Internet
- Change how your web browser works, or alter favorite websites like your home page or frequented search page
- Gear search results or advertisements via adware to your computer based on your history of purchases or searches on the Internet
How Can I Keep My Computer Spyware-Free?
- Be sure your computer is equipped with antivirus protection. Special anti-spyware software is also available. You can read more about the growing anti-spyware industry as well as specific anti-spyware services in this Wikipedia article.
- Make sure that the antivirus package you select is complemented by a firewall.
- A lot of spyware can be avoided by simply exercising caution and using common sense on the web. Do not be fooled by pop-ups or websites that claim you should go to a specific site or download some program using words and catchphrases like "critical" or "warning." Such advertisements usually contain spyware. The best defense is to be conscious about the risk of what you are doing on the Internet, and to avoid viewing or downloading any material without knowing exactly who is responsible for it.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read what Microsoft security has to say about spyware here.
This short article explains what spyware is and why it can be a threat.
Read this Webopedia definition of spyware.
Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) The user should read the Welcome message.
Microsoft's anti-spyware software, beta version (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security) - This program offered by Microsoft is a beta program. This program may be available only for a limited time. This website also has good information about spyware and other computer security issues.
