by Blighty

Created on: April 12, 2011   Last Updated: April 17, 2011

Spyware is a piece of software which is clandestinely downloaded onto computers without your knowledge and permission. The software then reports back information about our activities to the originators remote computer.

Usually the installed spyware reports back to the originator certain commercially viable information about us such as our surfing habits. They can use this information to send to you targeted advertising appealing directly to your own particular tastes

The above type of spyware has a nuisance value but isn’t very harmful. Some spyware is capable of a great deal more, and can find out much more about you including: email addresses, passwords, keystrokes, chat programs, documents including word, and worst of all credit card numbers and associated information used online. Basically spyware can access anything at all you have downloaded to your hard drive.

A criminal can use spyware to take your personal information and use it to their own advantage, in particular identity theft. Your email addresses can be sold on to potential spammers. The most serious implication is you lose complete control of what happens on your computer and where your information may end up.

In the light of the above many people now have both antivirus and spyware protection on their computers to limit the possible threats. The most common way for spyware to enter your computer is when you download certain emails and some programs. Spyware can also be downloaded to your computer when you are surfing and visiting different websites.

There are many different ways to for spyware to find itself inside your computer. One was is when you enter a website a message will appear asking you to download a small piece of software which you may think is to enhance the webpage but might simply be a cunning way to get spyware into your computer.

There is good news these days there is a myriad of different anti spyware solutions to choose from. Anti spyware will scan you emails and tell you if in its opinion it is suspect and might flag it, or drop the email into a trash folder. The software will also monitor you browser and vet each webpage you visit to ensure spyware isn’t attached. Anti spyware is cheap to buy and offers peace of mind.

Please note anti spyware is a piece of software which is always on in the background and can slow down older computers. You’ll need to weight up the advantages and disadvantages of protecting your personal information.   

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