by April J.

Created on: May 10, 2011   Last Updated: May 20, 2011

"Spyware" is sneaky software that can hide in your computer, waiting to transmit your sensitive information such as passwords and credit card information, over the network to whatever nefarious character happens to be waiting at the other end. Because well-written spyware can be very, very good at hiding its tracks, and can be difficult to remove once it finds its way into your computer, the best approach when it comes to spyware is to avoid getting it in the first place, if possible. Read on for some tips on how to avoid it, and how to deal with it.

Install anti-spyware software... and use it!

Installing anti-spyware software, such as Spybot Search and Destroy, can go a long way toward keeping your computer clean. It is not enough to simply download this software once – it must be kept updated (once a week should do), so that it is kept aware of the latest threats. Once it is installed, make sure to use it! Most programs will have a scheduling option that will help you choose when to run it, so that you don't have to remember for yourself and the program will take care of the scheduling. Running it once a week is a good idea; and make sure to pay attention to any results that come up.

Limit your power

The best way to deal with spyware is to avoid getting it in the first place because, once installed, it can be tricky to find and to remove. One way to do this is to use an non-Admin (also called a "limited") account for your everyday activities, using a separate Admin account for when you need to install software or perform other admin-related tasks. Why? Most spyware will seek to make changes to your computer's operating system in order to log and transmit data, and to hide its tracks. Some of the stealthiest and most insidious malware called "rootkits" get into a computer's operating system at such a low level that they are able to "trick" it in ways that make it invisible to anti-virus software, as a result making it very, very hard to detect. In order to make these types of changes however, these programs need to run with administrator privileges, so by logging in with a non-admin account, you can limit alot of what these nasty programs can do.

Watch your step

Another preventative method is to take care when you are going about your business online. The last thing you want to do is beef up your security only to go ahead and click "yes" on the wrong box, agreeing to download the spyware directly onto your computer! Only download software from websites

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