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A computer infected by spyware is not just crippled in speed and performance (slow to start, slow to open programs, error messages and other behavior) but also poses a serious threat to security and the information you view, access or enter using the infected computer.
In fact, the sole purpose of spyware as the name implies, is to spy on you and extract information vital to criminal element responsible for development of the spyware program running on your PC. Translated in plain English, bad guys want your information and the software running on your PC is stealing it from you.
Some facts. It is estimated that a complete identity (including first name, last name, address, SSN, and other important and highly confidential details) is worth about $25.00 USD on black market and those things are traded every day, bought and sold just like you and I buy stocks, cars or anything else. The underground industry worth billions of dollars is active as ever and it is predicted the things will only get worse. Criminals are getting smarter, their mechanisms for extracting and collecting the information of interest to them, are getting more sophisticated, more difficult to detect and very complicated to remove.
Additionally, bad guys are also putting additional pressure on major software vendors constantly examining software under the microscope looking for flaw and a way to exploit the flaw to gain unlawful access to the PC running the software. And it is not that software vendors are ignoring to fix those security issues, in most cases the patch for the software is released quickly after the flaw had been discovered. More infections and breaches happen because the end-user fails to exercise due diligence themselves and never bother to check for or download and properly apply those security patches for their software.
So how does one make sure to not become a victim of bad guys?
The sad answer is that you can never guarantee that it will not happen to you or anyone else. You can implement measures and safeguard to decrease a likelihood it will happen and this is best one can hope for.
Depending on how many PCs you are trying to safeguard, complexity of your network setup, resources available, knowledge you have about what is out there and tie and money you are willing to spend there are several ways and tools you can utilize to help yourself from becoming a victim of bad guys.
1)Keep your computer in shape by making sure all your software is updated and any security patches
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How to prevent your PC from being infected with spyware
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