Critters in Your Computer

Adware is a program that displays advertisements on the computer whether you want them or not. They are not just connected to particular websites or free software but are programmed to start up whenever your computer is switched on. Other guises of adware are spyware and malware.

Spyware is a program code that relays information about you and your work without your permission or knowledge. Some just "spy" on you conveying your Internet habits to marketing companies, while others are "thieves" they access credit card information as well as other sensitive files. In plain terms, it is malicious software that can intercept or take control of a computer's operation without user knowledge or consent. Termed as "malware", the programs can:

• Steal personal information and the address book.
• Flood the browser with pop-ups.
• Spam the system.
• Slow down programs and connection.
• Hijack the browser and redirect the user to a "con" page.
• Uses the computer as a server to broadcast porn.
• Can cause a crash.

Spyware reaches a computer through innocent web pages, game demos, MP3 players, search tool bars, and other downloads like free software. It installs itself and leaves a mark on the windows registry. It can hog the computer resources such as memory and hard drive and cause a crash or lock up. Keystroke-logging spyware can steal passwords and credit card information for thieves.

• Use anti adware and spyware programs. I use Spybot Search & Destroy, and Lavasoft's Ad-aware.
• Keep windows as well as your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox etc) up-to-date by applying the latest security patches. To protect the files one has to:
• Maintain the security level of the web browser at medium. Users must not lower the security level.
• Use firewalls to block access to web sites known to carry spyware.
• Update the antivirus program. An up-to-date program will stop spyware as well as Trojans.
• Never accept that "free" is necessarily free. There's lots of excellent freeware out there but we need to be careful.
• Never download software from Warez sites. Pirated software is always distributed along with adware and spyware.