What is Spyware?
What is it?
Spyware is a type of software that is installed onto your computer without you knowing about it. It hides in the background and spies on your computer usage looking for information about you and your family. There are many different types of spyware, some watch the websites that you visit, some look for usernames and passwords and others popup ads onto your desktop.
Spyware Problems
Spyware can also change the settings on your computer, making your internet slower, changing your browser home page, prevent other programs from working correctly and sometimes cause the internet to stop working altogether.
How did I get it?
Most spyware is installed without you knowing about it. It is sometimes installed along with another program as a part of the setup process. Other types install through loopholes in a web browser or by looking like a useful toolbar or helper program.
With other software
Spyware can also come as a part of a shareware program or other software downloaded from the internet. You could download a program then install it, and the installer installs the spyware as an extra. Although the main program itself might not do any harm, the spyware does. In some cases, spyware authors have paid shareware authors to add spyware to their software. Other times, spyware authors have repackaged useful freeware with installers that slipstream spyware.
Anti-Spyware Software
As spyware became more of a threat many companies have developed anti-spyware software that can scan your computer and remove any rogue spyware programs that are found. Purchasing and using anti-spyware software has become a normal thing for home computer security, especially those using Microsoft Windows.