Avoiding Spyware And Malware Attacks
Spyware can be more than an annoyance. Poorly programmed spyware can interfere with other programs and can even cause system instability. Privacy issues are at stake as well.
This type of software is often installed without a user’s consent and often can’t be uninstalled without special tools. When distributors use tricks and deception to install uninvited software, trust is destroyed.
The best defense against spyware is common sense. Always be watchful when you download software from the internet. Don’t install software from unknown websites that you don’t know if you can trust and be sure you always read through the license agreement. Sometimes the license will disclose that spyware is installed along with the program (although usually not in so many words) but they’re counting on the fact that hardly anyone ever reads the license anyway.
Check for “spyware free” guarantees on software you download. Obviously, anyone can say something is spyware free even when it isn’t, but if a website has gone to the trouble to say so, it is more likely to be safe than if they hadn’t.
How can you tell if you have spyware on your system? You may see pop-up advertisements even when you aren’t browsing the web. Your homepage may have been changed without your consent. New toolbars are installed on your web browser which you didn’t request. Your computer may be sluggish or mysteriously reboot on its own. Though, the last effect is usually a virus.
If your system does get hit with a spyware attack, all is not lost. There are several software utilities made for getting rid of it. These programs have a database of known spyware that gets updated on a regular basis as new ones are found. They’ll scan your computer to see if anything from this database is installed on it.
Some of these programs are free while others will cost. The paid versions sometimes have additional features, such as automatic scheduled scans. None of them are 100% foolproof however, so it’s a good idea to run more than one of them.
Some types of spyware are exceptionally hard to get rid of. They can make changes to settings on your computer that help to “protect” the spyware from being removed. In some cases, you need to manually delete the files to get rid of them for sure.
Needless to say, this should be performed only by skilled users. Deleting the wrong files can damage your programs and even your operating system.
Once the spyware has been removed from your system, you should run scans on a regular basis to keep it clean. Whether you do this manually or use a program that does it automatically on a schedule is up to you (and your pocketbook).
And of course, always be aware of the risks before you accept any free offers for software on the internet. You never know what the real cost is for that free program.