What is the Definition of spyware? It's designed to gather information about a person or company without their knowledge. On the Internet, "spyware is programming that is placed on your computer to secretly gather information about you and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties." As such, Spyware/Malware is a privacy issue as well as a threat to your PC.
Why do they exist? In the case of advertisers they want to know what sites you're surfing. In more extreme cases it can log every keystroke you make on your computer to grab credit card numbers etc. It ties in closely with ID theft, spam mail, viruses and phishing.
Why does this happen?
Your IE Security settings are not "hardened" against these sites whom take advantage of this and install software on your PC without you knowing or your permission. In other cases some software comes bundled with other "elements" (spyware/adware) downloading software is especially suspect, you don't know about until your browser has been hijacked. Make sure you read the EULA [end-user license agreements] fully before you click "Accept"
Minimal Security Settings Recommended
The "default" browser settings are not hardened enough to properly protect your PC. In other cases, the new era of Trojans lowers your security settings for the "Internet Zone", this bypasses any security you thought you had.
To reset your machine to the Default Levels:
Close Internet Explorer and Outlook Express/Windows Mail.
Click the start button [lower left corner of windows]
Click On Control Panel, Internet Options and Click on the "Security" tab
Highlight the "Internet" icon, click "Default Level"
For IE7 - Make sure the option "Enable Protected Mode" is selected.
Imposters Exposed! - before installing or purchasing any "Anti-Spyware" product. There are Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites that are in fact Spyware/Hi-Jackers themselves.
Free Anti-spyware Products
These are great for mild infections, however they almost always rank low when compared to paid versions. BEWARE - installing several Anti-Spyware programs is OK, but I've seen too many cases with several running together. Most of them are compatible, however it is not advisable to run more than one to monitor changes on your PC.
SpyBot S&D http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
(freeware - XP/Vista)
NOTE: New release 1.6 Spybot New approach to Malware/spyware is growing to become more randomized, and one of the consequences of this is a growing risk of false positives in any anti-malware product. Just testing on more and more laboratory machines never covers the real world situations out there though, so this is a community-like, approach.
Other Highly Rated Anti-Spyware Programs
- Webroot's Spysweeper (scan is free - removal requires purchase - XP/Windows Vista)
Caution: Spysweeper now bundles the Ask Toolbar and is selected by default! Be sure to unselect it!
- AVG Anti-Spyware (30 day Trial version - W2000 and XP only)
At the end of the trial, the program will turn into a feature-limited freeware version.
Note: there's specialized tools, "fixes", etc. that are created for specific infections "Not listed here for obvious reasons" best handled by specialist that will assist you in the Spyware Forums. Attempting removal yourself often does more harm than good, resulting in more trouble than you bargained for to start!
There is no such thing as a perfect solution, the onslaught is simply too fast, at best only 75% of spyware can be removed.
