Article: Spyware Is Hiding In Your Computer?

by Steven Pronger

http://www.stevepronger.com/security_review.htm

Believe it or not, your computer might be infested with spyware, a hidden program (application) that can reveal important information about your computer & internet activities to other individuals and companies. Most of them use the information to understand your online buying behaviour, but no one guarantees that your info can\'t be stolen or seen by other unauthorized people.

Your privacy is important and should be protected, so pay attention to what programs you download online and what terms you accept. Others are spying your activities and you might not even know.

The BEST way to defend your computer by spyware IS to download and run an Internet anti spyware application that identifies and removes those kind of programs from your hard disk.

NOTE: some spyware elements deny uninstallation unless the adware applications (programs containing banner advertising that contain spyware) are available on your computer.

The solution is to remove the application entirely, unless you really want to keep it for future use.

Here are 3 applications that contain spyware:

1. Alexa / ZBubble (usually is installed from www.alexa.com and www.microsoft.com)

RISK: medium to high

Information collected: web navigation, buying behaviour, passwords, credit cards information.

2. Gator / GAIN (usually is installed by products like Grokster and Morpheus).

RISK: medium

Information collected: web navigation behaviour.

3. Web3000 (NetSonic)

RISK: medium

Information collected: demographical data, cookies.

Below I\'m going to present 2 *freeware* applications that you can use to remove such Spyware programs from your computer.

#1 - SpyBot Search & Destroy

PRICE: *free*

LINK: http://spybot.safer-networking.de

SpyBot Search & Destroy can detect adware applications, spyware applications, key loggs, troyan horses, broken links.

#2 - Ad-aware

PRICE: *free* (the basic version)

LINK: http://www.lavasoftusa.com

Ad-aware can detect adware applications and spyware applications.

REMEMBER: most of these tools are not perfect, your computer might still be infected with spyware that can\'t be detected, however, at least you can be sure that a part of them are eliminated.

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Steven Pronger reveals you how to protect your privacy and computer from bad viruses & spyware applications. Read his reviews at the page below: http://www.stevepronger.com/security_review.htm

visit author's site by clicking on title at the top of this page

Category: Articles

Date: May 29, 2005

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