Spyware

This is hidden software code that can be installed by other applications ,hackers and some internet websites. (This can be sometimes in the form of cookies )Although some cookies are harmless others can report your web browsing habits back to a central database.

Some shareware programs often include spyware built in.

Sometimes information retrieved can be used less honestly and this spyware can even add popup adverts to your system and modify your system registry.

Spyware can modify your windows registry to slow down your pc ,steal passwords with key loggers ,redirect your browser , prevent internet access and even dial up porn sites or premium lines without your knowledge

Some times files are downloaded on to your pc to aid this.

For this reason I recommend that while using the internet a spyware removing utility is these days a important add-on to aid your security and performance of your pc and is just as essential as anti-virus software now.

There are many good utilities such as Ad-Aware 6 , McAfee Anti-spyware , Microsoft Anti Spyware, Spyware Doctor etc. I can personally recommend Spy Sweeper as the best i have seen , find out more click here

These need to be used regularly and kept up to date .

See Ad-Aware and Spy Sweeper in the utility section for details.

Revised: April 07, 2007