Some types of spyware are fast becoming the worst thing,
including virus's, that can invade your computer. Spyware
can send your most confidential information to a site that
can use this information to steal your money, your good name
and your identity. Some spyware can use your email address
to send spam to thousands of other computer users. In
connection with some virus, spyware can turn your computer
into a 'Zombie' and can even cause you to lose your Internet
connection. The AOL/NCSA study showed that 80% of Home
Computers Infected with Spyware/Adware 49% of Broadband
Users Lack Any Firewall Protection The average infected user
has 93 spyware/adware components on their computer, and the
most components found on a single computer during the scan
was 1,059 Majority of users (89%) who were infected with
spyware/adware said they didn't know the programs were on
their computer. Nine in ten infected users (90%) said they
don't know what the programs are or do.
The only way to be sure you don't have spyware on your
computer is constant vigilance. There are free programs you
can download that will check your computer for spyware, but
you must constantly update them and run at least once a week
as there are new and worse spyware applications being
released on the Internet every day. The two most popular
spyware removal programs are Ad-aware and Spybot Search and
Destroy. They can be downloaded and updated free. These
programs have been recognized as the best by many sources,
including ZDnet, TechTV and many technical forums. You also
need to use a good firewall that will alert you if something
is trying to 'call home '. A good free firewall is Zone
Alarm. There are other free firewalls as well, just search
on Google for 'free firewalls '. If you are using Microsoft
Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003, you can
get a free spyware remover from Microsoft. You can download
Microsoft Antispy here:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
