A summary of what spyware actually is.What is spyware?

Spyware is a software program that collects information secretly from the computer on which it is installed through the user's internet connection, while sending the information back to an outside computer that controls the program. Some spyware cause increased spam or pop-up ads, while others can steal your personal information and threaten your security at the same time.

Spyware is made up of several different forms of malicious software such as; computer viruses and worms which don't usually self-replicate. But, spyware also relates to malware and is designed for commercial or financially fraudulent exploitation of the infected computer.

Spyware is a large threat to computer user's online privacy because it steals personal financial information such as credit card numbers, the monitoring of web browsing activity for marketing purposes or the re-routing of web page requests.

There are three common effects spyware has on a computer:

1) The computer's performance slows dramatically because spyware runs in the background and uses a vast amount of system resources and bandwidth. It can also conflict with legitimate software already on your PC and lead to crashes and instability.

2) The computer is full of advertisements and pop-up's due to spyware triggering pop-up advertisements and lure you to unscrupulous Web sites.

3) Spyware also hijacks your browser and internet settings and can switch your Internet browser homepage without your consent. It can also add unwanted buttons to your Internet browser's toolbar, some of which are difficult to remove or disable as they stop you using Ctrl + Alt + Del.

ZoneAlarm free online scan

ZoneAlarm offers a free online scan to anyone who fears they have a spyware infected computer and this can be found at:

http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/offer02702.html

Since 2005, spyware has become an annoyance for users of Microsoft Windows operating systems. Only a few systems like Mac OS X and Linux have not suffered from spyware to date. This is because minority systems present a smaller target for spyware authors, but also have better security models.

Spyware applications are typically found hidden in freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet such as Kazaa, Limewire or Sharezaa; however, the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware, this is where spyware is installed because of the user.

Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users, not being aware of it, install the program when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today as mentioned above.

Spyware can also be in the form of a keylogger. They have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on your hard drive, snoop other applications such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs and read cookies.

How to reduce getting spyware

One obvious way to reduce getting spyware or being aware that it's there is to read the liscensing agreement that accompany software downloads. These aren't read completely by the user because the notice of spyware installation is often a lot of hard to read legal disclaimers. I mean, how many people actually read the agreements?

You should remember that not all companies who claim their software contains adware are really offering adware. There's always a chance that adware is spyware in disguise, and that programs with embedded spyware may not state its existence at all. Always stay on the side of caution and be sure to research privacy policies and licensing agreements that come with freeware. You should also familiarise yourself with Internet lists of companies reported to be using spyware. Much like a firewall or anti-virus program, anti-spyware software is crucial to maintain optimal protection and security on your computer and network.

Another, is to download and install Microsoft's Anti-Spyware from their webisite www.microsoft.com as this, in my honest opinion, is a brilliant spyware blocker and remover. To learn more about this please read the article named Mycrosoft vs. Spyware.

You may not have realised that you have installed spyware, With spyware comes a lot of anti-spyware software packages to rid your system of these unwanted and malicious programs. Anti-spyware software works by identifying any spyware installed on your system and removing it. Since spyware is installed like any other application on your system it will leave traces of itself in the system registry and in other places on your computer. Anti-spyware software will look for evidence of these files and delete them if found.

The difference between adware and spyware

Adware

Adware is an alternative that's legitimate and is offered to consumers who do not wish to pay for software. Programs, games or utilities can be designed and distributed as freeware. Sometimes freeware blocks features and functions of the software until you pay to register it. Today we have a growing number of software developers who offer their goods as "sponsored" freeware until you pay to register. Most or all features of the freeware are enabled but you will be viewing sponsored advertisements while the software is being used.

The advertisements usually run in a small section of the software or as a pop-up ad box on your desktop. When you stop running the software, the ads should disappear. This allows consumers to try the software before they buy and you always have the option of disabling the ads by purchasing a registration key.

Adware is a legitimate revenue source for companies who offer their software free to users. A perfect example of this would be the popular e-mail program, Eudora. You can choose to purchase Eudora or run the software in sponsored mode. In sponsored mode Eudora will display an ad window in the program and up to three sponsored toolbar links. Eudora adware is not malicious in any way; it doesn't track your habits or provide information about you to a third party. This type of adware is simply serving up random paid ads within the program. When you quit the program the ads will stop running on your system.

Spyware

Some freeware applications which contain adware do track your surfing habits in order to serve ads related to you. When the adware becomes intrusive like this, then we move it in the spyware category and it then becomes something you should avoid for privacy and security reasons. Due to its invasive nature, spyware has really given adware a bad name as many people do not know the differences between the two. Spyware works like adware but exists as an independent executable programs.

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/spyware.html

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/spyware.asp