If you're out there surfing around unprotected, your computer and
your personal information are at risk. But before you can effectively
protect your security you have to know what threats are out there.
One of the biggest security threats Internet surfers face is spyware and
adware. Even with their proliferation and the many programs online to
remove them, most people don't give them a second thought.
But in this case, what you don't know or can't see can definitely hurt
you.
Top PC Security Picks:
Pest Patrol
Spyware and Adware could be using your web connection to steal your
personal information. Protect your identity and improve your PC
performance.
PC Protection
Zone Labs.
Protect your computer from spyware, hackers and thieves with this
software trusted by over 20 million users.
Nuke Spyware
90% of all PCs are infected with Spyware and Adware! Take back control of your computer,
Free Spyware Scan!
Privacy Defender
Protect your privacy! Stop spam, popups, adware and spyware - Free Adware Scan Now!
Many adware applications install separate advertising components on your
system, that run in the background, downloading ads and wasting system
resources. This goes on even if you're not using the software that
installed them. Somtimes these components remain installed and continue
to perform their unwlecome duties even after the associated application
has been removed. That is straight up trickery.
Some adware companies have even gone so far as to create what some call
Advertising Trojan Horses. These are virus-like software programs that
install themselves on your computer to perform unwanted advertising
functions and violate your privacy whether you've installed the
advertising-supported software or not. Advertising trojans make
clandestine connections to adservers behind your back, consume precious
network bandwidth and may compromise the security of your data. The
latest versions of these "ad-viruses" operate in full stealth and are
nearly impossible to detect without advanced knowledge of the system
environment.
Spyware modules have been implicated in computer problems including, but
not limited to, system slow down, illegal operation errors, browser
crashes, and even what is called the blue screen of death. While normal
system stability has usually returned when the interfering spyware
modules were deleted, one adware product in particular will disable your
Internet access if you try to delete it. This is something that
unfortunately many unscrupulous authors are turning to.
There are ways to protect yourself and your computer online. First, use
a free spyware removal tool to find and delete and adware currently
running on your machine. Then download constant protection with one of
the links on this page and keep your personal information and your
computer security buttoned up.
