Adware. Spyware. Pesky pop up ads. Internet congestion. Computer malfunctions of every kind. Obviously, you’re infected!

Regardless of the brand name anti-virus software(s), ninety percent of all personal computers have to deal with computer problems. Unfortunately,most of the effective software(s) cost $20 to $250.

Folks, there’s no need to be scammed any longer. Don’t ever make the mistake of paying big dollars!

On second thought, just continue to pay me your undivided attention, and together, we can eliminate these problems.

Step 1: Go ahead and uninstall all of your current anti-virus security options (except for your current firewall). Don’t be afraid. Remember, you can always reinstall them at a later date if you so choose. Next: go online and type Tudogs into your local search engine. Afterwards, run the engine by simply pressing the Search button.

Step 2: Enter your email address into the Tudogs email address prompt. Then press the submit button. Now you are ready to enter the Tudogs website.

Step 3: Type Avast into the Tudogs search engine. Then press the Search engine button. Once you are on the next page: Click onto the icon that says: avast! 4 Home.

Step 4: Scroll down to the very bottom of the next page where it says in bold blue letters: avast! 4 Home Edition Download. Click onto this icon. This will promptly take you to the next page. Once you are on the next page: scroll down to the very bottom of the page and then press the download icon that says: Avast! 4 Home English version (or whatever your language of preference might be.). Disregard the file download that says: This file can potentially damage your computer. The reason they issue this warning is because Avast is not one of the brand name software(s), such as: Windows XP, Google Tool Bar, Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee, et…). Press the Run button. Now all you have to do is to follow all of the ensuing set up prompts.

Installation will take a few short minutes. It is really that simple. Once you have completed the installation process, I strongly recommend that you immediately log off and run your first Avast scan. You might be shocked at the number of hidden worms, viruses, and trojans that Avast is able to detect.

HOW TO RUN AN AVAST SCAN

You have three areas of choice in order to run an Avast scan: the removable media scan (CD’s and floppies), the hard disk scan (the C drive), and the user defined folder scan. First, you need to make sure that you are not online. You only want to scan what is on your personal computer, not the infinite black holes of cyberspace. The C drive is the main drive that contains all of the necessary components that govern and run your personal computer. Therefore, this is always, by far, the most important drive to scan.

Step 1: In order to initiate an Avast C scan, you first need to double click onto the Avast icon that is now installed on your personal computer. When the Avast scanner appears notice that in the top right hand corner of the Avast scanner, there are three very distinctive icons: (+) (?) (x). Look to the far right hand side of the Avast scanner. Just below the minus sign (-) and the (x) is a square button. Press this button.

Step 2: Immediately out of the top of the Avast scanner should appear an icon that says: Standard Scan/Scan archive files. Once this icon appears look to the far left hand side of the Avast scanner. There you will see a large triangular button. By pressing this button you will initiate the Avast C drive scanner.

Step 3: Once an Avast scan has been completed, if Avast finds any questionable files, it will automatically ask you what you want to do with the file(s) in question. For example: you may opt to have a particular file moved to the Avast virus chest; there, it can no longer harm your computer; OR, you can rename and have any particular file moved into another location on your computer; OR, you can attempt to have an infected file repaired; OR, you can simply have it deleted. I always opt for deletion.

ALLEVIATING POP UP ADS

Step 1: Using your mouse, go down to the bottom left hand corner of your computer and press the start button.

Step 2: When the program options appear go directly to the control panel.

Step 3: Next: click onto internet options.

(Note: These directions might very slightly from computer to computer.).

Step 4: After you have clicked onto internet options you are going to see an icon. At the very top of this icon it is going to say something to this effect: internet properties: general, security, content, privacy, et…

Step 5: Next: Look for the phrase that says: Temporary Internet Files. This is what you want to delete. This is a major source of those pesky pop up ads. In my opinion, you don’t need a temporary internet file in order to get back to a website that you just visited. Unfortunately, this is where a lot of junk is stored, such as: dangerous cookies, adware, spyware, and various tools for hackers to hijack your personal information. Also, the more of this junk that you allow to build up over a period of time, the slower your computer is going to run.

Step 6: Next: within this same icon you should see another icon that says: History. We are now going to delete your computers history for the exact same reasons as mentioned in step five.

Step 7: Go ahead and delete the cookies option within this same icon for the exact same reasons as mentioned in step five. (Note: If you are not a regular cookie deleter the chances are very good that you now have multiple thousands of cookies that are congesting your computer.).

Step 8: While you are within this same icon you will see a phrase that says something to this effect: Days To Keep History. Most computers are already preset at 20 to 30 days. This is very bad because this means that your computer will wait 20 to 30 days before it automatically deletes your recent history. Remember: every time you go online you are going to acquire five to ten cookies. These cookies will then replicate themselves many times over. Some of these cookies are extremely dangerous. If it takes 20 to 30 days to delete all of the hidden junk that you are going to acquire online, is it any wonder that you are now experiencing difficulties?

Step 9: You guessed it! Change the number of Days To Keep Your History to 7 or less. This will alleviate an awful lot of internet congestion.

YOU ARE NOW IN FOR A REAL TREAT. ZONE ALARM IS THE MOST AWESOME FIRE WALL IN THE WORLD!

Step 1. Go to the Download.com website.

Step 2. Type Zone Alarm into the Download.com search engine. Then press Go.

Step 3. Once on the next page proceed to scroll downward until you find three versions of Zone Alarm that are currently being offered. Two of these versions offer free trial periods with an option to buy after the duration of these trial periods. The third version has a free licence. That means that this version is totally free. I strongly recommend that you start off with this version.

Step 2: Click onto the blue letterings of whichever version of Zone Alarm you so choose to install.

Step 3: On the next page you will see a caption in blue letters that says: Download Now. Click onto this icon.

Step 4: Disregard the Security Warning that says: This file can potentially damage your computer. The reason they issue this warning is because Zone Alarm is not one of the brand name software(s). Now go ahead and press Run button. Now all you have to do is to follow all of the ensuing set up prompts. Installation will take a few short minutes.

My name is Eric J. Nelson. I am on a personal mission to eliminate computer problems. I hate to see others get scammed. There is more software/protection available. Please check out my website at: Computer Problem Solutions

The most frustrating part of having Spyware on your computer is the sheer feeling of helplessness that is invoked. Your computer slows down, it no longer does what you instructed it to, it seems to have a mind of its own. You effectively have lost control of your computer. Spyware (also referred to as Adware or Malware) is software that is installed on your computer without your consent. Spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your keystrokes, which, in turn, could lead to identity theft.

Here are some of the symptoms that indicate Spyware is on a computer:

•a barrage of pop-up ads

•a hijacked browser — that is, a browser that takes you to sites other than those you type into the address box

•a sudden or repeated change in your computer’s Internet home page

•new and unexpected toolbars

•new and unexpected icons on the system tray at the bottom of your computer screen

•keys that don’t work (for example, the “Tab” key that might not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)

•random error messages

•sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs or saving files

Follow these precautions in order to help prevent Spyware installation:

•Update your operating system and Web browser software. Your operating system (like Windows or Linux) may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system that Spyware could exploit.

•Download free software only from sites you know and trust. It can be appealing to download free software like games, peer-to-peer file-sharing programs, customized toolbars, or other programs that may change or customize the functioning of your computer. Be aware, however, that some of these free software applications bundle other software, including Spyware.

•Don’t install any software without knowing exactly what it is. Take the time to read the end-user license agreement (EULA) before downloading any software. If the EULA is hard to find — or difficult to understand — think twice about installing the software.

•Minimize “drive-by” downloads. Make sure your browser security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized downloads, for example, at least the “Medium” setting for Internet Explorer. Keep your browser updated.

•Don’t click on any links within pop-up windows. If you do, you may install Spyware on your computer. Instead, close pop-up windows by clicking on the “X” icon in the title bar.

•Don’t click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware software. Some software offered in spam actually installs Spyware.

•Install a personal firewall to stop uninvited users from accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if Spyware already on your computer is sending information out.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author’s biography remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

Spyware protection software is the easiest way of removing spyware from your computer and keeping it away. It detects and removes all pieces of spyware and adware automatically. Spyware is extremely difficult to remove manually and should only be removed with spyware protection software.

Spyware protection software is designed to not only get rid of spyware viruses but will shield you and your computer from destructive hackers, data thieves, malicious e-mail attachments, and other emerging Internet threats. It keeps these dangerous viruses from getting into your computer in the first place.

You might be asking if there are free spyware cleaners available why would you want to purchase spyware protection software. The free spyware cleaners are good programs to get rid of spyware viruses you already have on your computer now. But how much of your personal information, passwords and even credit card numbers did these programs send out before they were removed?

Also, many spyware programs automatically reinstall themselves even after they are removed. So you have a false sense of security because the hacker designed the spyware program to start right back up again. Free spyware cleaners should be a warning to you and not a permanent solution to solve spyware and adware problems.

Spyware protection software is designed to find all of these hidden programs and disable them before they have a chance to work. It is the best way of removing spyware and adware from your computer and keeping it away. Whether you take our recommendations or someone else’s it’s important that you get spyware protection software installed immediately.

Spyware dangers have become so common, they have now moved ahead of viruses as the number one danger facing computer users today. It’s worth a little time and a little cost now to invest into quality spyware protection software. Your personal information and computer are at risk until you do.

Copyright © 2005 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved

This article is provided by http://www.spyware-information.com where you will find free spyware cleaners, downloads, removal software, valuable tips and updated articles about adware and spyware removal programs to protect your identity. For other informative spyware and adware articles go to http://spyware-information.com/articles_1.html

When you signed up for that ultra-fast DSL or Cable connection there was probably one very important piece of information that your ISP failed to mention. By accessing the Internet via a high-speed connection, you have tremendously increased your chances of being victimized by a computer hacker.

Dial-up may not have seemed like it could have held any advantages, but it actually did have one upside. It is much less prone to hacking. Every time you dialed-in your computer was assigned a new IP address. That unique IP address made you a moving target that was more difficult for hackers to hit.

With a high-speed connection you are assigned a static IP address (it never changes). So, your computer went from being a moving target to staying still with a bulls-eye pasted on the side. That, coupled with the fact that with a high-speed connection your computer is always online, are ideal conditions for a potential hacker attack. That seemingly beneficial always-on connection gives hackers a 24/7 open invitation to try and hack your system. Once inside they can access personal or financial details, compromise your computer’s operating system, or unleash a virus, worm, or spyware.

Which Firewall is Right For You?

Now that you know how vital a firewall is to the protection of your PC you have to decide which firewall is right for you. Software or hardware.

A software firewall is designed to monitor your computers activity at all times. Think of it as a bodyguard who won’t let anyone into your computer if he doesn’t like the look of them. With a software firewall you may to have to assist in protecting your system. The firewall might alert you to certain activity and ask you if you want to grant or deny permission. It’s just like the bodyguard that was mentioned before. He needs the okay before telling someone to scram. After you give either the thumbs up or the thumbs down the firewall will take the appropriate action and remember your reply so that you won’t be asked in the future.

If you feel comfortable installing and configuring hardware, then you might want to consider a hardware firewall in the form of a Cable/DSL router. The hardware firewall handles everything on its own without any input from you and you also won’t have to read any reports or make any decisions. The firewall handles everything on its own. Installation, however, can be tricky, so this option is definitely more suited to the advanced computer user.

My Firewall is Installed. Now I’m Safe, Right?

With your new firewall in place you are probably thinking that your computer is impenetrable, right? Well, maybe not. As important to the security of your system as a firewall is, some do have their limits. Most software firewalls won’t scan your system for viruses that can harm your computer and there aren’t any hardware firewalls on the market that offer virus protection. That means that you are still vulnerable to attack.

The best line of defense against viruses that can harm your system is anti-virus protection.You can either buy a seperate anti-virus program or shop around for a software firewall with anti-virus protection built-in. You may never be able to make your computer 100% hacker-proof, but the installation of a firewall coupled with anti-virus protection will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a hacker’s next victim.

About The Author

Heather Wallace is a writer whose work has been published in national, regional, and online publications. Additionally, she has written articles as a newspaper correspondent. Visit http://www.fetchingsites.com/FreeFirewall.html to download a free firewall that is easy-to-use and will block hackers and other unknown threats.

There has not been a time in the history of the personal computer that firewalls and anti-virus programs have been more necessary and in-demand. Today, personal computer security is not only threatened by viruses and worms, but also by spyware – those severely annoying programs that are illegally loaded onto your computer from the internet. Spyware programs can seriously undermine the operating structure of your computer, as well as make you vulnerable to identity theft and other criminal activities. Firewalls, long since a staple in the corporate world for defending large, expensive internal intranets or other networks, has now come into its own as a tool for personal computer owners as well. Your home computer is just as susceptible – if not more so – to online attacks, so why should it not be protected?

What is a firewall, anyway?

For those of you who may not be as versed in the pc security lingual as some, we offer here a fairly simple definition. A firewall is a collection of security programs that act to block unauthorized users from gaining access to a particular computer network (or single computer). Most firewalls also comprehensively monitor and report the data transfers between the network and the outside internet environment. Thus, they are quite effective in keeping your computer or network safe, allowing you to access the internet without taking a high security risk.

Sygate Personal Firewalls

There are few highly reputable firewall providers out there, and Sygate is certainly one of them. Here we go over some of the features of the Sygate line firewalls, so that you may choose the best one for your pc or server.

Sygate currently offers two main personal firewalls: the Sygate Personal Firewall (SPF) and the Sygate Personal Firewall Plus (SPFP). The major differences between the two are the advanced features you will only find on the SPFP. With the Plus version you will get VPN support, intrusion detection system (IDS), active reponse, and anti-mac, anti-ip spoofing. Both versions of the software come with the material that any pc user should really make sure they have: the main "application" firewall, intrusion alarm system, attacker tracing system, and security policy customization. These features are what are really necessary for a firewall to protect your home computer. The firewall needs to be able to block outsiders from gaining access to your computer, and they need to alert you when an attack has been attempted (or is in progress). Considering that the SPF is essentially free to download, and contains the elements you really need, this is the application we recommend for home pc users. For small business networks, the more advanced features offered by the Sygate Personal Firewall Plus is certainly worth the $40.00 pricetag. Both options are solid firewall applications and can be highly trusted to perform well on nearly any system.

Norton Personal Firewalls

Sygates closest competition in the area of personal firewall is Norton. Norton anti-virus programs are very well known, and have largely carried the brand over the last decade. Although less well known, Norton offers a powerful and comprehensive firewall program for home pc owners. Norton Personal Firewall 2005 is similar to the Sygate Personal Firewall program mentioned above. Some of the neat features of this application include the Norton Privacy Control (which keeps information from being sent without your knowledge in email, instant messages, MS Office attachments, and various forms on the web, such as those you enter your credit card number in), and intrusion prevention system that automatically blocks suspicious incoming traffic (from hackers, etc.). If this product is anywhere near as well designed and engineered as the anti-virus programs from Norton, then it is definately worth a look. The software can be downloaded or ordered online for $49.

Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on personal firewalls, please visit our personal firewall webpage.

1)Spyware is on your system. Like it or not, statistically speaking, you probably have spyware on your machine right now. There are so many malicious programs floating around out there that one or two have bound to have gotten past all of your security settings. McAfee and Norton Anti Virus are both excellent programs, but even they can be beaten by the determined spyware makers and distributors. One recent computer repair man said, close to 80% of the machines that he services have spyware on them. I believe it. Spyware can be sneaky and it can install quietly without your knowledge. Your system probably has spyware on it; make sure it doesn’t corrupt your data files or worse.

2)Spyware attacks through certain programs. One program that seems to have been a magnet for spyware on my machine has been my browser (one that is distributed by a major computer comapany). Maybe I didn’t update my security settings or maybe they were not strong enough but somehow, somewhere, my previous browser seems to have been vulnerable to spyware attacks. Switching to an open source browser (FireFox) was like night and day. Firefox hasn’t seemed to let any spyware install itself so far. I switched about 6 months ago. If you haven’t tried Firefox, you might consider downloading a trial copy.

3)You need to get some form of protection against spyware. There are all sorts of companies out there claiming to have the magic cure for spyware. Some work fantastically, some don’t work as well. Finding the spyware removal “silver bullet” isn’t as hard as it seems, but it does take some work and a little bit of research. I use several programs on my new machine that I am typing this on. The hardest part is getting spyware off of your machine once it is installed, so you don’t want it to get on your machine to begin with. Using the right type of browser (as mentioned above) is one of the best ways to insure you don’t have to spend a lot of time cleaning your machine.

This article may be freely reproduced and distributed as long it is not altered and the link below is kept live.

To watch a free video about spyware, visit http://www.spyware-tutorial.com and learn how to protect your computer today.

I am in the midst of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. “The basis of optimism is sheer terror.” With that attitude, I praise their skills only for the mere sake of not wanting them to defile mine, or my business.

I am talking about hackers, crackers, phreakers, and those pesky buggers that throttle our lives daily with Spam, new Trojans, e-mail containing viruses, and worms. And what about pop-ups? How many people do you know that like them? Do they benefit your business, or merely slow down your production?

Did you install that “My Search” or “HotBar” toolbar on purpose?” Did you know that there are programs on your PC that direct advertisements to your screen? Purify your system and live free within your private network.

SPYWARE

Based on where you go while browsing the World Wide Web, companies collect information and direct advertisements to your computer in accordance with the material that you peruse. That kind of programming is called Spyware. And it scares me! Not that I have anything to hide “Big Brother.” And to think 1984 was 20 years ago.

Spyware is put in your computer to secretly gather information about you and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in your computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program. Spyware is often installed as an addition to free software you downloaded from the Internet (like Kazaa, shhhh…)

Not to forget ADWARE…

You must have agreed to the download and installation. That is the only difference. Read the fine print next time you install an application. You will be surprised by what you have agreed to.

I serviced a small office recently that had so much junk programming on their systems that their users literally could not work on them. As soon as they turned on their computer, they were flooded with pop-ups and their e-mail was drenched with spam. They were desperate. A good hour per PC, and they were back in operation. But when it comes to e-mail, enough Spam can permanently ruin an account.

SPAM, eggs, spam and more spam

Spammers typically send a piece of e-mail to a distribution list in the millions, expecting that only a tiny number of readers will respond to their offer. Please do not respond! Like the telemarketers that call every night during dinner, do we like this stuff people? I wonder, do the people who send Spam ever get Spam?

Are you tired of these problems yet? There are ways to minimize the pain.

RULES

Number 1: Do not use peer-to-peer file sharing applications at work. Kazaa, Morpheus, BearShare… They will only get your computer in trouble.

Number 2: Stay far away from Internet Browser enhancing toolbars. Less is more. And regardless of what they tell you, they do sell your information to advertisers.

Number 3: Never sign up for anything with your business e-mail address. If you do, read the small print. You are probably agreeing to have your address distributed to various marketing companies, which as a result, will get you Spammed.

TO CONCLUDE

There are many more basic guidelines to follow, and if done so, you will have cleared another minefield in keeping your business productive. Cleanse your systems regularly. If you don’t know how, hire someone to show you. A simple, low cost maintenance plan will save you a bundle of hassle and pave the way to network reliability.

All past articles written by Greg Richburg are available at http://www.netricks.com/news. Please address article suggestions to: info@netricks.com. Greg Richburg a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and the owner of Netricks, Inc. for wed design adn hosting, and KlickCommerce for Internet Marketing Strategies. Please visit http://www.klickcommerce.com/.

There are several basic concepts to keep in mind when deciding to stay spyware free for good. This article will outline a spyware checklist for you to keep in mind when getting tough on spyware and taking back control of your computer using two popular free applications, Ad-Aware,and Spybot - S&D. Using these two programs in conjunction will eliminate a vast majority of spyware problems from your computer. For the purposes of this article, "spyware" refers also to adware, malware, and other not-so-nice "features" of today’s computing reality.

These are some tell-tale warning signs that your computer may be suffering from spyware-

· You receive many pop-ups

· Your computer is running slowly

· You may have invasive toolbars hijacking your browser

· Your home page may have been hijacked

Your first step to escaping spyware’s wrath is to download and run Ad-Aware and Spybot - S&D, the two leading spyware fighting tools out there, boasting millions of downloads each. Please remember it’s always safest to backup your system before installing a new program or executing one. After downloading the two programs, be sure to run the update feature to be sure they are current when it comes to detecting the latest threats. Remove the detected spyware using these two programs, then move to step two.

The second step in staying spyware free involves you to be proactive. At this point your computer should be free from spyware. What you want to do now is keep it this way, to do that there are helpful tips to guide you. In Windows 98 you can use msconfig to view the startup programs on your computer. This is helpful because you can control what programs automatically load when you boot your computer. To access this invaluable tool, go to START >> RUN, type MSCONFIG. If you check the startup programs occasionally you may see a new spyware entry that will alert you it’s time to clean out the spyware again.

The third step involves your web browsing habits. It means you must never click on an activex screen that asks you if you want to allow an innocuous looking toolbar, or "surfing aid"be installed. By clicking "allow" you are effectively giving these perfidious spyware authors free reign over your system and personal information. If possible you should surf with the security settings on "maximum" for safest surfing.

In summary, it’s important to avoid spyware for your computer and personal identity health. To do so, use free tools available to you and be mindful of your computer settings and surf the Internet responsibly. Following these easy steps will ensure a safe and spyware free existence for you and your computer!

Written by Erich Bihlman, of Bihlman Consulting - PC and Internet Tutoring and Website Design in Prescott, Arizona. Bihlman.com. For additional helpful articles visit IQZone

Spyware and adware are becoming major problems for online surfers and PC owners. Some highly respected sources such as AOL, Earthlink and Webroot place the rate of infection at 80-90% of all computers. Granted, some of this percentage is taken up by relatively benign tracking cookies, but other types like keyword logging, system monitors, worms and Trojans present a major threat to your privacy and may even do serious damage to your computer.

With the occurrences of Spyware increasing daily, chances are high that you will be going into battle against Spyware very soon — so if you need a battle plan — Try these 5 Tips:

1. Go on the offensive. Fight spyware before it even arrives on your computer. Make sure you have a good ‘anti-virus software’ program running on your PC. Many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) now offer anti-virus programs or even purchasing a commercial product is to your advantage. Get a program or product that is regularly updated to fend off the latest viruses, adware, worms, trojans and spyware.

2. Put up a Firewall. A Firewall should be one of your first lines of defense against spyware. A Firewall is simply a system or gateway designed to prevent unauthorized access to your computer or network. Check out www.zonealarm.com, they provide a free Firewall for individual users. Download their program and place it on your PC.

3. Don’t open Emails and Attachments from people you don’t know. Use common sense, DON’T open any emails from people you don’t know. Especially, do not open any Attachments until they are scanned for spyware and viruses. Many mail servers will do these scans for free.

4. Keep Your Operating System Up to Date. Be aware of what’s on your system — do regular spyware and adware scans to see exactly what’s on your computer. Know your machine! You may be horrified to learn someone may be monitoring your every ‘keystroke’ and every ‘image’ you’ve viewed on your computer. So scan regularly and also make sure you download the newest updates from your Operating System; these often contain patches or fixes for serious breaches of security on your PC.

5. Back-up Your System. If all the above steps fail, nothing is foolproof, any computer that uses the Internet can be hacked, so you need to back- up your important data. You can use floppy disks, CDs or use a second computer that’s not connected to the net just for storage or back-up of your sensitive data/programs. An inexpensive notebook computer can be used to make daily/weekly back-ups of your vital data and programs.

In conclusion, the best defense against any spyware is a strong offense. Be prepared, be aware, but most of all, be battle-ready: have a system in place that will nuke these spyware agents before they even reach your computer. Choose your weapons carefully, be merciless, be thorough and take no prisoners! This is a battle you can’t afford to lose.

Implement and Use these 5 helpful ‘Spyware Fighting’ tips and the Victory is yours!

To learn more Spyware and Adware, read our Spyware Removal Guide

Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins of http://www.bizwaremagic.com.

This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Spyware is software that runs on a personal computer without the knowledge or consent of the owner of that computer. The Spyware then collects personal information about the user or users of the infected computer. The personal information collected is usually the name of the user; the users email address, Websites visited, online shopping habits, as well as various other information about the user.

Spyware is also sometimes known as Scumware, and Adware. Although Adware is slightly different in that the makers claim that the users are aware that they are collecting information about the user. Sometimes this is true, other times it is not. Many times these terms are used interchangeably because many feel that they present the same problems. This however goes to the definition of what Spyware is, making it sometimes difficult to combat from a legal standpoint. This is generally due to how Adware works in that the user downloads a program that they feel is useful for some reason and, that program also collects user information as described above. Although the government is currently taking steps to protect users from these programs it is a slow process because of the current definitions.

Once this information is collected, the Spyware then can send your personal information to advertisers that will then send you targeted advertisements through annoying popups, and spam in your email. They can also hijack your web browser and redirect you to a page that they want you to see with their advertising targeted to you through your personal information. This redirecting is sophisticated enough to notice what you are attempting to purchase on one site and can redirect you to another site with the same or similar products so that you make the purchase through them.

In addition to the problems of "stealing" your personal information, Spyware runs in the background on your computer using up valuable system resources. This is a major cause of your PC “running slow.”

The statistics are 9 of 10 computers connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. This could probably be taken a step further to say all PC’s connected to the internet are infected with some type of Spyware. The reason for this is because all of the best Anti-Spyware software on the market today can only stop software that it knows or recognizes as Spyware. These Spyware killers work in a way similar to Anti-Virus software and need to be updated on a regular basis to be effective.

Spyware is also a large cause of popups occurring on your computer as well. Popups are messages that “pop up” onto your computer screen generally through your internet browser. These popups can be reduced and at times stopped completely by using a web browser other than IE (Internet Explorer) such as Firefox by Mozilla.org and Opera located at:

http://www.mozilla.org/
http://opera.com/

Both are adept at stopping popups from occurring. If you choose to use one of these browsers be sure to periodically check for updates to get the best protection available.

One of the ways to defend against Spyware is to use a third party firewall. Although the current version of Windows XP comes with a firewall it is not effective at stopping Spyware as of this writing. Third party firewalls can block unwanted traffic from passing to and from the internet to your computer. Some of the better third party firewalls listed below are:

• Kerio Personal Firewall

• ZoneAlarm Firewall

• Sygate Firewall

Kerio Personal Firewall can be downloaded from its Website at the following URL:

http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html

Although they have a limited free version it does not provide the same level of protection as the paid version does. I would recommend the paid version of their firewall at $45.00. Next there is ZoneAlarm which is perhaps one of the more recognized firewall around. You can get the free version for non business users at the following URL:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/
znalm/freeDownload.jsp

business users can get the paid version here http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Sygate also has a good firewall that is available for $39.95 available at the URL:

http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_pro.htm

Firewalls are effective at stopping many Spyware programs as well as other potential problems but they are not a cure all. To be more effective you will want to use Anti-Spyware software along with your firewall.

Some of the top Anti-Spyware programs are Webroot Spy Sweeper which you can buy for $29.95 and Spyware Doctor also $29.95, Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition which is free. Also free is Spybot Search and Destroy. All are good and considered some of the best at Spyware detection and removal. All four of these programs can be downloaded at download.com at URL:

http://www.download.com/spyware-center/2001-2023_4-0.html

You can also use the above URL for additional information about Spyware.

Also available now is the Microsoft beta version of its Spyware blocker.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyID=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en

Unfortunately there are also some very unscrupulous people out there who will purposefully cause your computer problems if you use their software. This software will often “miss” or “overlook” some Spyware leaving it unsuspectingly on your computer. Worse yet, some of these supposed Anti-Spyware programs will actually place Spyware onto your computer as well. Some of these programs are Spyblaster, Spyware Assasin, as well as many others. The best way to check to see if you are using an Anti-Spyware program that fits into this category is to visit The following URL:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

If you are using any of the programs in this listing you should remove it immediately and use one of the known good programs such as the ones I listed above to check your computer.

You can also keep up to date and learn more about the on going threat of Spyware by visiting the following websites.

http://www.ftc.gov/infosecurity/

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/spyware

http://spywareinfo.com/

http://spywarewarrior.com/

Copyright © Keith Erwood, 2005 All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

Keith Erwood, is an author, and head consultant and owner of Dyanmic Network Technologies a computer consulting and services business located in New York City.

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