Spyware and Adware

Today’s computers are connected like never before. Broadband internet connections such as DSL and cable allow users to stay connected to the internet 24/7 enjoying high-speed access and fast, efficient downloads. But this always-on internet access has its risks too. Malicious programs can sneak onto your computer and perform all kinds of mischief.

By now, most computer users are savvy to the risks that computer viruses pose and have installed appropriate anti-virus programs to their systems. But what you may not realize is that a different type of malicious program has infiltrated the internet, spyware.

Spyware sneaks onto your system in numerous ways. One popular way is by hitching a ride with a downloaded program. Free “smilies”, cutesy wallpapers, free games, and other programs often come with a hidden payload, spyware.

These spyware programs can also be called adware depending on the nature of their agenda. Many track your computer surfing and searching habits in an effort to match your interests with targeted advertisements. A typical adware infection will manifest itself by generating tons of pop-up ads on your PC.

While ads are annoying, spyware can also be far more dangerous. Keyloggers are notorious programs that record your every keystroke and send the recordings back to a third party for analysis. These keyloggers aren’t after your love letters or recipes; they’re after your credit card information, bank account numbers, financial user IDs and passwords, and other sensitive financial information.

In addition to annoying you and robbing you blind, spyware and adware also adversely affects your computer. One surefire sign that you are infected is a noticeable loss of performance. If your PC takes forever to load and perform basic tasks, you are likely infected. It’s not unusual for an infected PC to have multiple spyware infections. Many spyware programs include a backdoor Trojan that facilitates the downloading of additional spyware programs. The snowball effect kicks in and before you know it, you are swamped with malicious programs.

The more programs you have running without your knowledge, using up resources, using bandwidth, and demanding memory and processing power, the worse your computer is going to respond. In addition, these programs can make dangerous system changes - some even disable security settings on your computer putting you at even greater risk.

To combat spyware and adware, you need a two-pronged approach. First, prevention is critical. Invest in a trusted anti-spyware program and keep it current.

Second, removal is a must. Your new anti-spyware will remove the existing programs however remnants may remain in the computer’s registry. Remember those dangerous system changes? Registry entries made by spyware programs sometimes get overlooked during the removal process. Oftentimes, spyware programs work in conjunction with other programs; when one detects the removal of entries from the registry, the other will kick into action and re-enter the information making it difficult to thoroughly remove the program.

Use your anti-spyware program in Safe Mode to try to thwart these attempts. A third party registry cleaning utility is necessary to ensure that the aftermath of your spyware infections gets cleaned up for good.

Once you’ve cleaned up the spyware and adware, you’ll notice your computer is performing like it should. Keep it that way by keeping it protected.