Spyware -- it is becoming an ever increasing problem for PC users worldwide. Spyware can generate and display advertisments for various products, change your system settings, and/or slow your computer down. But, besides being annoying spyware can also be harmful. Some spyware can also log key stroke on your computer and collect personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers. The first steps to preventing spyware and reducing its presence on your computer is to understand what it is and how to dectect if it is currently running on your computer. Other steps include removing this software and learning common practices which will reduce the posibility of getting infected at all.

Part I: What is Spyware?

Many experts define spyware as being a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent.

One type of spyware, which is generally called adware, typically tracks your online activities and displays advertisments. These advertisments can be specific to the particular adware that is running. Some common advertisements displayed by adware are for perscription drugs, pornography, work at home or get rich quick-type messages and for anti-spyware software. Other adware software can generate advertisments based on the information that is collected about your online activities.

There are several ways in which a computer can get infected with spyware. The most common way is by installing shareware and freeware utilities that bundle this additional software with it. Speaking of spyware that is bundled with other software, it is important to also mention that not all software that meets the definition stated above technically can be considered unsolicited. One of the most popular examples of how adware can be bundled with other utilities is WeatherBug, which offers a free version of weather software and comes wrapped in a skin that displays advertising. As the case with WeatherBug, many of these utilities require users to agree to have this advertising displayed in exchange for the free software.