Users frequently notice unwanted behavior and degradation of system performance. This is generally the sign of a spyware infestation. These can create significant unwanted CPU activity, disk usage, and network traffic. Removing viruses and spyware completely can be time-consuming and require a degree of technical expertise. On the other hand, ill-considered panic measures can cause more damage than a virus. So that is why it is best to use a trusted software to guard your system from new spyware and remove any existing spyware that may already be present on the system.
Spyware generally enter your PC via infected websites or through some software you downloaded. It may also be present in a zip archive attached to your email. The best way to protect yourselves from these are by using a spyware remover that has an active guard function.
The owners of most of the sites that are infected don't even know about it and consider that their site is working properly but infact with every load of their site they are infecting a new visitor. Sites need help from everyone to stay current. If you find any spyware or unlabeled adware on sites that care about such things, please contribute to the Privacy cause by sending a polite note to the site owner explaining how you found a spyware in their site. Again, this can only be done if you have a spyware scanner with an active guard function. When an infected site loads up, the spyware guard will know of the incoming infection. It will stop the process and notify you, in turn you can notify the owner of that website so that he can get it fixed.
Removing these adware/shareware programs can be very difficult and sometimes complicated to search out all the hidden components and cookies and will require additional assistance. In addition, since most adware programs are bundled & included with other freeware or shareware programs removing the adware can disable the parent freeware program making them inoperable so be prepared to remove or replace the offending freeware program as well. Other signs of its presence are fake firewall notifications saying that your IP is interacting with another IP through Internet. Remove one autoplay entry for some of these products, restart the computer, and it will come right back. There are multiple starting points, all checking for and repairing each other, so that professional cleanup tools are needed to root out all the infected parts of the software at once.
A lot of people don't know the difference between a spyware, an adware and a malware. So it is important that you know the difference between the three. This will help you understand the infection better and will help you in the scanning and clean up process.
Spyware need no further explanation as it has been explained in detail already. Now adware on the other hand are not basically a threat. They are simply advertisement supported softwares. These are usually present in free softwares where the user "agrees" to install a program that is free and ad supported. These ads will only run in the program or while the software is running. Since the user agreed to have such a free software installed, this software cannot be classified as a thread. An example of adware software is the popular downloader DAP. While running DAP will display banner ads in a corner of its own window.
Malware is any program designed to cause problems with the normal use of a computer or for the user of that computer. Examples of malware include viruses, Trojan horse programs, and certain forms of hijacking spyware. Malware refers to more malicious programs that can rob your PC of its ability to run efficiently, and put you in danger of financial loss and even identity theft. The most harmful forms can collect, use and distribute your personal information, like banking passwords and credit card numbers.
About the Author
If you too are a spyware hater then you should check out my blog Spyware Haters. You can also download the software, SpyZooka from there.
