You notice that your computer performance gets slower and slower. You
have plenty of disk space, a good deal of memory, and it's a relatively
new computer - yet it takes forever to open a file or perform the
simplest task. You may be overrun with Spyware.
Spyware is used to collect data from your computer to create a profile
about your web habits and preferences. This information can then be
used to target the ads you see on web pages, pop-ups, etc. Spyware can
also be used for gathering more personal information, including your
account names and possibly even passwords.
But you say you didn't load any Spyware? Often, Spyware is bundled in
with other software that you DID intentionally install - it's just that
the "spyware" portion of the install isn't necessarily obvious to you.
Remember the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) that pops up when you
install software? Most of us click "I accept" without ever reading the
EULA. Somewhere, in very fine print within that legal information, is
the notice that Spyware is being installed. Sometimes there is an
option to install without the Spyware coming along for the ride.
Sometimes there's no mention of it being installed at all.
What can you do to prevent spyware from being installed? Not much. But
there are programs that you can install that detect spyware, alert you
when it's attempting to install itself, and can clean it off. Two such
programs are listed below.