Detangling the Web--Beware Spyware
Did you know that most major Web sites--some of them popular and respected Web sites--download unwanted spyware on your computer when you visit? At its most benign level, spyware is used by Web sites to track your browsing and purchasing habits....
Preventing Malicious Spyware or Adware from Hijacking Your Computer
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it had used existing fair trade laws in asking a federal court to shut down some of the leading distributors of malicious “spyware” or “adware” software. This type of malicious software may be lumped...
Detect, Protect, Dis-infect
Consumers Online Face Wide Choices in Security Products, Anti-Virus, Firewall, Spyware, and Adware Products are discussed.
Consumers Online Face Wide Choices in Security Products With new threats to computer security and data...
Why Use Antivirus Software?
This is a really simple question to answer – you need to use antivirus software to protect your own computer, and to prevent your computer from being used to pass on infections to other machines without your knowledge. If you use the internet...
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Spyware Links
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Beware of Spyware
Countering Privacy Invasions of Spyware
Digital Espionage : Spyware
How to Stop Spyware from Infecting your System
Identifying Spyware
Is Spyware Slowing Your Computer Down To A Crawl?
Less Stress and More Success
Secure Your PC In 7 Steps And Only Using Free Software While Not Missing The One Critical Piece Of Free Software That's Been Overlooked By Many.
Spyware: The New Cancer
The question of spy-ware and junk on the internet
The Top 5 Effective and Cheap Security Solutions (All Under $30.00!)
Spyware & Adware, the only way to really stop it, and it's free!
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Spyware versus Adware; the Difference Impacts Your Privacy
Written by: Sharron Senter
Many people use the terms Spyware and Adware interchangeably. You shouldn't! There are important differences between the two. True, both terms refer to the act of tracking your computer activity, such as how long you visited a particular Web site.
However, the key difference is the intent behind how and why a business collects your information. Adware is commonly associated with pop-up advertisements used by businesses trying to sell you something. However, Spyware, the more malicious of the two, isn't trying to sell you, instead, it's trying to take something from you -- your credit card and social security numbers and bank account information. Some Spyware collects information about you and, if placed in the wrong hands, could be detrimental to your financial wellbeing and used to steal your identity. Adware is usually something you can see. Whereas Spyware often can't be seen, in fact, businesses behind Spyware don't want you to know they're lurking. Therefore, you may have a Spyware infection and not know it. One vicious Spyware is keylogging, a tool that hangs about in the background, logging your keystrokes, including account numbers and passwords you type on your keyboard, and then sends the information to the originating source.
Future of Spyware
Spyware will only become more invasive with no concern for your privacy, regardless of what you want or think. Worse, no one piece of software will protect you from the above. Why? One belief is that there are far more research dollars being spent on developing Spyware than combating it, since the information derived from the former is more lucrative.
Protecting Yourself
There are two methods to protect yourself, both are equally important.
1. Manage your computer usage behavior. If you download most anything for free - movies, software, music, etc., then you can anticipate being exposed to highly aggressive forms of Spyware.
2. Utilize anti-spyware software programs and a hardware firewall. Both help to fend off Spyware. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware se and Microsoft's AntiSpyware (Beta) programs are reputable.
About the Author
Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks' technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com None
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