Removing Spyware from Your Computer

As you install and uninstall various programs it is possible your computer might have become infected with spyware, thus slowing it down.

If you buy a newer computer in place of the older one, it takes no time for the newer system to also become slower. If you use Task Manager on your Windows system, you could possibly see several processes running on your system that you may doubt whether they are what you intended to run in the first place. While this is scary, with unknown processes taking control of your computer, you only need to understand the importance of being spyware-free to get the maximum performance out of your computer.

When spyware or malware unwittingly find a place in your computer, it becomes possible for other users (possibly malicious hackers) to do things like reading your email or even checking your bank accounts or credit history without your knowledge. But you can still take steps to protect yourself from the onslaught, should your system become the victim of such malware or spyware.

Searches for what spyware applications really are, on the Internet, throws open interesting findings. They are programs or files that hide on your system hard drive without your knowledge or connivance. These programs are usually designed to monitor your computer and Internet habits, the sites you visit, where you spend your money on, etc. Sometimes they can be malicious too, hacking into your personal email or draining off your bank accounts. Some can even record your credit card number, social security number, as you type them online in various websites. Spyware can also be used to redirect calls from your dial-up modem to premium rate 900 numbers thereby inflating your phone bills. This is only a representative list of the harm that spyware can inflict upon you.

Use of spyware usually goes along with identity theft. Statistics of victims of identity theft put the figure at 27 million Americans in one year alone. This proves spyware is a huge problem for many computer users, as it is for you and me.

With the proliferation of Internet usage, it is very easy for your computer to be infected with spyware. Many downloadable games, screensavers, utility programs also include a hidden Spyware or Adware module. Designed to track your spending habits, they may be innocuous or even harmful. Simple actions such as clicking on a pop up ad may also end up infecting your system.

No matter how we get spyware, here are 10 real reasons why you don't want spyware on your computer.

1. Your computer starts becoming slower

2. Some of the programs on the computer do not run as intended.

3. New programs get installed on your computer that you may never have installed yourself - such as unwanted Internet toolbars and email plugins.

In addition, you also have cause for concern that:

4. Someone may be able to read your e-mails

5. Someone may be able to access your contact lists

6. Someone may be able to track the keystrokes you type (keyloggers)

7. Someone may be able to access your credit card information

8. Someone may be able to access the passwords list on your computer

9. Someone may be able to steal your social security number

10. Someone may be able to track all your Internet activity.

Most of the spyware programs resist being uninstalled, and usually are successful installing themselves again. What may have seemed like a simple utility to track weather or to safeguard passwords when downloaded, may have brought in unwanted guest programs which just refuse to go away from your computer. Often times you end up with a corrupt and slow system because of these "bugs".

To get rid of spyware and malware, its important to run a program like SpyBot Search & Destroy. This needs to be run at regular intervals. Most of these programs are freeware or shareware. Some websites also allow you to do the process of spyware detection and removal entirely online.