Tips on Protecting Your Computer from Intruders

Spyware can be defined as any software that secretly gathers user information without his or her knowledge, and delivers that information to a third party. Adware is also a form of a data miner, similar to spyware. Adware can be integrated into software, and is considered to go beyond the reasonable advertising one may expect. It is many times associated with freeware and shareware programs and apps, such as free 'toolbars', for the ability to track users' web activity, and target ads based on the information collected. Malware is any malicious software that is designed to damage, destroy, or disrupt the normal functioning of a computer system. Both spyware and adware are examples of malware, and are generally frowned upon by the common public.

Spyware and other forms of data mining software are one of the biggest threats to users' privacy and security of data. It is even a more of a danger to computer users as many people use their computer for the purposes of performing online banking, and making online transactions with their credit cards.

Cleverly, installed pieces of spyware and adware can also be used to collect personal information by hackers and thieves in the interests of stealing identity, also known as identity theft. Once spyware or adware installs itself on the system, they can send information back to a company detailing a users computer habits, including surfing habits, and can direct advertisements to a computer in the form of unwanted pop-ups, and URL redirection to sponsors. In some cases, other malicious software can be secretly downloaded without the user's permission or knowledge.

There are several ways that malicious files, including spyware, may enter your computer if it is vulnerable. They can accidentally be downloaded from a website, especially if the site is pornographic in nature. Another very common way of malware getting onto your system is if you download any free or pirated software. Since spyware can be imbedded in the installation process, by hackers and programmers, it is to no surprise that some files are potentially dangerous, especially if you obtain them from sketchy source. Downloading pirated software, you also run the risk of unwanted trojans infecting your computer, which are possibly undetectable by antivirus programs. Opening suspicious emails can also allow malicious software to enter you computer and make itself at home, so it is wise not to open emails if they look suspicious or you do not know the sender.

Besides the fact that spyware and other malware leave your computer vulnerable to data mining companies, hackers, and I.D thieves, they also affect the integrity of the computer system. A computer may suddenly start to lag or behave abnormally if it is bogged down with heavy spyware. The first steps to securing your PC, is to see if your computer seems to be faulty in any way.

For example, if your system has unexpectedly stared running very slowly, you experience unwanted pop-ups, your browser redirects you to strange websites, or if your system's tends to crash a lot, then it is highly likely that pieces of spyware are present on your machine.

To get a better understanding of what shape your computer is in, consider getting your computer a quick scan. You can do so without charge, and it is not too difficult to find a site where you can scan your system. Go to Google and type a phrase, for example: free spyware scan. Most free scanners will give you your results, but later ask you to pay before downloading the full license, or removal tool that can remove the spyware for you.

If your computer is running slowly, or there are obvious signs that spyware is present on your machine, it would be a good idea to invest your money in an anti-spyware program. If you are not ready to pay for anti-spyware software, there are a few options to take. For one, you can attempt to remove the files manually, if you are good at working around the computer, but this process can be time consuming and frustrating, especially if there is a lot of it. You may also consider a free anti-spyware removal tool, for example: Spybot: Search & Destroy, and Ad aware SE Personal, are to name a couple. The alternative methods are free, and alone may not be as efficient as the more costly methods, but together their effectiveness is much greater. When used in unison, they should rid your computer of any malware.

In some extreme cases, spyware can be heavily integrated into a system and use important system files to make removal very difficult. Even with the help of some anti-spyware utilities, it is not certain that all spyware can be destroyed.

In rare cases, you may need to wipe out your entire hard drive and reinstall everything depending on the severity of the problem. Hopefully you do not need to take it the extreme, and should consider the other method first before attempting to reformat the hard drive.

Of course, the best solution to keeping parasites from entering your system is not to download them in the first place. Only download from trusted sites, and if you are not sure, ask a knowledgeable person or research the program you wish to download on Google. Always read end-user agreements, privacy policies, and security warnings before installing anything on your computer.

Some ways to secure your computer from future attacks is installing a reliable firewall to prevent hackers and intruders from gaining access to your computer. Avoid shareware and freeware programs, and never download illegal or pirated software. You can also set your browsers security to high. For Internet Explorer, click on tools and then internet options. Direct to the security tab and set it to high for the best protection. The downfall to this is that some sites may be blocked.

If you are using Microsoft's Windows Xp, one way of preventing threats to your system is by keeping your software up to date. Microsoft issues security updates once a while, and it is in your best interest to download and install them if you are using Windows. You can go to http://update.microsoft.com/ to install critical security updates.

Essentially, your best bet is to obtain anti-spyware software, and scan your computer on a regular basis. Make sure that your definitions are up to date to ensure protection from the latest threats.