SPYWARE: THE BEST DEFENDER OF YOUR COMPUTER
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Protecting your computer against malware using a good antivirus package that incorporates an antispyware solution is the best security measure to defend your privacy. Spyware is a common variety of malware that collects information about you and your computing habits, often without your knowledge.
What is spyware?
There are several types of spyware:
Domestic, such as that which is often legitimately used in
the work environment to control computer use or that which allows parents to
monitor the use of their children's mobile phones. Applications that track your
mobile phone in case of loss or theft are another example of legitimate home
spyware.
Surveillance, collects your personal information and send
it to third party. This information can include credentials like your passwords
and credit card details.
Adware, or commercial spyware, that collects information
about you to personalize the advertising you see. It can also bombard you with
advertising in the form of pop-ups or as internal ads in your mobile
applications.
Keylogger, which records the keys you press on your
computer and sends them to a third party. This especially nasty form of spyware
can capture your login credentials, banking information, and other sensitive
information.
Where does spyware come from?
The spyware mobile or computer usually end up in devices
users when they download games or applications that contain adware. Free
applications are especially prone to adware, which does not mean that paid ones
are exempt by definition. The most worrying thing is that most of the time the
user does not give his express consent for the adware to collect information
about him, nor does he have any control over the information that is collected.
Spyware risk is also in downloading and installing.
Sometimes spyware is part of the installation package and if you simply accept
the information as is, without verifying exactly what you are going to install,
you may end up introducing spyware on your computer. In addition, clicking a
pop-up ad may trigger a spyware download.
Spyware can bombard you with advertising to unbearable
extremes, change your search results so that you see more ads, or overwhelm you
with pop-up ads.
Spyware
removal
A powerful antispyware solution can make spyware removal
easier and ensure that this malicious
software is completely eradicated. After running the antispyware solution,
monitor your system operations. Check the processes, be aware of what programs
are running, and make sure the firewall is configured correctly.
With regard to your mobile devices, monitor the use of data
to verify that it corresponds to your expectations and the previous verified
use. Any deviation from the expected usage may suggest the presence of spyware.
Battery life is another good indicator, since less autonomy indicates that more
processes are running than expected.
Top
tips to avoid spyware
· Install
an antispyware solution that runs in the background, but run it whenever
necessary if you suspect that spyware may have entered your computer.
· Before
installing software, applications, toolbars or add-ons, do a preliminary survey
and read both professional and user reviews to see if there are any complaints
about adware or spyware surreptitiously added to the download.
· Download
software from trusted sites. While this is not a foolproof measure, it is much
safer than downloading from sites you've never heard of.
· Block
pop-ups and never press anything other than the "X" to close them.
Sometimes just clicking anywhere in the pop-up window will produce unwanted
effects.
· Keep
your browser up to date to ensure that you have the latest security updates. In
addition, you can configure the security settings of your browser so that the
security levels are higher.
After installing any new programs, check your settings,
browser operation, and processes. Always determine if the software works as
expected. Pay attention to persistent software, often an unmistakable sign of
spyware. If the software stays open after closing it, run your antispyware
solution to verify it.
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