Spyware infections are one of the major set backs with online surfing. You can be doing your own thing surfing the Internet and someone else can be following your every move without your knowledge. Spyware has become extremely dangerous as it monitors your online habits and can steal private information. This article will talk a little more about spyware and how to prevent spyware from getting onto your computer.
What is spyware?
Spyware is tracking software that secretly monitors a user’s habits and activities on the Internet. It is usually a hidden application that is downloaded and installed on the computer through an Internet connection. It can slow down the performance of your computer, bring unsolicited and annoying pop ups, and when really malicious forms are found they can steal personal and private information for third party use. Although most of the spyware software used is mainly for advertising purposes there are some very dangerous forms of it around as well.
How to detect spyware
There are several ways you can detect spyware:
- If you see continuous pop up ads while surfing the net and especially if you’re not even online you may have spyware on your computer.
- If your browser settings have been automatically changed and you can’t get them back you may have spyware on your PC. One example of this may be that your regular home page when you connect to the internet is all of a sudden different and you can’t get it changed back.
- Other browsers have additional components you know that you’ve never installed.
- The ability of your computer’s operating system is performing much slower than it normally does.
These are just a few of the things that spyware can affect on your computer.
How to prevent spyware from getting on your computer
There some simple things you can do to keep spyware from getting onto your computer; spyware blockers if you will. Here are some tips to keeping spyware off your computer:
Tip #1: Use a firewall
As spyware can attack your privacy and slow down the performance of your computer using a good firewall program is a good way to block spyware from getting onto your computer in the first place.
Tip #2: Keep your system updated
Another way to block spyware from getting on your computer is to perform continuous updates on your operating system. You can do this easily by going to start, settings, control panel, and double clicking on the updates icon.
Tip #3: Install an Anti Spyware program
There are several different options available to users when it comes to blocking spyware. Some software programs are free and will do an ok job of getting rid of simple spyware programs. Other spyware blockers you can pay for and will usually do a much better job at getting rid of simple and complex forms of spyware.
So there are some tips on how to prevent spyware from getting on your computer and what to look for if you’re not sure if you already have spyware on your operating system. Prevention is definitely the best method to keeping spyware off your computer.