What is spyware, and what is the best way to protect yourself from it?

Answer 1

Spyware is a hidden application running silently in your operating system (Windows). It collects information and sends it to the person who created it.

You can remove spyware by running AdAware by Lavasoft, a free tool.

Answer 2

Spyware is a very bad type of virus. The best way to protect yourself from it is to be very careful of what websites you go into and also don't open emails if you don't recognize the sender's address. If you do get spyware, you can download loads of free removers from the internet.

Answer 3

Spyware comprises a group of applications, some malicious and others just annoying. Advertising companies will sometimes use spyware to track what you do and serve targeted ads. Other spyware can be very dangerous, used by people to spy on your computer and potential steal data or impersonate your identity. Use spyware detectors and removal programs to get rid of them. Yahoo! Toolbar also has it, you just need to run the program.

Answer 4

Spyware: is apps or programs used to steal information, track your keystrokes, or monitor your surfing habits.

Resolution: Get Adaware SE, and Spybot Search and Destroy, use both, with one scanning at a time, and between the two, your chances of getting rid of spyware is improved tremendously. Spyware also, slows the PC down quite a bit.

Answer 5

SPYWARE is software surreptitiously installed on a hard disk without the user's knowledge that relays encoded information on his or her identity and Internet use via an Internet connection.

The best way to protect yourself from it is to buy Anti-Spyware software.

The two best Anti-Spyware software are STOPZilla (which can be downloaded) and McAfee Anti-Spyware (which can be purchased).

Answer 6

In the field of computing, the term spyware refers to a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user.

To fight it...Many programmers and some commercial firms have released products designed to remove or block spyware. Steve Gibson's OptOut, mentioned above, pioneered a growing category. Programs such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE and Patrick Kolla's Spybot - Search & Destroy rapidly gained popularity as effective tools to remove, and in some cases intercept, spyware programs. More recently Microsoft acquired the GIANT AntiSpyware software, rebadging it as Windows AntiSpyware beta and releasing it as a free download for Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows 2003 users.

Answer 7

Spyware is unwanted programs installed on your computer when you visit websites or from installation of other programs you may have bought.

Download spybot 1.4 and Lavasoft Ad-aware - both of which are free and will ged rid of most spyware.

Answer 8

a friend of mine got a new spyware remover program.... it was guaranteed 100% "No more spyware".... it removed windows.