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Spyware is any program which secretly gathers user information through the user's internet connection without the user's knowledge. This program may be hidden as a component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the internet. The spyware then transmits the information to someone else. This information is used for many reasons. Some spyware is used strictly for marketing data collection, gathering and transmitting that information on to someone else. Spyware software may be installed legitimately to monitor security or workplace monitoring, and may be installed to maliciously violate the integrity of your computer. Personal information is secretly recorded through many techniques, including logging keystrokes, recording internet web browsing activity, and scanning documents on the computer's hard drive. Purposes range from criminal (theft of passwords and financial information) to the collection of marketing research for targeted advertising. The spread of spyware has led to the development of anti-spyware programs. Its products remove or disable the existing spyware on the computer and prevent installation of any new program. However, a number of companies have added a form of spyware into their products. These are not considered malware (or malicious software) but still monitor for advertising purposes. They are still spyware and it is debatable whether this is a legitimate use of adware/spyware and malware since the user often has no knowledge that these programs have been installed. The user then is unaware of the infringement on their privacy. These programs still use the resources of your computer without your permission. The first recorded use of spyware was on October 16, 1995 in a Usenet post that poked fun at Microsoft's business model. It first was considered hardware for theft purposes. In 2000 it was the term used in a press release for a personal firewall. Since then spyware has taken on its present definition. In 2001 Steve Gibson of Gibson Research realized that advertising software had been installed in his system stealing personal information. He determined the source was adware and he developed the first anti-spyware program, OptOut. Many anti-spyware programs have been written since then. According to a 2005 study by AOL and others, 61% of surveyed users' computers had some form of spyware on them. 92% of surveyed users with spyware reported that they did not know of its presence and 91% reported that they had not given permission for the installation of the program. In 2006 it was found that spyware had become one of the worse security threats to computer systems running Microsoft Windows operating systems. In an estimate based on customer information, 9 out of 10
computers connected to the internet are infected. Windows Internet Explorer is the primary browser attacked because it is the most widely used program and allows spyware access to important parts of the operating system. In a few cases, a worm or virus will deliver spyware. Some attackers used Spybot worm to install spyware which put pornographic pop-ups on the infected system's screen. The program can also come with shareware or other downloadable programs as well as music CDs. The software initially installed may do no harm, but the spyware does. In some cases spyware authors have paid shareware programmers to bundle with their software. In other cases the programmers have repackaged free software with installers to add spyware. Another way of distributing spyware is by tricking the user by changing the security features designed to prevent unwanted downloads. Internet Explorer has a user section where you must click on a link to download in order to prevent websites from starting an unauthorized download. Then a pop-up may appear as a standard Windows dialog box. The box asks "would you like to optimize your Internet access". This box contains buttons asking yes or no. Whichever you choose, the download will start placing spyware on your computer. Some spyware programmers infect a system through security holes in the Web browser or in other software. When you navigate on a web page controlled by the spyware author, the page may contain a code which attacks the browser, forcing the download and installation of the software. The spyware creator knows the security systems, spyware blockers and firewall programs available to us. They continually pursue new methods of attacking your computer. The software programs are written as a means of income for the author. Continually check for spyware and adware on your computer. A spyware free computer operates faster and connects you to the internet faster than an infected computer. Some computers may become so overrun by these software programs that they fail to operate properly and people resort to taking their computer to be repaired. Sometimes it appears that the computer has a virus, when in fact it is bogged down by spyware. The worse case scenario is having to have your system totally restored to reverse the problem. The best way to stay free of spyware is to stay up to date on your virus, spyware, adware and malware definitions, have an anti-virus, anti-spyware. firewall program on your computer. Run the security programs daily and stay alert to symptoms. The internet is meant to be used and enjoyed in spite of the possible problems. To learn more about spyware visit spyware reviews
Bonnie McCormick researches and writes about topics relating to internet marketing. To find additional resources and information on internet marketing, visit [http://www.internetmarketingplaza.com]
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