How to Eliminate Spyware Programs On Your Computer

Do you get constant pop-ups annoying you whenever you want to browse the Internet? Does your computer behave in an abnormal or undesired manner? Do you have new toolbars on your browser that you did not install? Do you have a new homepage or favorites in your browser that you did not add? Is your email getting clogged by spam?

If the above is true, then your computer is infested by spyware, adware, spybots, trojans or other malware. More than 90% of all computers around the world have been infected with spyware and are still vulnerable to further attacks. These spyware programs are increasingly getting improved and becoming trickier and more and more pervasive. You must equip your computer with the right spyware defensive programs.

The threat of spyware

As an increasing serious security and privacy threat on the Internet, affecting most computers online, requires action from every computer owner. Spyware will continuously watch your every move and record every action made on your computer. This includes sensitive information such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers and secure passwords. They will also bombard you with advertising banners and pop-ups to maximize their commercial gain. This is a typical spyware behavior and it is all done at your expense. The spyware, like adware or other malware, can easily install itself on your computer, without absolutely any consent or notification. It is similar to a real life thief breaking and entering your home without you even knowing it.

Some Spyware statistics

These are the results of an America Online and National Cyber-Security Alliance study, published in October 2004:

- over 80% of the surveyed users had their computers infected with spyware

- infected computers had an average of 90 malware components

- 89% of the users surveyed that had been infected by spyware, were not aware of it

- 95% of the infected users had not given any permission for those installations

It is clear based on these facts, that spyware elimination and computer protection against spyware is now more important than ever. As with any threat, the first step to protection against spyware is to be aware of its existence.

Sometimes spyware can piggyback normal legitimate application installs, as a bundled component, which is installed without asking the user's permission. Most of the times however, spyware installs clandestinely and preventions becomes a hard task to be performed manually.

Spyware blockers will defeat spyware by operating in two modes:

- real time protection will prevent spyware from installing and operating at all times

- scanning and removal procedures are executed on demand or by schedule, removing all files that match known components.

It is thus important to have one of the latest spyware blocker and removers installed, and action needs to be taken now, if you consider keeping your computer secure and spyware-free an important matter.