Spyware and Spyware Removal Tools

Ask any computer user what is the most annoying thing about the internet, or what do they fear most on the internet and the vast majority of them will say spyware, or adware. A simple search on the internet for spyware or spyware remover will reveal a confusing array of products claiming to protect you from spyware or aid in spyware removal. What is Spyware? Spyware is a generic term that describes any software that in some way tracks your internet usage so that it can gather that information and sell it. Some of this software, once installed on your computer, can be very difficult to remove and will almost always effect your computer's performance. The majority of companies that produce spyware tend to be unethical in that they will use any means necessary to get you to install their spyware and try to make sure you don't remove it. Some spyware manufacturers even market their product as Spyware Remover or Adware Removal products. These fake spyware remover products actually install more spyware and usually make the situation worse for the user. For more information on this click on the Rogue Anti-Spyware link at the bottom of this page. To remove spyware programs click here What About Spyware Removers? Various pieces of this nasty software like SpySheriff, Spyaxe, StopGuard, Bullguard and many others cannot be removed by ordinary means. Some of these kinds of spyware hide themselves from antispyware companies to prevent the software from being removed. Even normally excellent spyware remover tools like Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Webroot Spysweeper can't handle some of these very persistent spyware programs. While these antispyware programs may be able to handle some of the standard spyware removal, they may not be able to remove all spyware that it finds. They may not even be able to detect the spyware to remove it in the first place. How Do I Remove Spyware? Most of the spyware out there requires a computer technician to remove. Simply going to the add/remove programs window in the control panel to remove spyware programs will not usually work. Spyware removal by a live tech is needed because of the very persistent ways that spyware software embeds itself in your operating system. Removing spyware by hand is normally the only way to rid your computer of this nasty software - and it takes highly trained techs to do so. What About Reformatting for Spyware Removal? Many companies resort to having you reformat your computer to remove spyware, but that is rarely necessary if you are dealing with a good tech. There's no need to lose your personal data to remove spyware from your system. Qualified technicians who understand how this kind of software works are the last line of defense against the nastiest spyware. Removal by one of these top quality techs may be your only means to rid yourself of it. Call YourTechOnline today at 877-717-7111 to get help removing spyware. http://www.yourtechonline.com/art06_spyware_remover.php Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tara_Findlay

Learning How To Delete Spyware

In this age of computers, we have entered an age of convenience like no other; able to work, communicate, shop, and be entertained from the comfort of our own home. But just like anything else that brings great benefits, there is a trade-off. Just as there are those companies that have used the computer to offer an array of reputable services and products, there are also disreputable companies that take advantage of people using the computer. Before you know it you have been targeted and the nightmare begins. One such popular software that is used to target computer users is spyware. And learning to delete spyware first depends on understanding spyware.
Spyware is a software that infiltrates your computer and captures your personal information – whether it’s your name, address, phone number, or even your credit card number. It tracks the places you visit on the computer, the things in which you are interested, and the products for which you shop. It then passes on this vital information to third parties who use it to specifically target you for advertising – or a host of unscrupulous purposes. It is for these reasons that the ability to delete spyware as soon as you expect its existence on your computer is so important.
Unfortunately, it is not so easy to know if you do indeed have spyware lurking on your computer. Some of the signs that spyware may be at work are if your computer is running particularly slow or crashing frequently. If you do suspect the existence of spyware you can purchase software that will scan and delete spyware from your system.
It is most important to delete spyware through reputable and effective resources. Simply downloading free software from the Internet in an effort to delete spyware may, in fact, do more harm than good. Many of those free downloads are actually spyware in disguise; you may think that you are eliminating spyware but you are instead letting it in right through the front door.
In most cases, it is worth the price to pay for reputable software that will periodically scan and delete spyware from the computer. You can find such software at most computer supply stores where employees can find what you need.
But the best to protect your computer and the information located therein is to practice prevention. Be mindful of where you visit on the computer and only download files from those sources that you know and trust. In this way you can be sure that you won’t be in a position to have to delete spyware in the future.
For easy to understand, in depth information about delete spyware visit our ezGuide 2 Spyware.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

Seeking The Best Spyware Remover: What You Need To Know

When seeking the best spyware remover for your computer, it is useful for you to be aware of a few facts.
Firstly there are a number of techniques that have been developed and you should know about the main ones before you go out on your mission to find the best spyware remover. There are programs that are designed to block spyware and there are those that remove it. Then there are particular practices designed to reduce the chance of getting spyware in the first place.
Even writers of spyware remover programs usually find detection and removal much simpler than attempting to block spyware. Thus many more programs are available that detect and remove. Most of these spyware removal programs work by inspecting the contents of the Windows registry, which includes operating system files and installed programs. They then remove files and entries, which match a list of known spyware components.
Just like most anti-virus software, spyware remover software needs to be frequently updated. New spyware programs are being released all the time and as spyware removal developers discover them, they make adjustments to allow their software to detect and remove the spyware. Therefore any spyware removal software that is not regularly updated suffers major limitations and will hardly be effective for a long time.
There are many spyware removal programs in the market and naturally, they all sound very impressive. But always bear in mind that the most widely used and effective method is to detect and remove spyware, even as one takes necessary precautions to avoid getting it in the first place. Ignoring the problem until it is too late can end up being a very costly affair. For instance when a large number of pieces of spyware have invaded a Windows computer, the only solution may be to back up all the user data and fully reinstall the operating system. So the sooner you get effective spyware removal software, the better and you might just save yourself lots of headaches and cash as well.
Read more articles on how to find spyware removers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Malewicki

Get Rid of Spyware

I have always believed the best way to get rid of spyware is not to get it in the first place. There are easy things you can do to avoid spending a Saturday afternoon trying to restore your computer to it's former glory. Let's look at some common ways PC user's get spyware, adware, viruses and all that other bad stuff.
Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing is a sure way of getting your computer infected with spyware. You may think you're getting the latest Red Hot Chili Pepper song for free, but you may be getting a little something extra you didn't expect.
Browser vulnerabilities or unpatched security holes in Windows can let spyware in your system without you knowing. This is especially true with Internet Explorer, many hackers target IE because it's the most used browser, I would recommend using Firefox instead, much more secure. If you were using a unsecured browser and you went to a bad website (porn sites are famous for this) that took advantage of the security flaw you could get infected automatically without even clicking or downloading anything. This is why it is so important to update Window's and your web browser right away when there is an update.
Email is another way of getting infected with spyware or viruses. Never click on links or open attachments, even if it's from your Uncle in Mississippi. Often these programs will look in the address book and send everyone of them the same email. So before you go clicking on that link or opening up that funny picture Aunt Milgrid sent you double check with them first.
So follow those easy things and you should stay out of trouble, and get yourself a good anti-spyware program in fact get several because no one spyware program can detect every single spyware/adware.
Tyler Lang is a security enthusiast. Get more information on how to get rid of spyware and get some free security tools.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tyler_Lang

Top Ways To Effectively and Quickly Remove Spyware

Spyware seems like it is becoming more and more of a problem every day. It wasn't but a few years ago when many people had never even heard of the word spyware before, now even a non-computer user has probably heard of the term once or twice. Ninety percent of all PCs are infected with spyware and that means there is a large chance that one of those ninety percent is you!
Why is spyware so annoying and hard to remove?Once a spyware program infects your computer, it also can place hidden installation files in other directories on your computer. When you try to uninstall or remove the spyware manually, the installer file detects this and automatically re-installs the spyware upon your removal. Some spyware files can also disable your virus detection software to allow more spyware to infect your computer.
How do I know if I am infected?Is your computer unusually slow? Do you receive random pop-up notifications when you are browsing the Internet? Does your browser or any other programs function improperly or crash without notification? These are just some of the symptoms of being infected by spyware. However, If you notice any of these symptoms that doesn't mean that it is too late. There are still some actions that you can take to remove the spyware and get your computer back to a healthy state.
Removing spyware manually.The most complex way of removing spyware is by removing it manually from your PC. When removing spyware yourself, a key mistake people often make is not backing up their computer first. You should always backup your computer first in case you happen to make a mistake. You want to make sure you can always have something to fall back on in case this happens.
Now you must restart your computer in safe mode (hold F8 when you restart your computer). Removing spyware in safe mode allows you to delete the spyware thoroughly so that it doesn't reinstall itself automatically.
Make sure your hosts file has only the IP 127.0.0.1 and nothing else.
Go to My Network Places and delete any abnormal files.
Take a look at the list of auto start services (Windows NT/ Windows 2000) and make sure you get rid of any files that you know don't belong.
Finally, you should go to the obvious place in the start menu, the control panel. If you click on Add/Remove Programs you should be able to select and safely remove any other files that you believe to be spyware. Usually they have obvious sales titles so they are easy to recognize.
Reboot your computer in normal mode. After you have finished with that, it is recommended that you use a spyware program like Pest Bot to double check and take care of anything that you missed. Manually removing spyware is considered unsafe and should not be preformed unless you know what you are doing.
Remove spyware automatically with the click of a button. The best, fastest, and most effective way of removing spyware is of course getting the software to remove it for you. There are various types of programs out there that can do this for you you just have to figure out which is the best one. Finding a program you like is essentially the only time consuming part of removing spyware, after you find a program that works it only amounts to pressing a button. Out of all the ways to remove spyware talked about, this is by far the best way to do it.
Rated number one spyware remover, Pest Bot is a great program for removing spyware for free on your PC. One of the best features about it is that it also doubles as an antivirus scanner and a pop-up blocker.
For more information go to the Pest Bot Homepage. Disclaimer: I Nick Larson shall not be held accountable if anything goes wrong while you remove spyware from your computer. Therefore I suggest you try using a program before you try removing spyware manually.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Larson

Spyware Removal Tools

Spyware is any type of program that installs itself on a computer without the knowledge of the user and uses the Internet connection without the permission of the user. Removing spyware using spyware removal programs such as Ad-ware and Spybot can solve this problem. These spyware removal tools can only be effective if their definition files are properly updated. This is because uninstalling the program attached to the spyware may not remove it.
Some of the other common programs that are similar to spyware are datamining, aggressive advertising, parasites, scumware, key loggers, selected Trojans, dialers, malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. Many P2P clients such as Bearshare, LimeWire, Kazaa and Grokster are common sources of acquiring spyware.
There are two types of spyware removal tools. The first one prevents the spyware from entering the system and the other focuses on detecting and eliminating the spyware. Usually, detection and removal of a spyware is much simpler compared to prevention. These anti-spyware programs detect and remove the spyware by scanning all the program files and directory systems in the computer.
Thus, a frequently updated database is required for this anti-spyware software to work efficiently. The main reason for this is that newer versions of spyware are regularly released. Some other spyware programs work in pairs and resist the anti-spyware program. It is possible that one spyware program replaces the one eliminated by the anti-spyware program thus bringing the user back to "square-one."
The market is also flooded with fake anti-spyware programs that are marketed as anti-virus removal programs. The buyer should be aware of such programs and shun their use since they may compound the problem by installing their own spyware in the computer.
Some of the popular and effective anti- spyware programs are Microsoft beta (now Windows defender), Webroot Spy Sweeper, PC Tools' Spyware Doctor, ParetoLogic's XoftSpy, and Sunbelt's Counterspy, which uses a forked codebase from the GIANT Anti-Spyware product.
Spyware provides detailed information on Spyware, Remove Spyware, Free Spyware, Anti Spyware and more. Spyware is affiliated with Adware Spyware Removal Tool.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Bellamy

Spyware-Malware and Malicious Software On Your Computer

You know the problems viruses can cause and the manner in which they spread and propagate. So most people now run anti virus software and a firewall at the very least. But it wasn’t always like that. It took several years for people to become truly educated about computer viruses and how to deal with them. The same scenario now exists with spyware. Integrating anti spyware into your online security tools is imperative to your internet security.
One of the main issues that surround this is a lack of available information about the different types of spyware, what they do and how to deal with them. Even the largest security companies are only just including proper anti spyware resources with the internet security suites they offer.
Spyware, malware and malicious software can become a real problem on your computer and seriously threaten your online security if left unchecked.
Your computer can slow down. You can start getting pop ups about web sites and products you have no interest in, you can lose control of your browser's homepage settings and these are just the things you can see.
That's what can be so worrying about spyware infections. The spyware infections you can see aren't the necessarily the ones you should be most worried about. There are many more types of spyware infections that you can't see. That type of spyware really is a threat to your online security because you never know it's there. But it is, doing whatever it was designed to do. Collecting information and sending it to a third party, the person that is spying on you.
This is a situation we all face everytime we go online and use the internet. If your computer is connected to the internet all the time then it is a constant threat to your online security.
The only way to deal with these threats is to take action. Although online security threats can never be totally eradicated you can take positive steps to protect yourself.
Prevention is better than cure and infinitely better than a spyware infected computer that behaves like you no longer have control.
Taking preventative action means running proper anti spyware, anti malware and malicious software removal tools. As long as you run good software in the best way to eradicate all threats and infections then you should have a virtually problem free computer. And any problems you do encounter can be easily dealt with.
But how would you know what to use and how best to use it?
How Much Spyware’s On Your Computer?
Maybe you should find out!
All About Spyware
Tim Guy lives in the UK as single parent to his teenage daughter and their puppy. For the past seven years he has built and maintained computers and fixed all manner of hardware and software problems. For the past few years the main problems he deals with have been spyware related and the number of infections detected on the average computer is rising. He authored How Much Spyware's On Your Computer? What's written in the book is advice and information about the online security methods he recommends from experience and practise and personally uses himself.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Guy

Remove Adware Before You Have To Remove Adware! What?

You want to remove adware before it removes you from your enjoyable computer experience but it just keeps popping up. You thought the adware removal software you purchased was supposed to keep these little popups away once and for all. I would venture to say that you may be missing the point.
You can remove adware all you want from your computer but you really want this to be more like a check-up than an actual daily process. Would you go to the doctor everyday just to make sure you did not catch a cold or the flu? That may be a ridiculous example but here is the point.
If you have to remove adware everyday from your computer it can get a bit annoying. What is the point of removal if you are just going to remove adware again tomorrow, and the same programs as you did the day before? There is no point to that and if this is your experience I have some practical advice for you.
Use your Antivirus software
If you are not running a good antivirus software on your computer you can remove adware all day and expect it to return tommorow. There are many good antivirus software programs available and some of the best are still free to use. You won't need to remove adware everyday if you are employing antivirus software as a first line of defense.
Fire up that Firewall
Maybe this should actually be your first line of defense along with an antivirus program. Better yet, make them both of equal importance. As more Internet users become connected to LAN and broadband networks, they are leaving their computers on 24 hours a day. This obviously makes them more susceptible to malicious adware and spyware. You won't have to remove adware as much if you stop it before it even gets there.
With these two protections in place you will not need to remove adware from your computer on a daily basis for you are stopping the vast majority of it from ever interacting with your computer. If adware cannot connect to your computer and thus the Internet, you won't have to remove it everyday.
I remove adware from my computer once per week or once every two weeks and I am trying to get infected to test how well programs find new adware. My firewall and antivirus programs seem to deal with most of the common adware right away. At the end of the week I remove adware that was either too new to detect or that is really not adware at all.
When you remove adware from your computer, think of it like a check-up at the doctor. Generally a check-up is done on a routine basis and not when you feel ill, and certainly is not needed daily.
Article courtesy of: http://www.AdwareCompare.com and http://www.CompareBestSpyware.com
We've tested dozens - even hundreds! - of adware removal programs. Some of them are great, most of them get the job done (more or less), and too many simply don't work. We've gathered the top contenders in the field, and reviewed them for your convenience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Bauthues

How Do I Get Rid Of Spyware

How do I get rid of spyware? I am often posed this question by many people, including friends, and many of the people at work. See, I have somewhat assumed an IT roll at my job, and I optimize computers in my spare time. With the entire internet surfing we do today, you are likely to have a bunch of spyware on your computer. I will explain what you need to do to get rid of the spyware.
First, let’s understand what spyware does. Spyware is basically a technology, which attempts to gather information about a company, organization, or person, and transmit, or send this information to a 3rd party. This will give them information about your computer, and the websites you have visited. Some of the spyware can track your keystrokes, and send this information to a website. Pretty scary stuff, but there is a way to protect you.
If you run a spyware removal utility, this will get rid of the spyware. This will also help to speed up the computer slightly, as there will not be other programs potentially running in the background. But, spyware removal is not enough. There is spyware out there, which will hijack your computer in certain areas. They will add favorites to your browsers, change a home page, and even try to contact other websites every hour. They sometimes even manage to change the way a search utility is used. And they do this by getting into your registry files, and changing these.
The way to fix the registry files are to run a registry repair software. This software will analyze your registry files, and return them to their normal state. Do not try to fix these registry files yourself, as you can really mess up some stuff. Just let the software take care of it.
So, while spyware needs to be removed, I would fix the registry files as well. Using the 2 types of software, registry repair and spyware removal, can help in giving you the answer to your question: How do I get rid of spyware?
Resources for quality products and information about Spyware and Registry Repair
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Baker

Adware Spyware Removal Tool

If you want to have lasting pleasure online then you should have some kind of adware spyware removal tool protecting your computer against adware, spyware, trojans, dialers and worms.
The web delivers more threats to the innocent browser on a daily basis than the advance user, and that is why you should protect yourself from identity theft or any other scams that can be caused by malicious adware or spyware.
The first thing anyone online should do, is get a antivirus program, free or paid, works just fine, I do think you get what you pay for, so dish out a little.
Next you will need a adware spyware removal tool, I do advise going with a free and paid tool, you can do a search online for Microsoft AntiSpyware beta, it's free and really good.
Adware or any of those type of threats slows down your computer performance, you will need to run your free adware remover to remove adware that you might have already on your computer. Once your system is cleaned you will be amazed by the performance.
The biggest problem your faced with today is the choice between the thousands of adware spyware removal tools online, and some of the tools really do more harm than good by adding more malicious adware on your system. You need to go for a adware removal tool that is trustworthy and one that is upgraded often.
I have tried many of these programs and I can only recommend one program that has really worked for me and still works, even today. My online browsing has been so smooth, that even my kids knows how to use my adware removal tool to clean my computer on a daily basis after browsing the web.
If you do any king of online purchasing with your credit cards, then you must get yourself a adware or spyware removal program, because your at risk that you might be sending out information online without you knowing, and if this information lands in the wrong hands, you could be the next victim of identity theft.
Do yourself a favor and get the tools needed to protect you and your family online, it only takes a antivirus software and a adware spyware removal tool.
Alexander Marlin, advices using a simple antivirus program and a adware spyware removal tool for safer and faster browsing and more security online.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Marlin

Spyware Remover - Why Should You Invest In A Good One

Spyware and adware are also known as malware. They are files that are created by publishers to allow them to spy on your web surfing activity to see what you purchase and what web sites you visit so that they can send you "pop-up" ads.They are malicious in their own right as they can confiscate your credit card information, which can spell disaster for you. On the lesser side of damage, they can slow your computer down or cause it to freeze up or crash. But on the higher side of damage, they will record credit card numbers or worse.
It is easy to get these types of bugs simply from surfing the net, reading email, downloading files etc. These are the most popular of computer infections with over 90% computers infected at one given time. The good news is that there are very good spyware and adware removal tools available on the net. As long as you stay on top of things by regularly running your spyware remover, you can keep them in check.
A Trojan (horse) on the other hand is a computer program that claims to do something interesting so that you download it and are tricked into running it. It may look like a useful program, but it can hold big problems for your computer within its structure. Once you run it, the havoc begins. The danger ranges from annoying to severe. They can do silly things to your computer like changing your desktop, redirecting your browser to other web pages or adding icons to your desktop - pretty annoying but hardly a catastrophe. The more severe Trojans can cause serious damage to your computer and delete or destroy information on your computer. Trojans also create what is known as a "backdoor" on your computer that gives malicious users access to your computer remotely. This is the perfect setup for those looking to steal your personal information and your identity. The good news is that they can not replicate themselves and are easy to detect if you have a good spyware remover.
There are several things that you can do to protect your computer from computer bugs. You need a good anti-virus software package coupled with adware and spyware removal software. When combined together, anti-virus, adware and spyware removal software can be a powerful combination to detect and remove all types of pests from your computer.
Secondly, once you install these removal programs, run them weekly to check your system for bugs. What good is having them if you don't let them check your system periodically? While they run in the background trying to detect bugs trying to gain entry to your computer, you need to run a "full system" check weekly on your own.
Thirdly, make sure to update the bug definitions of these programs weekly as well. When you launch the programs to do your weekly sweep of your computer, click on the "check for updates" button first to download the latest definitions so your program to work more efficiently. New viruses and other bugs are created on a daily basis while the software was created with an initial list of bugs to scan for. So it is important to download new definitions of recent bugs found, otherwise they would never be found on your computer. You would be limited to the definitions loaded in the software when you installed it.
Now you know what to look out for you should really think about what program to use to protect your PC.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ed_Steel

Best Spyware Removers

Finding the best spyware removers to detect and remove spyware and adware from your computer is much easier if you consider a few things before you make your purchase. Here are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a spyware protection program.
The best spyware removers should offer you complete protection against spyware, adware, keyloggers, Remote Access Trojans (RATs), and browser hijackers. These are the main spyware infections that expose your confidential information and diminish your PC's performance.
An important consideration for any spyware protection program is automatic updates for your software. There are new spyware programs invented on a regular basis just like viruses and automatic updates cover you against the latest spyware threats.
Another important consideration to look for should be technical support from the manufacturer. A spyware protection program doesn't do you any good if you have a technical issue that you can't solve. Often, just a minor piece of technical advice will solve most software problems and it's important that your software run right. You also may need someone to answer questions that come up.
Customer service is another feature you may consider looking for. It shows the manufacturer is a trusted source who cares about their reputation and will probably be around awhile.
Spyware is quickly becoming a major threat to Internet security. It is reported that 9 out of 10 computers are currently infected with spyware, adware or both. Most people don't even realize it's there because spyware and adware is programmed to run silently. Microsoft estimates that spyware is responsible for 50% of all PC crashes.
If you don't remove spyware from your computer it will eventually not work at all or your computer files will become infected by spyware programs. Your personal information, passwords and credit card numbers could end up stolen from you without you even knowing it.
Once you remove spyware and adware programs from your computer you'll find it will run faster and your personal information will be much safer. Your security and peace of mind is worth spending a little time to find the best spyware removers possible.
Copyright © 2005 Spyware Information.com All Rights Reserved.
This article is provided by http://www.spyware-information.com where you will find free downloads, valuable information, removal tips and new articles about adware and spyware removal programs to protect your identity. For other informative spyware and adware articles go to http://spyware-information.com/articles_1.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Gresham

Spyware Removal

Spyware Solution
Probably Today's Biggest Computer Problem. You Suffer Without Knowing Your PC is Infected! "The effects can be devastating...and very costly." "Probably the biggest problem PC User's are experiencing right now."
Symptoms
PC runs very slowly for no apparent reason. It is difficult to access the Internet. Bandwidth seems to be reduced. Unwanted popup ads and often when you are not even surfing the web. Changed Internet Explorer home page, (known as Hijacking). Your PC is slowing down to a crawl.
Why You Should Fear Spyware
Personal information is collected from you without your knowledge or permission. Scary! Spyware collects information from you on a range of areas, from all the Web sites you visit, to more sensitive information like user names and passwords and even banking details. Personal Information you would never give out if someone asked you for it! Spyware collects it covertly. The primary objective of Spyware is to steal information. Your 'personal' information!
Be aware, some Spyware may run unnoticed without any outward signs of infection. Do not be fooled. It could still mean you have a major problem! Spyware removal is required.
How does Spyware get onto your PC if you don't knowingly download it? Many PC user's ask this question. The answer is that if you or your teenage children download music from file-sharing programs, free games from certain sites, ring tones or other software programs from unknown sources -you can easily become infected with Spyware!
Spyware uses security holes in the Windows Operating System, and many people are very surprised to hear that infection can occur without any actual conscious actions of your own.
Do not confuse Spyware with virus's. Even if you have a virus checker this will not stop Spyware. It is a totally different threat.
It is annoying. All you probably want to do is surf the internet as simply as possible. The proliferation of threatening attacks to your system make this more and more difficult, unless you have the right set of tools in place to protect yourself.
How Do You Protect Yourself?
The best way to check for infection is to scan your machine with an effective program capable of protecting you. One thing you should be very aware of, are the 'free' programs offering to solve such a problem. Unless they are recommended by a professional source, you should steer clear of such programs. It has been found that many 'free' programs simply add to your problems, by adding more Spyware or other malicious programs to your computer. Even if you have not experienced it, you probably know or have heard of someone that has had their home page hijacked or their web search pages involuntarily redirected.
Recommended solutions?
There are a few legitimate programs which actually do what they say they will do. 'Counterspy' is such a program. 'CounterSpy' uses extensive Spyware signature databases, real- time security agents, and ThreatNet to protect your machine from many types of Spyware, adware, browser hijackers, malware, search hijackers, keyloggers, ghost spammers, and spy software. If you do not want to be targeted with offers of goods you don't want and you want to feel secure, knowing your personal information is safe - then CounterSpy is the program you are looking for.
One great benefit of CounterSpy is the real-time agents that monitor your computer 24/7, securing certain key areas. Malicious Spyware authors are dubious and crafty. With CounterSpy you stack the odds in your favour and dramatically reduce the odds of Spyware installing on your machine. There are no know issues with CounterSpy running with other programs, so you should find it blends in nicely with any existing programs you are running. I work in the PC maintenance and repair field and have found the program works as it says. A good number of other satisfied users that I have referred also rate this program.
The program has a 15 day free trial and a 30 Day Guarantee to ensure you are satisfied with the program. Its excellent value for money at $19 (or approximately £10 ) for one full year, including updates. The price in year 2 is roughly half the original price -so it really is a good deal.
I believe that £10 spent on prevention, is far better than paying out £100 later, if you have a real bad problem this program could have prevented.
Referring back to the guarantee, if you are not satisfied, your money is refunded in full. (Guarantee is provided by the makers of the software). A very good guarantee from an established company, with a quality product. I use the product myself daily. My opinion is that it will help in your fight to keep your computer running in top condition and more importantly, keeping your personal information more secure. You can try out the program for yourself just go here: http://www.gotopchelp.com/web/spyware
Stephen Wilk PC Help
Copyright © all rights reserved.
About the Author: Stephen Wilk (MCSE) is the author of various technology articles and runs a commercial PC maintenance, repair and sales business. Stephen has already helped many people solve their frustrating computer problems.
Web Site http://www.gotopchelp.comArticle URL: http://www.gotopchelp.com/web/spywareSend email to: itman6666-m2@yahoo.co.uk
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Wilk

Understanding Anti Spyware

Spyware software is something we are constantly hearing about all over the internet along with the threats and risks it posses to computer users. In order to combat spyware software you will need to install anti-spyware software.
Anti-spyware software programs work in two ways.
1. They can provide real time protection against the installation of spyware software on your computer. This type of spyware protection works the same way as that of anti-virus protection in that the anti-spyware software scans all incoming network data for spyware software and blocks any threats it comes across.
2. Anti-spyware software programs can be used solely for detection and removal of spyware software that has already been installed onto your computer. This type of spyware protection is normally much easier to use and more popular. With this spyware protection software you can schedule weekly, daily, or monthly scans of your computer to detect and remove any spyware software that has been installed on your computer. This type of anti-spyware software scans the contents of the windows registry, operating system files, and installed programs on your computer and will provide a list of any threats found, allowing you to choose what you want to delete and what you want to keep.
In recent years the two objectives of spyware removal software have been combined to provide a more powerful anti-spyware software program that allows you to detect and remove spyware and use real time protection on your computer. Just like anti-virus programs spyware removal programs also require frequent updates and the majority of anti-spyware software now come with this feature also.
Understanding what anti-spyware software does and what it should do will help you choose the right spyware protection for your computer. It is important to remember that if you have a computer and use it to access the internet then you are at risk from spyware software and you need to protect yourself.
Find more about Spyware Removal on http://www.LeanderNet.com/Spyware_removal/Spyware_removal.php
More useful content on LeanderNet - http://www.LeanderNet.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Oliver_Turner

Top Ten Spyware and Adware Threats Identified

On December 8, 2004 Webroot, an award winning anti-spyware solution provider, released a press release identifying the ten most significant emerging spyware and adware threats. Most of these you probably haven’t heard of and a few may surprise you.
It is estimated that 9 out of 10 computers are infected with spyware, also known as, adware, scumware, malware and many others.
Here’s the top 10.
• PurtyScan – popup ads that trick users into installing by claiming to find and delete pornographic images.
• n-CASE - adware program that delivers targeted popup adds. This program is usually bundled with freeware.
• Gator - adware program that displays banner ads based on your Web surfing habits. This program is usually bundled with the Kazaa file-sharing program, as well as other free software programs.
• CoolWebSearch – hijacks home page, Internet Explorer settings, and Web searches.
• Transponder - monitors sites visited and any data entered into online forms, and then delivers targeted ads.
• ISTbar/AUpdate – spyware posing as a toolbar. Has been reported to display porn, pop-ups, and to hijack homepage and Internet searches.
• KeenValue – an adware program that collects personal information and delivers advertisements.
• Internet Optimizer – hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own site.
• Perfect Keylogger – records all keystrokes (including personal information, passwords, etc), clicks and web sites visited.
• TIBS Dialer – hijacks phone modem and redirects to pornography pay by the minute phone sites.
The following precautions are recommended in the fight against spyware: install Microsoft security patches, avoid downloading and using freeware; and disable ActiveX downloads in Internet Explorer. In addition, install at least one anti-spyware program, some experts actually recommend that you have two installed. For starters you can download one of the free spyware removal programs such as Spybot Search & Destroy or Ad-aware. There are also a few good anti-spyware programs on the market that proactively protect your computer (alert you before the spyware is installed). When purchasing an anti-spyware program you need to be sure it is from a reputable company as many of the anti-spyware programs available actually place spyware on your computer. They do this by offering a free scan, which places the spyware on your computer as it is scanning. Then they entice you to purchase the product to remove the spyware.
In conclusion, if you take a few precautions and install anti-spyware software on your system you should be well protected in the fight against spyware.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lisa Smith is the webmaster of 1stSpywareRemoval.com
offering in depth information on spyware, anti-spyware reviews, news and free spyware scans.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This article may be reproduced as long as the above resource box is included in its entirety.
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Adware-Spyware Removal - Privacy Issues Abound

Adware and Spyware are two of the largest sources of headaches for computer users and both are at the forefront of the conversation about privacy issues online.
As we enter more and more into that "Brave New World" privacy is becoming a major concern for all of us, especially those who spend alot of time online. Contending with Adware and spyware seems to be one of the downsides to becoming more computerized, as we witness our world becoming increasingly "digitized" from our personal finances all the way down to our personal surfing habits.
Adware and spyware do not necessarily "spy" on our every move as individuals, but according to our actions, surfing habits and search preferences, we are being watched to a certain extent. Adware and spyware are able to get into the deep recesses and bowels of our computers in places we would never think to look and can cause all types of damage in the long run.
If you have ever had a popup ad or even a random message appear on your desktop, or even have experienced a slow surfing environment you are likely infected with adware and spyware. There really seems to be no way around it. Adware and spyware is here to stay since large companies are using it to do consumer demographic research.
Although alot of the adware and spyware are legitimate programs that run in the background and do not cause any damage, your security and privacy as an individual is still being compromised. As with all technology there comes the good and the bad. You should have a choice to say no to all adware and spyware, even the legal kind.
Many hackers and dishonest people utilize adware and spyware to retrieve information from you that you would definitely not wish anyone else to have. Adware and spyware can do a number of things which are unacceptable to any honest netizen from simply displaying obscene ads on your computer, all the way to logging specific keystrokes to steal passwords and vital banking and financial information. This is the darkside of adware and spyware and is something to become educated about.
Many that have been infected with adware and spyware experience the normal slowing down and degradation of their computers functionality, but many others have had adware and spyware cause deliberate harm to their networks and infrastructure, causing massive destruction which they are unable to recover from.
With todays Internet connections being on 24/7, such as DSL and Cable lines, the threat of adware and spyware becomes even more imminent. It is not uncommon for normal household computers to experience hundreds of "hacks" and disruptions per day, all coming from different adware and spyware programs running in the background.
Those that have good adware and spyware protection are able to block these attacks. Those who do not suffer the consequences and leave themselves open to everything from obscene pornography downloads, to outright identity theft.
As we move ever deeper into the digital world and become even more connected with our own technologies, privacy and protection from adware and spyware is as important as protecting our homes with locks and alarm systems. There will never be a shortage of the criminal mind so it is best to be overly-cautious and protect ourselves.
Adware and spyware is here to stay, but that does not mean it has to affect you or your family in a negative way. Knowing how to protect yourself from malicious adware and spyware can make all the difference.
Article courtesy of: http://www.AdwareCompare.com and http://www.CompareBestSpyware.com We've tested dozens - even hundreds! - of adware/spyware removal programs. Some of them are great, most of them get the job done (more or less), and too many simply don't work. We've gathered the top contenders in the field, and reviewed them for your convenience.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Bauthues

The Best Spyware Remover - Simple Advice To Make Using Spyware Removal Programs Easy

The best spyware remover for your needs depends on your PC, your level of expertise and the particular problem that you're having. For some advice on how to get the best from spyware killers, read on...
Spyware is a menace that, thankfully, most people using the internet are aware of now. Unfortunately, detecting spyware and removing it isn't always a straightforward process.
The first line of defence is to block spyware from installing itself on your PC. The problem is that people who write this kind of malware are aware of security holes in popular internet software long before home users are.
So spyware blocking isn't all that effective, as you can only block known threats. It is good to have defence in depth, though.
The first sign of a spyware infestation is the PC starts misbehaving - you can't shutdown certain programs, the machine is sending data over the internet even when you aren't browsing and programs that have never asked to access the internet before suddenly try to go online.
You suspect spyware has got onto your machine.
The first step is to detect spyware and obviously the next step is to use spyware remover software to get rid of it. The problem is spyware has evolved. Once upon a time, it tricked trusting users into clicking "OK" on a dialog box to allow bad software to be installed. Now it exploits security holes in browsers to install silently and even worse, it uses rootkit technology to hide itself from operating system software and the very tools that are used to remove spyware.
The plain truth is spyware tools haven't kept up with the state of the art in spyware technology.
Spyware killers can't eliminate spyware that they can't find. There are tools such as rootkit revealer, process explorer, autoruns and hijackthis that allow a knowledgeable person to locate and remove spyware manually but they are definitely not for the beginner. These programs will allow you to really mess up your computer, if you don't know exactly what you are doing. Owning a scalpel doesn't make you a surgeon.
The first thing to do is to run whichever spyware checker you have installed and see if it can detect anything wrong.
Run an antivirus scan to see if that picks up anything that can be easily remedied.
Then reboot your machine in safe mode and run the spyware checker again.
This will defeat some of the spyware that uses older technology to conceal itself and resist removal.
Modern spyware protected by current rootkit technology will be hidden even in safe mode. This is where even the best spyware remover software fails. There are only two options from here:-
boot up your machine from another disk or partition and access your original boot partition from there. The rootkit software won't be active in memory and won't be able to conceal the spyware from your spyware checker. The problem is it will only scan the registry on your current boot disk and not the original one. After you have scanned the original boot partition and removed the spyware, you will need to clear out the rubbish from the registry with a program like ccleaner.
boot up from a special rescue cd like ubcd4win or bartPE, run your spyware checker from there. There are two problems
the registry as before and
the definition files for your spyware removal programs are unlikely to be up to date. You either need to produce rescue cds regularly or have definition files stored on removable media like usb pen drives.
Unfortunately, because of the way the windows NT family (windows XP, 2000, 2003) of operating systems access hard disks, option 1 isn't as simple as it may seem. Taking a drive from another system (even an identical one) and using it to boot up with the original (spyware infested) boot disk in the system, will cause windows to become confused over which disk is the real boot disk. This will have all kinds of interesting and unhelpful results. The only safe and simple way is to have a dual boot system with a second operating system on another partition or another disk.
If you just want to get rid of the spyware on your machine once and for all then please visit my lens "The best spyware remover - how to find yours" to learn how to use spyware removal programs to maximum effect.
Hope to see you there soon!
P.S. Look out for my next article on a simpler method of dealing with rootkits without the need for recovery CDs or disk juggling.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jukka_Hakkinen

How To Safely Uninstall Starware and Remove Spyware From Your Computer

Starware comes in the form of a toolbar that resides at the top of your browser. You may notice that the starware toolbar was suddenly there installed at your browser the next time you launch your browser.
How does this happen? It could come in bundle with an application or program that you purposely downloaded and when you install the program, the Starware also install itself. Yeah, it’s a toolbar. As the function of a toolbar like the basic toolbar that you already have in your browser is to facilitate your searches, Starware could be an annoying one as it tends to trigger blatant ads pop up and may even render your browser to an error page and display only searches that you made through the Starware. Worst, Starware invites other spywares into your computer.
Generally speaking, Starware is a form of spyware and the function is no other than to SPY. This could be disastrous especially when you shop online. Most spyware only spy on your browsing habits and the site that you visited most but some spyware is design to decipher your username and password of sites that your login.
Here are some symptoms that your PC may be infected with Spyware that was brought through your Starware:
Your PC runs slower than normal
The browser repeatedly shows a “404 Page Not Found" error when you didn’t even change any setting of your PC
Pop-ups coming from nowhere
Your PC shows an error on your Registry every time your switch on.It is not easy however to manually uninstall starware or spyware from your PC if you are not a computer savvy. As a residue file of the spyware can trigger a complete reinstallation of it the next time you started your PC. And if you accidentally deleted the wrong files, a shared file or move any registry data from its original location can cripple your PC.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you use reliable Spyware / Starware removal software to perform the task. A good spyware / starware removal tool should have these:
Removes all kinds of internet parasites like Trojans, Adware, Starware, Spyware, Malware, Diallers, Keyloggers etc.
Automatically update itself with more parasite definitions to ensure that you are always protected from new threats.
Provide excellent customer service and technical support. You need this whenever you’re having problems removing spywares from your PC.Feel the security and safety that you will enjoy as you can now browse to any site without fear if you have a reliable defense system setup against all type of threats like spyware or starware.
Gary is an online maniac that spend most of his time browsing and surfing the internet. He knows something of almost any online activity. Here's his recommendation on How to safely uninstall starware from your computer.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Lyric