How Spyware Gets Into Your Machine
Spyware files are often bundled together with other software downloads so many users don't even know they're
getting these sneaky programs. Or users unwittingly invite them into their machines, believing they're getting
something else. That's what happened to me.
Some friends had been trying for weeks to convince me to download an anti-spyware program but I ignored their
advice, thinking them overly concerned.
Soon after their warning, I got hit. Unlike a virus, with spyware you may not even know you've been hit. I only
found out when my ISP shut down my email account. Their technicians told me spyware on my machine had been flooding
their servers for several days, all happening in the background while my PC was busy working for me in the
foreground.
Fighting Off The Attack
On their advice, I downloaded a free anti-spyware program from the net, cleaned my system, got the ISP to reinstate
my service, and went back to work.
Three days later, it happened again. I downloaded yet another anti-spyware program and began religiously running
both programs, every day. This time, it took a lot longer to convince my ISP to restore my service. The whole fiasco
cost me three days of work and a lot of frustration.
How did it happen? I had recently upgraded to Windows XP and was still getting acquainted with all its new bells
and whistles when a little, official-looking pop-up appeared one day (looking for all the world like a Microsoft
message window) asking if I'd like to have all spam filtered from my Outlook Express emails. Would I! Figuring it
was a Windows XP feature, I clicked.
And with that one innocent click, I unwittingly downloaded a program that I realized later had been launched not
from my operating system but from a website I had been visiting. It gave me a new toolbar I didn't ask for and a
hundred or so spyware files that quickly went to work getting me into hot water with my ISP.
But that was nothing compared to what happened to my brother.
Beware Fake Anti-Spyware Programs
Recently, he was surfing on his business computer when a message warned him that spyware had been detected and he
urgently needed software to remove it. He clicked, unleashing a vicious program masquerading as anti-spyware but
that was actually a parasite program that ran constantly, locking up his entire system.
This program did everything possible to prevent its removal. It blocked the downloading of genuine anti-spyware
software; it substituted one of its own advertising pop-up pages every time the browser was opened; it prevented
the download of pop-up blocking software; and much more. The PC became so deeply infected that its programs no
longer ran normally and the unit had to be professionally debugged.
So if you think, as I used to, that you're savvy to the ways of the web and are invulnerable to spyware... you may
not be.
How To Fend Off Spyware:
1. Be extremely cautious when considering a download of any kind. In this game, it's hard to tell the good
guys from the bad guys. Many legitimate free programs include spyware in their downloads... it's how they pay the
bills. Read the license agreement carefully before proceeding.
2. Get some good anti-spyware software as soon as possible. (See my suggestions below). Run it frequently.
3. Be suspicious if you are offered a free demo version that requires you to pay for the full version before
it will remove any spyware it finds on your system. The best anti-spyware software is totally free and you get the
full working version.
4. Only use anti-spyware that has been recommended by your ISP or another trusted source. There are many
scammers out there doing a convincing job of representing themselves as legit. Google and the other search engines
have no way of separating these fakes from the real thing, so don't rely on search engine results to guide you.
5. Don't be hoodwinked by brand name sleight-of-hand, eg: Ada-ware instead of the excellent anti-spyware
product Ad-aware.
Here's where you can get two of the most highly recommended and most frequently downloaded anti-spyware programs...
they're free but accept donations and have advanced versions for sale. I personally run Ad-aware every day before
opening any other programs and it usually finds at least a few spy files lurking in my machine:
Ad-aware
Spybot Search & Destroy
Oh and one more thing... listen to your friends. Their advice could save you a lot of grief and expense!
About The Author
Heather Reimer is a website content writer, search engine copywriter and founder of
TheWriteContent.com.
Get a Free website content analysis with tips to make your content more selling, compelling, and search engine
friendly. Visit:
http://www.thewritecontent.com/freereport.html.
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