Spyware can be more dangerous than you might think – it will worm its way into your computer and could cause some unnecessary grief…but what is it?

ParasiteWare

This is the name given to any Adware that overwrites affiliate tracking links which are utilised by webmasters to push and sell products and fund websites.

Although these forms of Adware are unwanted they do provide little threat to the security of your computer.

Adware

Adware is more intrusive than ParasiteWare – it looks at your spending and surfing habits and will even pop things up in your face when you are surfing the Internet trying to sell things to you.

Sometimes Adware will come along with software’s without you being aware of them and will stick themselves tightly into your system.

You may not be finding that Adware present on your computer is bad but most people tend to find it annoying and an intrusion of their privacy. However, before removing the Adware it should be known that the software that they have been bundled with might not work after the Adware is removed.

Spyware

This is far worse than Adware – while Adware only takes a look at your buying patterns and surfing habits, Spyware will make note of each keystroke you make, the history of your surfing and your passwords and will gain access to other personal information that you would want kept private.

Spyware will plant itself on your computer without you knowing and will quite happily watch as you input credit card numbers, passwords and chat logs and can even take snapshots of your computer all without your consent.

You don’t even have to be connected to the Internet. Spyware can even defy anti-Spyware applications that should eradicate the unwanted software. Once detected and uninstalled some Spyware can reinstall so it constantly remains on your computer.

Malware

Malware is a nick name for Malicious Software which is designed to attack and interrupt your computer. Examples of these are Trojan horses, worms or viruses.

Like Spyware it is also is able to reinstall itself after detection which can be devastating for your computer. Basically Malware has one purpose and that is to attack your computer…stay as safe as possible with Antivirus software.

Two examples of Malware applications are;

•   Page Hijackers – Hijackers take over your main homepage and instead change it to one of their choosing, mostly their own site. There is very little threat to your systems security here but once again we are talking about an unnecessary intrusion that is unsettling in the least. Hijackers tend to use trick dialogue boxes as a means of installation so be careful!

•   Dialers – These Malware applications are used to disconnect you from your usual service provider and bill you for more expensive services. Although there is no real concern regarding private information being stolen there can be great financial harm involved for the user of the computer.

Have you found this article helpful? Perhaps you have had some Spyware mishaps in the past and you feel like sharing – let us know!