Spywares

Spyware Prevention
The best way to prevent spyware is to use software designed to protect your system. Be very careful, however, when choosing a spyware software product. There are many products on the market that only pretend to be protecting your system, when in fact, they are actually installing spyware on your machine! Here are the only products we recommend to keep your computer system safe from spyware.

Ad-Aware Plus
Real time protection - Ad-aware Plus Edition is designed to provide continuous protection from known Datamining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, Keyloggers, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components.

Microsoft Windows Anti-Spyware Beta
Great new antispyware program. One of the most comprehensive I've come across. At least for now, while it is in beta, it is free.

How Systems Get Infected
Spyware is normally installed through either one of two common methods. The first is to hide a spyware component within an otherwise apparently useful program. Often, the containing program is made available for download free of charge, so as to encourage wide uptake of the spyware component. The second common method is to take advantage of security flaws in Internet Explorer. Sypware can also be installed on a computer by a virus or an e-mail trojan program, but this is not common.

Another cause is granting permission for web-based applications to integrate into your system. These browser helper objects embed itself as part of your web browser.

Spyware is usually installed by some stealthy means. If you read the user agreements for the software you download and install, references (sometimes vague) are cited for allowing the issuing company of the software to record your internet usage and website surfing. Some software vendors allow you to buy the same product without this overhead.