Spyware: What It Is

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Spyware is a type of software that can install advertising, collect personal information, or change your computer's configuration without you even realizing it. Because it has to change the settings of your Internet browser and/or other computer settings, spyware can change your home page, cause your Internet connection to slow down, or force some functions to stop working. They can also cause a pop-up ad to appear when you close a web pages and some pop-up ads can create more pop-up ads when you try to close them! Adware and malware are the two types of spyware to be know about.

Adware is advertising spyware that records the web sites you’ve been to. Once it gets an idea of what you’re shopping for, it automatically redirects your browser to go to a web site of one of its paid advertisers selling a product that it has tracked you’ve been shopping for. As you can guess, adware is a good marketing tool for businesses using it, since they know they’ll be advertising to a customer who is looking to buy a product like theirs. However for the online shopper, having your computer go to sites on its own can be irritating.

Malware (malicious software) is a less-common type of spyware that only intends to do your computer harm. Examples of malware include viruses, Trojan horse programs, and hijacking spyware.

•  Trojan horses are software programs that pretend to be legitimate programs, such as games, cleanup utilities, and even anti-virus programs. But once you install them, they unleash virus-like programs that can corrupt your computer.
• Hijacking spyware was made to gather your personal information, such as name, address, passwords, credit card numbers, and social security numbers, for use by thieves. It does this by either monitoring your keystrokes or changing program settings to allow access to your computer.

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Spyware: How to Avoid It

1. Block third-party cookies. “Cookies” are saved in your Web browser's cache directory and are used by many Web sites (as well as spyware) to remember the sites you’ve been to and to record information you’ve used there, such as your password to enter that site.

2. Turn on your browser’s pop-up blocker. This can prevent many of the pop-up ads created if spyware is installed. For settings in Internet Explorer for both cookies and pop-ups, go to:

1. Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click on the “Privacy” tab:
   • Sliding the slider bar reflects the level of restrictions for cookies.
   • Clicking on the "Settings" button opens other options for allowing and disallowing pop-ups.

For other browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, and Opera, click on their help buttons and search for privacy settings.

3. Enable prompting for software installation. Many spyware programs are known to target Internet Explorer specifically, and some install themselves on your computer when you simply visit a web site. You can avoid this by turning on the following settings. This way, spyware must be authorized to be installed and prompts you before it installs itself. In Internet Explorer, go to:

1. Tools > Internet Options. Click on the “Security” tab.
2. Make sure the setting is set to “Medium” or higher.
3. Click on the “Custom level” button.
4. Under the section named “ActiveX controls and plug-ins,” check the following:
   1. “Download signed ActiveX controls:” – select Prompt.
   2. “Download Unsigned ActiveX controls:” – select Disable.
   3. “Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe:” select Disable.

4. Install anti-virus software. Most anti-virus programs can detect and remove many different versions of spyware and malware. Remember to update your anti-virus program frequently since new viruses are always coming out.

5. Don't run file-swapping software. Most free file-sharing applications contain spyware. If you install one of these programs, you run the risk of getting bundled spyware. While not all file-sharing sites have this problem, many do. If you must use file-sharing sites, check for online reviews to see which ones are best to use and contain less (or no) spyware.