| Adware and Spyware have become familiar | | | | spyware programs have added themselves to |
| terms in the lexicon of Internet jargon. Their | | | | the Windows start up procedure and load every |
| definitions range from helpful cookies that many | | | | time you turn on your computer. |
| people choose to have on their computer to | | | | 4. Your computer is running slower than normal. |
| programs that can actually steal your identity. | | | | If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, |
| That's a pretty big area. That's why any | | | | you probably are infected and need to take some |
| information of these important subjects needs to | | | | action.There are hundreds of Spyware programs |
| include definitions of exactly what actually | | | | on the market. Most offer a free on-line |
| encompasses both adware and spyware.Adware | | | | inspection of your computer to see if any |
| is software that provides advertising, usually in | | | | spyware is present. Since their scans always find |
| the form of pop ups, and gathers general | | | | something, it's a great way to market their |
| information, by using cookies, through the user's | | | | product. However, it's probably a good idea to dig |
| Internet connection. Adware is often packaged | | | | a little deeper before making a buying |
| with free downloaded programs. By definition, | | | | decision.Some anti-virus programs include adware |
| adware, by itself, is not dangerous, but can fall | | | | and spyware elements as part of the basic |
| into the annoying category. Adware can generate | | | | program. Check yours and see if you have a |
| constant pop up advertising when the downloaded | | | | spyware feature and if it is activated. If it is, and |
| program is running. It can also place cookies on | | | | you still are experiencing problems, make sure |
| your computer that will provide information about | | | | you have downloaded the latest updates.At |
| you when you click on the pop ups or log on to | | | | Jamison Software, we look at viruses and |
| the original program download site. If users | | | | spyware as two different problems and have |
| register the downloaded program, usually games, | | | | chosen to attack them with two different |
| and pay the registration fee, the adware | | | | programs. When selecting a spyware program we |
| disappears. If you download a free program, | | | | looked at numerous reviews and tested several |
| there is a reasonable probability it will contain | | | | (they all have 30 day free trials) on different |
| some form of adware. So far, that's not | | | | computers before making a decision. Spyware |
| necessarily a bad thing. Many people happily trade | | | | and anti-virus programs work basically the same |
| payment for enduring a few pop up | | | | way. They develop large data bases or |
| advertisements and don't care if their general | | | | encyclopedias of known adware and spyware. |
| Internet surfing habits are being tracked. The | | | | The computer is scanned against these data |
| problem begins when they become intrusive. | | | | bases and the culprits are identified and deleted or |
| That's when adware becomes spyware.When | | | | placed in a quarantine folder where they can't |
| adware is expanded to use your computer's | | | | continue to cause trouble. These data bases are |
| resources to steal information, it becomes | | | | constantly updated in order to keep up with the |
| spyware. Spyware is like the Trojan horse that is | | | | spyware developers. Good Spyware programs |
| discussed on our Virus article. Computer users | | | | should do two things well. They should maintain |
| who are installing a program or swapping files (i.e. | | | | great data bases and provide fast, proactive |
| music downloads) may also be installing a spyware | | | | customer service.Why do we like two programs? |
| program whose purpose is to monitor your | | | | Viruses and Spyware are cousins and sometimes |
| computer activity and gather your private and | | | | there is a gray line between the two. With two |
| confidential information. This includes e-mail | | | | data bases, we can sometimes stay ahead of the |
| addresses, user passwords and certainly any | | | | curve, finding a problem in one program that is |
| credit card numbers you enter when making a | | | | actually solved by the other. Here's an |
| purchase on-line. They can also happily install other | | | | example.We use and highly recommend |
| spyware programs, hijack your web browser by | | | | Spysweeper by Webroot software. One feature |
| changing your home page and your browser's | | | | of Spysweeper is that it identifies new programs |
| search engine. All the time it is sending back | | | | that will start when Windows starts. If no new |
| information to the bad guys, who will use it for | | | | programs are being installed, this means only one |
| their own advertising purposes, sell it to other bad | | | | thing-spyware. When that happens, an alert |
| guys or use it to steal your identity. To do all this, | | | | screen appears and there is an option to remove |
| spyware uses your computer's memory | | | | the offending program. Sometimes that |
| resources and bandwidth. This can slow your | | | | procedure is successful and the problem is |
| computer to a crawl, especially if you use | | | | resolved. However, occasionally the program |
| memory intensive programs. Spyware is not | | | | reappears all by itself in a second or two. We |
| good.Do you have adware and/or spyware on | | | | have a virus. That information can be passed on |
| your computer? The chances are absolutely | | | | to AVG Anti-virus Systems, our Anti-virus |
| outstanding that you do. This may not be a | | | | software provider, and within hours an update |
| problem, but sometimes it could be disastrous. | | | | removing the offender is downloaded and |
| Some of the signs that your computer may be | | | | implemented. This happened several times on our |
| infected are: | | | | test computer (we did not use a firewall to |
| 1. Your web browser looks a little different. New | | | | attempt to create just this scenario) and we |
| toolbars suddenly appeared. The search engine | | | | were very pleased with the results. We also |
| you use is different. A brand new home page | | | | found that Trojan horse files with a .pif suffix |
| suddenly appeared. | | | | were the main culprits.If you are concerned about |
| 2. Pop up advertisements that aren't related to | | | | spyware, we recommend Spysweeper. We found |
| the web site you are viewing are appearing with | | | | the data base very thorough and up to date and |
| disturbing regularity. You click on links that go to | | | | their customer service team responsive. When |
| nowhere. Ads for pornographic web sites start | | | | we had to upload suspected spyware for their |
| popping up on your computer. Your "new" search | | | | review, they provided detailed, easy to follow |
| engine produces web sites unrelated to your | | | | instructions.Buy and Download Software Online - |
| query. | | | | Free Trials AvailablePeter O'Brien is a vice |
| 3. Your Windows desk top takes longer to load | | | | president for Jamison Software. A division of The |
| than it did in the past. This is because lots of | | | | Jamison Group, Inc. |