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