So what is spyware anyway? Protect your computer part 2

This is the second part of protecting your computer.... Many of you have heard of spyware but you may not understand what it is, or how it can affect you as well as your computer so we thought we'd post some information and facts. Aladdin released a highly informative report which we will be quoting from and is probably one of the best articles we have seen on spyware.

The facts: (from the Aladdin report)

1. 90% of all Windows computers are infected with spyware
2. 80% of all home computers are infected with spyware
3. 88% of owners with infected computers don't know their computer is infected
4. only 24% of PC owners are educated on how how to handle spyware
5. 65% of PC users don't have up-to-date antivirus software

Those are the numbers and they are pretty scary! So what is spyware and how does it affect us? In today's day and age it is usually software that has been installed unknowing by the user, or potentially by an infected website, and it is used to gather personal information from your computer. While the application used to install it may be legal, it is usually installed without the user's knowledge or consent. Spyware applications monitor the users activities and can even hijack the default internet browser to shape the users internet experience as their vendors please. Once personal data is collected, it is then sent to a remote server and because of this, spyware has become a major security concern. So what exactly does it gather?

1. Private/personal information
2. Copyrighted or confidential information, passwords, bank account details, social security numbers, personal/business correspondence and credit card information
3. It can create irreparable system instability
4. It can damage or interfere with legitimate programs
5. It can open a "back door" on infected systems and cause your computer to be used for spam flooding or other malicious purposes without you ever knowing until your internet service provider shuts off your service
6. It can allow a spyware operator to completely take over your computer and make it a "zombie" used for the further spread of viruses, spyware and malware.

We have seen a tremendous jump in what is dubbed "the Cynical Anti-Spyware" spyware lately and it's calling itself Antivirus XP/Vista/2008/2009, Antivirux 360 and comes with many variations of these names as well. The spyware vendors are aware that people are concerned about issues security and they are disguising their spyware as legitimate programs, badgering the user to "purchase" the program with promises of virus removal and what not. The scariest part is that this feeds on the fear that the public has developed and exploits that fear. It provides a very false sense of security.

So that's today's lesson on spyware. We will be back with more soon!