| By :
George Hutton
There are plenty of reasons to be happy about the ever increasing technology of the Internet. One only has to recall the incredibly slow download speeds of dial up modems to appreciate this. But just as convenience and speed has increased, so has the dark underbelly of the Internet. Of course, I'm talking about spyware and adware. If you want to get a good handle on where it comes from, and what to do about it, keep reading. First of all, spyware is any software that records any information, and then reports back to a third party. This are great if you are a parent or a boss, and are worried about how somebody is using a shared computer. This can be a real pain when the spyware was installed by somebody intending to collect information to help their marketing efforts. In the first case, it's obvious where the spyware came from. But what about the second case? Spyware comes from three basic sources. One of the main sources is through free downloaded software. A developer that makes a software program can still make money enough though they give it away for free. The program installs spyware, and if information collected from you results in a sale, or an action, the software developer gets paid. Applications for your desktop, dubious file sharing software to download music and movies, and various other "free" software usually come with a hidden price. Be careful what you download. Another source of spyware is through email attachments. These usually are pure Trojan horses, meaning they are designed to sneak into your system just like the Greeks did when they invaded Troy. Unless you personally know the person sending you an email, be extremely careful when clicking on any attachment. A third source of spyware is web sites that automatically install spyware as soon as you visit their web site. Be extremely careful of clicking on any links that you don't recognize. Despite browser developers that continuously update their systems to protect against such occurrences, they are still sometimes behind the curve, and you are still in danger by clicking on links that you don't recognize. The best way to guard against spyware is to have a robust anti spyware software on your system that can both scan for and remove software, as well as protect against it being installed in the first place. While there are several free programs, often times they aren't up to date enough to protect against the most recent spyware developments. For just a few dollars, you can easily protect your system, and enjoy the Internet the way it was meant to be enjoyed.
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