| By :
George Hutton
The Internet is growing today by leaps and bounds. There is a lot of things that we can take for granted today, that would have been impossible only a few years ago. Watching full TV shows online, downloading songs that would be impossible to find in any record store, even face to face international video conferencing is possible today because of the Internet. But along with all the good stuff, there is bad stuff as well. And on the Internet, that means spyware, adware, and other malicious software. Spyware and adware are generally considered to be the same thing, but sometimes they aren't. Spyware is any software that has been installed on your computer that monitors how you use certain programs. Because spyware is usually installed by those hoping to use your personal advantage to get gain an advertising edge, it is usually thought of as the same thing as adware. But spyware can also be effectively used by parents and bosses to monitor computer activity. Where does spyware and adware come from? Many times it comes along with free software that you download. Software developers that are working independently will often times supplement their income by adding on spyware to otherwise free software. While some software programs will be up front about the spyware or adware that comes with their programs, most won't. Some of the software will still run OK if you turn off the spyware part, but most others won't. Many times there will be two separate versions available, one free one with spyware, and one paid one without. Different kinds will install themselves without you even knowing about it. Some web sites are set up to automatically install these programs when you visit their sites. Frequently, sites with questionable music or movie downloads, as well as adult sites are dangerous, but recently there have been many sites posing as charity sites, given the recent world tragedies. The best defense, of course, is to have a good anti spyware and adware program installed. This way you can check your computer on a regular basis and eliminate any spyware, as well as preventing any future invasions. Many of these programs come free, but the irony is that many of these "free" spyware and adware removal programs have spyware themselves. Another drawback of these free programs is often times they aren't up to date enough to combat the latest threats. A paid for software program is usually your best bet to defend your computer against spyware and adware. These usually come with frequent updates, so you can be sure you are always protected against the most recent spyware and adware developments.
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