Internet Explorer Tip - Spies Lurking On Your Computer!
(Please click on Legal Stuff before using this Tip of The Week.)
It's bad enough that we have to worry about virus and computer crackers trying to break into our computers. But did you know there are SpyWare applications that may be transmitting every move you make on the internet and may even be set to transmit personal data to unscrupulous parties?
You can check your computer for any unknown SpyWare that may be running on your computer!
Before we tell you how to check, you should first know exactly what SpyWare is and what it does. SpyWare applications are installed without your knowledge. They can be set to install on your computer simply by visiting a website that will download themselves to your computer and then install itself in the background without your knowledge. Virus scan software will not prevent them and even a firewall is no defense.
SpyWare applications will run on your computer without your knowledge and report your browsing habits and then target popup advertisements to appear on your computer based on the browsing data it collects. While this might seem harmless enough, there are yet other SpyWare applications that can be programmed to search your computer for credit card information, social security account numbers, or other information of a personal and sensitive nature.
Now that you know what SpyWare does and is capable of doing, that warm and fuzzy feeling of security while you sit behind your firewall doesn't seem so warm and fuzzy anymore. Well, you can take steps to locate and eliminate SpyWare applications on your computer just by downloading a free SpyWare Busting application.
There are many SpyWare Busting applications available for purchase but one of the best ones can be had for FREE. In fact, out of a multitude of SpyWare Busting applications, this was the only one that received the PC Magazine Editor's Choice Award.
It is called "SpyBot Search and Destroy". We recently installed it onto two of our computers, one running Windows 2000 Professional and another running Windows XP Home. In both cases SpyBot managed to discover and eliminate numerous SpyWare applications on these two computers. In fact, on our Windows XP Home computer which we have had for only a couple of months, SpyBot discovered and destroyed 188 SpyWare applications. That's right! One hundred and eighty eight!
We usually pride ourselves on computer security in terms of virus protection and staying safely hidden behind a firewall. But apparently, there appears to be another way for data to be harvested from our computers by installing SpyWare applications that don't get picked off by virus scanning software.
Are you convinced yet? If so, take a gander at the screenshot below depicting the immunization panel we ran on our Windows XP Home computer.
(Click for full size)
If you want to download SpyBot, you can get if from http://spybot.safer-networking.de/. Check it out and make sure that you read the instructions and familiarize yourself with its' operation before you install and perform any scanning actions on your computer. While we have already tested it on our machines and are quite pleased, we always urge our clients to exercise good judgement before installing any third-party software and to click on Legal Stuff before using any of our Tips of The Week.
(If the Tip-of-The-Week generates additional thought-provoking questions on your part that you would like us to personally answer, give us a call at 895-5016 to set up an appointment, or consider using our online AskBrightIdeas.com service.)
