What is spyware

Spyware is ANY SOFTWARE which employs a user's Internet connection in the background (the so-called "backchannel") without their knowledge or explicit permission.ANY SOFTWARE communicating across the Internet absent of these elements is guilty of information theft and is properly and rightfully termed: Spyware.(See type of spyware)

How did I get it?

Spyware can infect your system in many different ways: visiting a spy-spreading web site, opening a spy-carrying email attachment, downloading a spy as part of another (often "free") software program, etc. Your privacy, and even your identity, is at high risk if you surf the Internet more than one hour a week, share your computer or use file-sharing programs like KaZaa. Traditional anti-virus programs and firewalls don't offer protection from invasive and harmful spyware programs that can manifest themselves in many ways on your PC.

What is the harm if I'm infected?
Spyware will cause problems on your PC without you knowing. The end result is your PC runs slower, is less responsive, and new error messages with no solutions creep into your system.
Here are some of the "features" you get from spyware. Some spyware may only use one or two of these tactics, while others do quite a bit more.

Deceptive functionality. Spyware often uses a classic "trojan horse" tactic--like a virus. It offers to synchronize your PC's clock or keep track of forms, but it is also doing other hidden things while you browse.

Home page hijacking. Did you ever find that your home page was changed, or discover new sites in Favorites that you didn't add? It might be spyware.

Loss of privacy. Some spyware keeps track of the web sites you visit and sends that information back to the spyware vendor. Do you want to tell everyone?

More advertising. Did you install a popup stopper but you are still getting popups? The ads you are getting may not be from the web site you are on, but from spyware.

Stolen advertising. Instead of showing the ads that should appear on a web site, some spyware substitutes its own ads which can rob a web site of revenue.

Broken web sites. Spyware sometimes changes the actual content on a web page, and in the process it "breaks" the page. The page may not look correct, or you may get Javascript errors.

Reduced performance. Spyware uses up system resources, CPU time, memory, disk space, and Internet bandwidth, making your system slower.

System instability. Most spyware isn't very well tested or debugged, and there is no way to report bugs or obtain tech support. The result can be system crashes, hangs, or other strange behavior.

Security risks. Some spyware has a built-in update feature that lets the spyware maker download and install new code to your system without your knowledge or approval.

What can I do?

Links are provided for what we think are the some of the best Spyware removal products available today. They typically report the level of damage detected along with the location found in your system. Download and removal instructions vary by product, but rating criteria include ease-of-use, reported effectiveness and continuous protection features.Please visit our Anti-spyware review page to discover reputable products that will completely protect you against this threat.