HOW DO I DEFEND MY COMPUTER FROM SPYWARE
There are several ways to defend against Spyware.
The easiest way is to alter your browser so that it asks permission or automatically denies the installation of a COOKIE. Here's how you do it.
| For this example we're
using Internet Explorer 5.5.
Click on the TOOLS pull down menu and select Internet Options |
|
| Click on the SECURITY TAB at the top. |
|
| Click on the CUSTOM LEVEL button |
|
| "Allow cookies that are
stored on your computer" will enabled by default.
Click on the PROMPT radio button if you want to choose which cookies are allowed on your system or: Click on the DISABLE radio button if you don't want ANY cookies on your system. Some cookies are safe and necessary, so I chose Prompt for my system. And yes, by doing this some spyware components can get in your system if you allow them. But the following tells you how to get rid of them. |
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Another way is to use a program that seeks out and destroys Spyware components on your hard drive. One such program is called AD-AWARE. Visiting their site DOES put cookies on your system, but I've tested them and they are safe.
Just go to Download.Com and click on 'download' to get the freeware version.
The first time I ran this program, I had 384 Spyware components on my system. After eliminating them, my Internet connect did seem to speed up a little.
Have you noticed that when you're online and doing nothing, sometimes your hard drive will start clicking and the activity light will start blinking? Well, that's the Spyware components reporting back to it's creator (with your personal information).
I hope this rather lengthy page has helped you to see why Spyware is a Complete Invasion Of Privacy and should not be tolerated.
