|
|
|
INTRODUCTION:
Some of you may already know about SPYWARE. For those of you who don't,
here are the details.
WHAT IS SPYWARE?
Spyware is made up of files or system settings, placed on YOUR
computer's hard drive by a business or individual for the purpose monitoring the
places you visit on the Internet (Without your permission, of course).
WHAT DOES SPYWARE DO?
When these people collect the data that your computer reports to them (which
can include your email address), they sell this information to companies who
deal in that particular type of product or service.
Example: You visit a site that deals in Automobiles. Within the next few days you're getting all sorts of unsolicited emails asking you to buy cars from them or trying to sell you service packages. Guess what, you've been put on a Spammer's Mailing List.
WHERE IS SPYWARE FOUND?
Spyware can be found in COOKIES, FILES, FOLDERS & even in the REGISTRY
KEYS on your computer.
HOW DOES SPYWARE GET ON MY SYSTEM?
One of the easiest ways for someone to install a Spyware component on
your system is to automatically install a cookie on your computer when you visit
their web site. These are the least intrusive type.
Another way is by downloading a program that isn't the program you thought it was. Many times you download the .exe file only to find out that it is just a program that re-directs you to a site that you didn't want to go to in the first place. These can be the most intrusive types. They normally install themselves into your REGISTRY! In some cases this can be very dangerous, because some can contain VIRUSES.