Spyware is a very huge concern right now. Unlike viruses that usually crash your system or make your computer act weird, spyware basically does what its name says – spy on you.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a type of malware (malicious software) that can track the things you do online, partially take control of a compromised computer, and send personal information to the company or individual that made the spyware.

Spyware started out as a means to deliver “targeted online advertisements.” Targeted means each and every advertisement that is displayed on a user’s computer should be something that person is interested in. In order to do that, spyware monitors activities done on a compromised computer, such as tracking visited websites, purchasing habits online, and more.

Once such data is gathered, pop-ups and other forms of advertisement are delivered to users infected with the malware by making use of exploits or other bugs in a web browser or in the operating system itself.

As mentioned, spyware is also capable of seizing partial control of an infected computer, as well as transmitting personal information like bank account and credit card numbers, user names and passwords, and even instant messaging conversations.

Due to its spying nature, the majority of users do not know they are infected with spyware until their computer slows down, spawns countless pop-ups, or fails to boot up.

Stopping Spyware

It is quite scary to imagine what spyware can do to you and your computer. Knowing that spyware can easily infect your computer without your knowledge, you can’t help getting worried when using the Internet. You do not have to worry about this as long as you have the right security software.

Anti-spyware, a type of security software, is a specialized type of computer application that is capable of removing, detecting, and even preventing your computer from getting infected with this particular malware.

There are a lot of anti-spyware products available on the Internet. If you are the budget-conscious and don’t have the extra money to pay for a software license, there is always free software you can use. For more information on removing spyware, read how to detect spyware and how to get rid of spyware.

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