How to Become Your Own Spyware Protection Expert?

Answer 1

As tremendously useful as a computer can be to its owner, it can be just as useful to a hacker or other malicious interest if the owner has been the unwitting target of spyware deployment. The danger posed by spyware can run the gamut from the relatively harmless and basic tracking of websites visited by the target, to the potentially catastrophic effects of keystroke loggers that can capture passwords, credit card numbers, email addresses and anything else the user types. Unfortunately, in most instances, the target is unaware that his or her machine has been infiltrated by such insidious code. What's worse, anti-spam and standalone antivirus programs do virtually nothing to prevent a spyware infestation. Short of hiring a costly professional to check your system, diagnose and treat any problems, and maintain your computer's clean state once any problems have been removed, what is the average computer owner to do? Simple: become your own spyware protection expert.

With minimal effort, anyone can identify spyware on their computer, remove it, and ensure that it doesn't come back by following a handful of basic guidelines. Here's what to do:

1. Download and browse with care. That is, don't blindly download files from untrusted sites or suspicious looking emails. Oftentimes, computer owners download legitimate freeware from less-than-legitimate websites. In some cases, spyware is included in those downloads. Use a reputable site like download.com for your freeware needs, since all material is guaranteed free of the nasties.
2. Related to guideline #1, be sure to carefully read any popups that present themselves when initiating a download; it might provide information about "tagalongs," or unwanted software (i.e. spyware) that will be downloaded with the desired application.
3. Computer users are often surprised to learn that they actually agreed to install spyware in the process of installing another application. Although usually long and boring, the End User License Agreement (EULA) for any legitimate application will also describe any other tagalong software that the user implicitly agrees to install when installing the desired program. Read it carefully.
4. Ensure that your antivirus program also actively defends against trojans and other malicious spyware. If it doesn't, there are several programs available that will.
5. Unfortunately, programs that actively defend against spyware don't catch all threats all the time. To plug this hole, it's best to use a free manual scanning program like AdAware or Spybot Search & Destroy.