Why You Need Spyware Protection
Spyware ranges from the merely annoying, generating popup ads
and slowing down your computer and internet use, to the very
dangerous, logging keystrokes in an attempt to get at your
passwords, account numbers and other sensitive information.
Why you need to protect yourself and your data
Unfortunately, spyware is everywhere, and the coders of this
malicious software are becoming cleverer at disguising their
code and tricking users into running and installing it. As with
viruses and other malicious code, spyware sometimes gets on your
PC in the form of a link or piece of code buried in an email. In
some cases, the spyware can infect the computer even if the
dangerous email is not opened.
Other forms of spyware are encountered simply by surfing the
web. Some web pages contain malicious code that can track your
movements, keep track of the products you purchase and the
websites you visit, they can even steal passwords and account
information.
The fact is that spyware is almost impossible to avoid these
days. If you surf the web at all, or use your computer for
email, chances are you will encounter spyware at some time or
another. As with virus protection, the key is to be informed,
and to use the correct software to protect yourself from this
threat. There are a number of excellent products on the market
which can root out spyware and automatically protect you from
the harmfull effects.
Try the programs before you buy
Before choosing a spyware removal product, it is a good idea to
try out several different tools and see what they find on your
PC. Different brands of spyware removal tools will find
different types of spyware, so it is important to find out which
one is the best before spending your hard earned cash. Most
suppliers of anti-spyware software offer a free trial period, so
it is quite easy to try out before you buy it.
Additionally, if your computer is fairly new chances are it came
packaged with some sort of spyware detection program, either a
full version or a free trial version. Be sure to check your
computer to see what kind of protection it has. Some computers
come bundled with a security suite, including spyware
elimination, virus protection and firewall protection.
If your computer does not have some sort of spyware protection
already installed you have a variety of choices when it comes to
keeping yourself protected. Many companies make spyware
protection products, including anti-virus companies like
Symantec and Norton. In addition, Microsoft has introduced a
very good spyware protection tool. Again, it is a good idea to
download several trial versions and see what they can do.
The key, however, is to make sure that some sort of spyware
protection is running on your computer at all times. The threat
posed by spyware is present whenever you are online, and it is
vital to protect your personal data from those who seek to
profit from it.