What Is Spyware, Adware, Grayware and Malware?
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SpyBot.com - To put it simply; spyware, adware, greyware,
and malware, are files and programs, typically installed on
your computer without your consent, and range from annoying
to quite dangerous. If your home page changes, or your
browser crashes, or your system gets real slow, this can be
pretty annoying.
However, you may not realize that anything is wrong or that you have been the target of spyware. In some cases, it is the spyware that is not apparent that can be the most dangerous. Some spyware that the SpyBot - Search and Destroy program can detect can even cost you money For instance dialing pornography sites in other countries using 900 numbers, resulting in thousands of dollars in phone bills at the end of the month.
What Is SpyBot?
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SpyBot - Search and Destroy (SpyBot.Com), is a free product
that can locate, identify, and destroy some of the most
common and most dangerous spyware and adware. The creator of
SpyBot - Search and Destroy, Patrick Kolla, has done an
incredible job developing SpyBot-Search and Destroy. This
free software can detect over 24,000 types of problems, is
easy to install, easy to use, and quite frankly, is
something you should not be without.
It can detect, and remove; adware, spyware, auto-dialers, key-loggers, trojans, block tracking cookies, and block threatening ActiveX and IE downloads. It performs auto-updates of new signatures, provides detailed information about problems found, can automate scans, and even provides free e-mail and forum support.
SpyBot-S&D Advanced Features
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The new version of SpyBot - Search and Destroy (v1.4), has
many new features, is much faster than previous versions,
is a multi-installation scanner, performs inactive registry
scans, has a wide array of advanced mode features, and
supports many languages.
SpyBot - Search and Destroy can also track its own usage. This can give you information about who used it and when they used it. For instance, if someone at home is trying to cover their tracks when visiting unhealthy sites.
How SpyBot-S&D Can Help You
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If you are concerned about being spied on, your Internet
usage tracked, computer performance problems, people
tracking what you type, and the possibility of become the
target of fraud, then you need a tool that can pick-up where
your anti-virus software drops-off. Although some anti-virus
packages can detect certain spyware and adware, there is not
one that can do the whole job.
Download SpyBot - Search and Destroy from SpyBot.com, or use the authors direct site link http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/index.html, and protect you and your computer. If you do not have something to protect you against these potentially dangerous, malicious software and files, you might as well expect to be a target for something nefarious. You may even become the target of a hacker.
You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.
About The Author
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Darren Miller is an Information Security Consultant with
over sixteen years experience. He has written many
technology & security articles, some of which have been
published in nationally circulated magazines & periodicals.
If you would like to contact Darren you can e-mail him at
Darren.Miller@ParaLogic.Net. If you would like to know
more about computer security please visitus at
http://www.defendingthenet.com