Google was a handy source of references to a law school student whose thesis was on money laundering. As a resource, this tool was very advantageous to the student during the writing of her paper. Several months after beginning this research, she began experience problems with being redirected towards sites not related to money laundering when she typed certain words.
Though she originally believed it was a glitch in the internet search systems, the persistence of the annoyances led her to believe that she had been bugged. As far as irritations go, human beings that bug us are the most easy to fend off. The law student, however, had been infected with a far more persistence predator to fend off: adware and spyware programs. As her computer was primarily for personal school-related use, the student’s technology skills were constricted to the most basic of online research and writing.
Seemingly complex computer problems that boggle the minds of most computer uses, like the law student, can typically be summed up with the words spyware and adware. In 2000, the word ‘spyware,’ which had been around since 1995, became a fixture in most people’s computer dialogue. Personal information is infiltrated in this method, using either a software or script that allows another person access to the computer.
Not only are the user’s keystrokes and browsing history examined in this type of computer intrusion, so too is the user’s hard drive. Though spyware employs the kind of methodology that sounds like it came out of a James Bond movie, anyone can be a victim. Invading other’s privacy is a highly intrusive act that definitely makes the innocents involved victims. Technically, spyware can be used to track criminals, but what happens when the program is used for criminal activities like obtaining credit card information’ Because of the hostile nature of these potential infiltrations, every computer should have an updated anti-spyware program.
In attempting to protect yourself, you should block not only spyware, but adware and malware, which are similar programs, as well. Spyware and adware blocker programs can be obtained online. These programs both remove and disable existing bugs and help prevent the future installation of similar malicious software.
In Closing
Spyware, and its cousins, adware and malware, are not self-replicating like viruses or worms, but they cause irritation to the busy computer user nonetheless, as they cause disruption in the use of the computer. Unfortunately, the immense slowing down of infected computers is one of the side effects that can result from these programs. Despite sluggish systems and continual privacy invasions, some spyware programs are able to hide themselves well enough to prevent anyone from identifying them as the culprit. The best step is always a good offense, in this case a blocker, to prevent your system from becoming infected with the malicious programs.
