Spyware Blockers

Tips For Avoiding Adware, Spyware and Malware

Even though adware, spyware and malware are all well known risks of computer usage, millions of these infections take place each year. There are literally thousands of variations of known spyware, adware and malware programs, and completely unique programs crop up each year. These applications can keep XoftSpy SE busy!

How Do Computers Get Infected With Adware, Spyware and Malware?

Despite the fact that this kind of malware is known, computers are still getting infected, often by tried-and-true techniques that computer users don’t recognize for what they are. Adware, spyware and malware sometimes act like viruses and can have similar effects on an infected computer, but technically, they’re not viruses. These programs do not self-replicate like a virus does. Instead, each affected computer is voluntarily infected by a user, often who is unaware of what they’re actually loading onto the computer.

Adware, spyware and malware may be loaded onto your computer by clicking on links that are embedded in viral email, or that accompany seemingly legitimate programs, free applications or utilities that purport to serve one function, and actually perform other actions surreptitiously.

What Do These Applications Do?

Most often, these applications display advertising that may or may not be related to your browsing. This advertising may include ads and images that you or other users may find offensive and embarrassing.

Additionally, these programs can track your browsing habits, display context-sensitive advertising, hijack a browser session and send you to sites you don’t want to visit. These programs may load other programs onto your computer, track your keystrokes, capture passwords, login IDs and other sensitive information, like credit card numbers and bank information. They also relay this information to a third party, most often to facilitate identity theft.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

By having adequate spyware protection like XoftSpy SE, you can prevent or mitigate most spyware, adware and malware infections. In addition, you can limit the likelihood that these programs will affect you if you follow a few simple rules.