Spyware How To Know Whether Your Computer Is Affected

Writen by Markus Wahlgren

A spyware is a software that collects information from a computer with internet connection without the owner's knowledge and relays it to another person. The action of spywares is just watching, observing, and collecting. Though most of the times it is done for advertising purposes, some times they are used with malicious intentions. These spywares usually come as hidden components of freeware programs.

The victims of spywares are usually caught unaware. He or she may not know that a malicious software has been installed in their computer without their knowledge and which keeps tracking their vital information. In this modern era of cyber crime where hackers create havoc, it is necessary to know whether our computer is being installed with any spyware with out our knowledge. But of course many software come with the licensing agreement that a spyware will be installed along with the main software.

The spyware usually enters the computer when the user installs some software. The recent mode of entry of the spyware is in the form of "Rogue antispyware" programs. These are projected as security software whereas in reality they cause damage to the computer.

Signs and symptoms of Spyware infection

Spyware never remains an aloof destroyer. More and more spywares get accumulated causing the unwanted effects. The cumulative effect, and the interactions between the different spyware components, causes the stereotypical symptoms as reported by the users. Some of the signs and symptoms that are helpful to know that a computer is infected with spywares are

Frequent unwanted computer activity

Deterioration of the performance of the computer

Exhaustion of memory resources

Slowing down of the computer

Crashing of the computer

Difficulty in getting an internet connection

Pop up ads on a regular basis

Pop up ads even when the user is working offline

Opening up of an unwanted website while the user tries to log on to some particular website

Computer dialing up numbers automatically without the knowledge of the user which is realized only when he gets the phone bill

Unwanted and unexpected search engine doing the search while the user wants to search something using a search engine of his choice

Popping up of websites incessantly while the user tries to log out

Pop up ads and unsolicited emails with the name of the user

Once the user sees any of these symptoms he should realize that his computer is infected with spywares and should take steps immediately to protect his computer before the computer gets infected very badly.

Markus writes and publishes articles about spyware, adware and PC safety, and other unbiased health related topics on Independent-views.com.