By Martin Stranges

Got pop-ups? Not to worry. More common than a milk mustache and much less healthy, these insidious threats loom every time you connect to the internet. If your computer has become unbearably slow or unstable, you have likely fallen victim to the bothersome cyber mischief Spyware, also known as Malware or Adware. When Spyware infects a computer, using e-mail or surfing the web unmolested becomes a cumbersome task.

It is not a matter of if Spyware will invade your computer, only a matter of when.

This craftily written software can hijack your browser, slow your PC to a crawl, throw pop-ups in your face, and track you online.

Spyware is revenue driven, and companies use this nasty software to direct the proper advertising to your virtual doorstep. The more you visit a company’s website or view its products online, the more likely you are to become infected by Spyware that prompts you to produce revenue for the advertiser by buying something.

Now that we know about Spyware, how do we fight it? As we all know, few things in this world come free, especially on the Internet. When we download something, we receive a product, and the authors of that product want to be paid. The catch is that you do not pay for the product directly. No one asked you for a credit card number when you downloaded a file sharing program, fun game or seemingly useful utility. They are paid by the click of your mouse when you go to their employer’s website to make a purchase.

Avoiding Spyware is the easiest way to avoid this type of intrusion. Any file sharing program such as Kazaa, Imesh, or Bearshare may seem like antiseptic ways to acquire your favorite music or movies, but you will pay a price. Downloading free music is copyright infringement, and the chances of being sued are about 1 in 5,000. Plus, these programs install their little advertising-driven friends. If you take the time to read the lengthy terms you must agree to, you will know this.

File sharing programs will even stop working if you disable or uninstall any of its Spyware components. Those helpful toolbars are another type of Spyware vessel. They are either Spyware themselves or install Spyware components during their own installation. Cool Web Search, My Web Search, and Lycos seem to be the most common offenders. Free game installations like Wild Tangent also soil your system with unwanted advertising. Tracking Cookies is Spyware that watches the websites you visit, that reports back to its owners, and in the future, directs more appropriate advertising to you.

I recommend downloading and using free software available online to eliminate Spyware infestations. You can download Adaware free for personal use, or a professional version for a price. Adaware updates about every eight to ten days and does a fantastic job with a simple, easy-to-use interface.

Spybot, another effective and user-friendly removal tool, updates often. You may enjoy reading the license agreement on this one, as it is adorable and a trifle scary at the same time. Another tool, CWShredder, is dedicated to removing the Cool WWW Search Spyware. These programs are available either at http://www.download.com or http://www.majorgeeks.com under Spyware removal tools.

Firewalls can also effectively derail Spyware. ZoneAlarm and Norton are two good ones. A good firewall will monitor what comes in and goes out of your PC. You will be surprised at what goes on behind the scenes in your computer that the firewall brings to the forefront.

The best defense against Spyware is a good offense. Be careful what you and your family downloads, and use any of the removal utilities we mentioned to clean up, speed up, and keep your computer healthy. Please note that not all Spyware is created equally, and a severe infestation coupled with other software problems is a sure sign to call a professional.

Martin Stranges is Senior Technician for In Home PC. You may reach him at 724-942-1337 or inhomepc@adelphia.net. Or browse the website at http://pittsburghcomputerrepair.com.