Spyware

Keep your PC for your family, not for spyware

While you're here on your computer, watch how it behaves. Does it seem really slow? Do you get pop-up ads even when you're not online? Does your browser seem to have a mind of its own?

These are signs your PC might be infected by spyware. It could have happened when you were shopping online, it could have been when the kids were downloading MP3s. If your PC is infected, you definitely are not alone-a survey by Webroot, a software and services company that extensively researches spyware, found four out of every five home computers has some degree of spyware infection.

Many Types of Spyware, Almost All Bad

The term "spyware" originally referred to software that gets onto your computer and sends information back to its source. In its more current, broader definition, spyware is any software that employs a user's Internet connection in the background without the user's knowledge or express permission.

Note that spyware is not necessarily the same as a virus or adware, though distinctions between the types of "potentially unwanted programs" are quite blurry. A virus is software that replicates itself and spreads itself to other PCs. Adware launches banner or pop-up advertising on your computer.

Spyware can barrage your computer use with pop-ups. It can hijack your Web browser and send you to a site you didn't select, and it could even change your browser settings. Some of the worst spyware types are key loggers, which track what you type in, and auto-dialers, which could disconnect you from your local Internet provider and then use an expensive phone number to reconnect you, typically to pornographic sites.

The Whole Family Can Take a Stand

So along with the potential effects of spyware on your computer-slow performance or crashes, off-line pop-ups, loss of browser control, unwanted toll phone calls-you and your family could suffer the violation of your privacy. Courts and legislators are still debating spyware's legality. For now, individuals are responsible for their own protection-and parents are responsible for protecting their families.

Fortunately, a few simple precautions and some common sense will go a long way:

• Install anti-spyware software. Several anti-spyware applications do a good job of protecting your system. See the Toolbox article, "How to Protect Your Computer from Spyware and Adware", for examples.
• Know the enemy. Anyone in the family can bring in spyware, so make sure everyone knows what it is, where it comes from, and how it might get into your PC.
• Downloader beware. You want to know what you get when you buy a car-do the same online. Go only to trusted sites to download music, games, sales materials, or whatever. Read the fine print on each item (the end user licensing agreement, or EULA), and remember the "free" version is much more likely to come with spyware than the full commercial version.
• Send them away the right way. If you decide to get rid of a pop-up ad, get rid of it for good. Close it by clicking the "X"-if you click "OK", you might be agreeing to something without knowing it. Similarly, use caution when deciding whether to open file attachments in e-mail or instant messages.

Your family gets a lot from the Internet-shopping, news, homework help, games, music, communication and more. Keeping it a relatively safe environment for everyone in your family, and your PC working like it should, is not hard-a few simple steps and common sense is all it takes.