What's Lurking Inside Your Computer?

If you're connected to the Internet, eventually you're going to be forced into dealing with Viruses, Worms, Trogan Horses and Spyware.
 Your computer crashes or is unstable. It takes longer to startup or runs slower. Your Internet connection is slower. Web pages take longer to display. Plus any number of other bazaar behaviors!

What can you do?
Remove Spyware from your computer by using purchased anti-Spyware and anti-Virus software or free anti-Spyware and anti-Virus downloadable programs available on the Internet. Visit these web sites to learn more and to obtain free anti-Spyware and anti-Virus programs.

Adaware - Free version of their "for purchase" anti-Spyware software.
Sybot Search and Destroy - Free anti-Spyware program supported by donations.
Spyware-Guide - Free computer scan and removal of any Spyware on your computer.
AVG Free 8.0 -Free version of their "for purchase" anti-Virus software.
AVIRA AntiVir -Free version of their "for purchase" anti-Virus software.

What is Spyware? - Spyware is any software that gathers information through your Internet connection without your knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloads from the Internet. Spyware may also be installed on your computer if you click on an option in a deceptive pop-up window. Spyware programs running on your computer use the resources of your computer and the bandwidth of your Internet connection. They collect and relay information about you back to the advertiser or a third party.

What are Viruses? - A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real programs. For example, a virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet program. Each time the spreadsheet program runs, the virus runs, too, and it has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other programs) or wreak havoc.

What are E-mail viruses? - An e-mail virus moves around in e-mail messages, and usually replicates itself by automatically mailing itself to dozens of people in the victim's e-mail address book.

What are Worms? - A worm is a small piece of software that uses computer networks and security holes to replicate itself. A copy of the worm scans the network for another machine that has a specific security hole. It copies itself to the new machine using the security hole, and then starts replicating from there, as well.

What are Trojan horses? - A Trojan horse is simply a computer program. The program claims to do one thing (it may claim to be a game) but instead does damage when you run it (it may erase your hard disk). Trojan horses have no way to replicate automatically.