There are currently over 78,000 spyware and adware programs that are infecting innocent Internet users such as yourself through downloadable games, music, screensavers, pictures, pop-ups, emails, and the list goes on and on. Spyware and Adware can cause your PC to run extremely slow and even crash, and allow hackers and advertising companies to invade your privacy whenever they wish.
So yes, spyware and adware is a big problem that you must be aware of in order to protect your PC from possible harm.
What is Spyware? Spyware applications are programs and files that hide on your PC's hard drive without your direct knowledge. These programs allow hackers and advertising companies to track your every move, both online and even when you work offline. They can track the websites you visit, the items that you buy online, the emails you send and receive, your Instant Message dialog, and worst of all they can even record your credit card number, personal identification numbers, and all of your passwords. If you use dial-up to connect to the Internet then spyware can be used to bill 900 numbers to your phone bill. This is just a short list of the harm that spyware can cause.
What is Adware? Adware applications are installed onto your PCs hard drive by Internet advertising companies that allow them to inundate you with pop-up ad after pop-up ad all day long. Have you ever noticed a strange icon on your desktop or start menu and wondered where it came from? Have you ever logged on to the Internet to find that your home page had been switched? Are there strange search bars on every page you visit? These are all adware programs. These program can place icons almost anywhere on your PC, they can change your home page whenever they wish, and they control your google search results so you see the results that they want you to see.
