May I know what does a spyware do?
I have Spyware Doctor.

This post has been edited by microscopic^earthling: Nov 12 2005, 02:18 AM

Spyware is the name for programs that "spy". They work just like a virus, but instead of disabling your computer or something they search for information about you on your computer and send that to the creator of the program. So if you got a file with your passwords in it and your computer gets infected by spyware you'd better change your password and don't put it in an textfile anymore.
Spyware Doctor is an anti-spyware program that search for spyware and try to remove it.

-=jeroen=-

And closely related to spyware is adware which is a program that launches ads on you. Pop-up windows come out of nowhere even if you have a pop-up blocker.

both are terrible evil things. like I always tell everyone, run a spyware scan at least once a week to keep your computer safe and running smoothly.

[N]F

Spyware these days are not just used to "spy" on the user anymore. It can slow down your computer dramatically or disconnect you from the internet indefinitely (until it's removed).

Use a program like Ad-aware and Spybot...I recommend those two since they are free to use. If you want to have a paid one, I suggest giving Spy Sweeper a try. You might also want to take a look at Zero Spyware as those two are rated on the top charts for spyware removal.

Sometimes, they're really annoying. They change the starting web page of your web browsers (especially Internet Explorer - it's so prone to them). Also, they install toolbars, weird programs, advertisement softwares, etc onto your computer without you knowing it!! Well, I got so ticked off until I found PC-Clean and Ad-Aware. They were really.... really helpful. Found like tons of malicious 'wares and deleted 'em, just like that.

Anyway, if you are wondering "How do they do that?" Here are some pointers from my experience...

-Accepting cookies from advertisement companies or websites you dont know much about
-Viewing advertisements, I heard they install stuff

That's all I know Sorry Hahahaa

Spyware are annoying little pricks that you just want to kill and kill it's creator but you cant so the best you can do is try to stop getting it first of all no more PRON! (Yes I did mispell that on purpose) and second dont go to any warez, hax, cracks sites they all give it to ya more defences would be a great free program Spybot search and destroy also NOD32 although an antivirus program GREAT for stopping those little buggers for getting in also firewalls are a great tactic, oh right what they do, they sometimes spy and you collect e-mails passwords creditcards anything that can be used against you other types just create annoying pop-ups even when your OFFLINE!!! usually PRON but can be other things to but if it doesnt do those things it more then likley wont be a spyware virus I hoped this helped if you actually read this and would like to know more please let me know

Spyware, adware, and all those *ware's* will just try to force your computer to do something. For example:
[+] Spyware, will probably be exectued as process in background and it will monitor your activities, record them, and upload somewhere. That activities can be: anything you type, anything you click, pages you visit on internet, programs you use mostly, etc...
[+] Adware will force your computer software to display (mostly) pop-up ads when you are browsing internet. Those ads are displayed when you visit specific pages, or type specific searchphrases in searchengines. They also can force your internet browser to change it's start homepage, and to redirect you sometimes to targeted sites. This method of getting audience on internet is called "browser hijacking".
[+] Malware will harm your computer software, or operating system, it can delete files, replace them, and get your computer to unusable state.
[+] Worms goes in virus definition really, but sometime you can infect your computer system with spyware. Worms does all kind of stuff, but mainly they collect specific data, spread to more users via addresses that comes from you, and infect more users while worm transfer data to specific location. Collected data can be anything - from simple stuff (like your IP address) to credit card numbers, site access passwords and more...
[+] Trojans give someone access to your computer, this goes to virus definition also, but beaware, trojans are far more dangerous than spyware. You can get infected easily if you download pirated software/cracks/keygens...

The best protection for anykind of spyware, malware, adware and viruses/trojans/worms is to get some good antivirus software, and good spyware/remove software.

I strongly recommend:
[+] Avast! Antivirus (free edition)
[+] Ad-Aware SE Personal (free edition)

And finally use those 2 programs in conjuction with FireFox web browser.

spybot is a great program to use, and its free, to get rid of spyware, malware, etc also it has an imune system as-well-as a host program blocker and on top of all that it has its Tea Timer program that will help keep everything the way you want it.

Spy Sweeper is great since it has a "real time" scanner, like auto protect on a lot of the newest Anit-virus programs like norton and mcafee, that scans all incoming web data to see if it is a "known" spyware or malware program or whatever.

spyware and the rest can "hijack" your internet connection and allow others to access your system without your knowledge, track your internet useage, and otherwise annoy you by slowing down your system and making gaming virtually impossable. For the most part you can remove most of the spyware that you get but sometimes so much damage has been done that a full system restore is necessary due to the fact that registry damage can be done, whether intenionally or not, by spyware and the rest.

I would definetly suggest that anyone who has a internet connection use a spyware removal program. If you don't wanna pay for one then I'd suggest Spybot S&D, learn how to use it in advanced mode. If you don't want to learn how to do anything beyond installation and clicking to update or click to do system scan then I would suggest paying for Spy Sweeper.