With spyware infections on the rise online, the common question you hear is: “How do I protect my computer against spyware and adware?” Many are so desperate that they will do anything to find and remove spyware from their computers.

Having experienced an infection some time ago and knowing the trouble I went through searching for information online on “how to protect my computer from spyware and adware problems” and finally finding a way to fix this problem, I have put together this article to help others who are experiencing this issue.

But first, what really is spyware?

When faced with the problem, the first thing I did, before thinking about looking for a way to find and remove spyware or even wondering “how do I protect my computer from spyware and adware?”, was to find out and understand what spyware and adware it really is. And this is what I discovered:

Adware: Software that is installed on your computer without proper notification or permission and alters your browser and/or security settings, with the aim of displaying advertising without monitoring the user.

Spyware – Any program that enters your computer without permission and hides in the background while making unwanted changes to your user experience in order to surreptitiously monitor your computer activities and transmit that information over the Internet.

Also, I learned that spyware is generally not designed to harm your computer. The damage it does is more of a by-product of its main mission, which is to show you targeted ads or cause your browser to display certain sites or search results.

These malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and antivirus software without the user’s knowledge. This is why, in most cases, it is not easy to find and remove spyware with antivirus software. Fortunately, however, unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs don’t usually replicate themselves. But once embedded in a computer, spyware can wreak havoc on system performance while collecting your personal information.

So where does spyware come from?

To my dismay, I discovered that I, like many people who ask how I protect my computer from spyware, was somehow responsible for allowing spyware onto my computer. Most of the time this comes from downloading Freeware programs.

You may not know it, but by downloading an ad-supported free program, you have allowed spyware or adware to enter your PC!

Spyware generally originates in three ways. These are:

1. The first and most common is when the user installs it, as in the example above. In this scenario, spyware is embedded, attached, or bundled with a freeware or shareware program without the user’s knowledge. Once downloaded, the spyware program goes to work collecting data for the spyware author’s personal use or to sell to a third party.

2. Another way spyware can gain access to your computer is by tricking it into tampering with security features designed to prevent unwanted installations. For example, a pop-up window modeled after a standard Windows dialog box may appear on your screen. The message may ask if you want to optimize your Internet access. It provides yes or no response buttons, but no matter which button you press, a download containing the spyware program will begin.

3. Finally, some spyware applications infect a system by attacking security holes in the web browser or other software. When the user navigates to a web page controlled by a spyware author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser and force the installation of the spyware program.

You may be wondering now, how can I protect my computer from spyware with all this in mind? The truth is, there are a couple of things you can do to prevent spyware from infecting your computer system.

has. First, invest in a reputable commercial anti-spyware program. There are several currently on the market, including stand-alone software packages. Other options provide antispyware software as part of an antivirus package. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware by providing real-time protection, scanning, and removal of any spyware found.

b. Internet Explorer (IE) often contributes to spyware problems because spyware programs like to stick to their functionality. Spyware enjoys penetrating IE’s weaknesses. Because of this, many users have switched to non-IE browsers. However, if you prefer to stick with Internet Explorer, be sure to update security patches regularly and only download programs from trusted sources. This will help reduce the chances of spyware infiltration.

against Beware of many P2P file sharing programs. They are known for downloads containing spyware programs. The user of a downloadable program should pay particular attention to the license agreement that accompanies it. Often the software publisher will warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested program. Unfortunately, we don’t always take the time to read the fine print. Some agreements may provide special “opt-out” boxes that the user can click to prevent spyware from being included in the download. Be sure to review the document before signing the download.

But if all this fails?

Finally, if your computer has been infected with a large number of spyware programs, the only solution you may have is to back up your data and perform a complete reinstallation of the operating system.

If you’ve been inundated with the threat of spyware and have been wondering, “How do I protect my computer from spyware and adware?” or “How do I find and remove spyware?” I hope these tips help you.

Chadrack Irobogo