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WHAT IS SPYWARE?
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Spyware is any internet program that tracks and sends information back to a third party — without the user's permission — when it lands on a computer. The negative effects of spyware range from simple irritations to potential disaster. When spyware is on your PC it will almost certainly cause your internet connection to dramatically slow down and you will get an excessive amount of annoying pop-up windows. Left untreated, spyware could begin to crash your computer and even lead to identity theft.
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LATEST THREATS
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Web communities have been extremely popular of late, not just for users and investors, but also for keyloggers and phishers looking to cash in on inexperienced users.
For spyware distributors, it’s open season on networking hubs like MySpace, FaceBook, and Friendster. Why? These wildly popular gathering spots (MySpace has the biggest user base at 63 million) are hotbeds of data sharing, bustling centers of cyber-exchange where meeting strangers is part of the fun.
Of course, it becomes a lot less fun when scammers masquerading as harmless folk bundle malware into a link, infecting your system with worms and Trojan horses, or allowing keyloggers to steal personal data. Phishers are lurking as well, taking advantage of users’ trust in the networks’ recognized names to create bogus links that appear to be legitimate, but actually lead to dangerous Web sites that can capture sensitive information.
We don’t want to scare you into reclusion, but visitors to these sites and relatives of the Myspace Generation should improve their security practices:
Tip: Avoid downloading anything from social networking sites at work, or when attached to a network of information that could be compromised, and don’t enter personal information on sites linked to from networking sites.
Software solutions: Regularly scan your computer for dirty sneaks with the fast-and-easy Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner, and use SiteAdvisor to warn you about suspicious Web sites.
Tip: Use different passwords for networking, e-mail, and financial sites, so if you do get hooked by a phisher you won’t leave yourself completely wide open to fraud.
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