Spyware software symptoms

If your computer is acting strange and have one of the following symptoms – it's possible you have some spyware software on your system.

I have pop-up ads jumping up all the time

Some spyware software can force popup ads that are not in any connection with any website you are visiting that time. That's usually some adult pop-up ads or some other you don't want to see. If you have pop-ups even when you are not connected on internet, than you probably have spyware on your computer.

My setups changed and I can't get them back to normal

Some malware software can change your browser homepage and some other browser settings. When you open your web browser you see some strange webpage and you have no idea where it gets from. When you change it, on next browser opening, you have same problem. This problem is more common if you are using Internet Explorer. This kind of spyware is rare if you're using Opera or FireFox.

My web browser have some plug-ins or toolbars I didn't installed

Some spyware software can add toolbars or even some plug-in you without you knowledge. If you try to remove them and succeed, they will get back after next browser opening.

My computer works slower

Many spyware programs are using many RAM memory while they track your activity. That can slow your system very much. That can make some of your normal software or whole system breaks sometimes. If you are experiencing this problems often, try antispyware.

Antispyware prevention

What is important for Antispyware prevention

To avoid spyware software, first you need to install few antispyware programs. The best combination is at start - some regular antispyware like: BitDefender Antivirus v10is a powerful antivirus and antispyware tool with features that best meet your security needs.
(contains antivirus, Web Scanning, Peer-2-Peer and IM Applications Protection, Real-Time Antispyware, Anti-Dialer, ...), Kaspersky Anti-Virus Products
(including protection from viruses, spyware, Trojans, worms, spam and hacker attacks), Panda Software
(antivirus, Antvirus + Firewall, Panda Internet Security 2007). If you have some of those software inclooded firewall, you don't need another firewall software (also, it's not recomended to mix two firewalls in same time). Besides that, you need
Ad-aware SE Plus
and Spybot Search & Destroy .

Don't use Internet Explorer. Use Opera or Mozilla Firefox. It's free and secure.

Opera and FireFox can't be 100% secure, but Internet Explorer is the worst solution for browsing, when we are talking about spyware. Lot of spyware installs as plugin on Internet Explorer (like Browser Helper Object or toolbar). Also, bad advertisers use many Internet Explorer wholes to install spyware on user computers.

If you decide to use IE anyway, than at least install patches regularly, and unable ActiveX.

You can get spyware with some shareware software you download from internet, too. So, don't download software from anywhere. Cleensoftware website is good example for secure Windows software checked for spyware. Download.com also offers only software tasted on spyware with Ad-Aware and Spyware Doctor.

Some software contains spyware inside and there is one more thing where you must be careful. Here is a list of software contained some spywere in past. It's possible some of them are still dangerous, so check before download or install on your computer. Bearshare, Bonzi Buddy, old DivX (except paid version, and standard version without encoder), Dope Wars, Download Accelerator Pro, ErrorGuard, FlashGet (free version), Grokster, Kazaa, RadLight, WeatherBug, WildTangent, AOL Instant Messenger, EDonkey2000, LimeWire (Windows free version before 3.9.3).