Free Spyware Software - Microsoft Really Delivers
Bill Gates and in turn Microsoft are notorious on two counts. Firstly always missing the boat when it comes to new technologies and ideas, and secondly creating a leaky operating system that allows spammers, scammers and other devious operators to gain access to our PCs via Spyware and Trojan like programs.
But now Microsoft is finally offering some help with a winning piece of FREE software to combat a lot of these problems.
What Is Spyware
Spyware is a general term for a computer program that secretly monitors your actions. While the programs are sometimes sinister, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use spyware to gather data about customers and then serve them with adverts. A Trojan program is a subsection of Spyware.
Recent estimates put the amount of affected computers worldwide at around 90% unless action has been taken to combat the problem. So the odds state quite clearly that if you haven’t swept your computer for these kinds of threats it will most probably be infected.
But how do PCs get infected with spyware? Two ways –
- By users downloading infected programs perhaps not knowing what they're doing, and
- Just by surfing the web. Yes, going to a website can mean you get infected and often it has nothing to do with the website in question, it's really just a function of you being connected to the internet.
Also note, a classic way to get infected by spyware is for the spyware designer to market his software as an 'anti-spyware tool' in a similar vein to a burglar knocking on your door dressed as a Policeman offering to do a free security check of your house!
So What To Do if You Suspect Spyware?
The first thing is to realise that you're often wasting your money buying software to defeat the problem because some of the best Anti Spyware software can be had for free.
Microsoft has recently produced an excellent free AntiSpyware tool that is simple to set up and can automatically sweep your system for problems everyday. However, before you run any anti spyware program you must update your Windows operating system – This can be done by visiting this Microsoft page and following the online instructions.
Note that it is critical to update your operating system (most readers will be using Windows XP or Windows 2000) because hackers and scammers literally take apart Windows to find weak links and security holes which can be used to sneak their programs into our PCs.
So when one of these 'open doors' in Windows is reported to Microsoft they write some code to close it, a so called security patch. BUT, consumers can only benefit from the patch if they download it.
A Simple Two Step AntiSpyware Plan
- Update your Windows operating system at least once a month (you can easily set Windows up to do this automatically got Start > Settings > click on the ‘System’ icon and click the ‘Automatic Updates’ tab selecting ‘Automatic’
- Install and run the free Microsoft AntiSpyware program which is called ‘Windows Defender – It’s available on this page
Note, that the software will only run on Windows 2000 and Windows XP so if you're using Windows 98 then you really should upgrade your software.
Finally, it’s also a good idea to set the Windows Defender software to automatically scan for Spyware threats everyday. If you’re not sure on how the software works Microsoft have some online guides on the link above.
Summary
Spyware is a real threat and if you do nothing about it you will have problems either now or in the future. And with tools available for free like the Microsoft program you have no excuse for not taking action.
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