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Spyware is a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. You might have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer if:
- You see pop-up advertisements even when you’re not on the Web. Some unwanted software will bombard you with pop-up ads that aren’t related to a particular Web site you’re visiting. These ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable. If you see pop-up ads as soon as you turn on your computer or when you’re not even browsing the Web, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer.
- The page your Web browser first opens to (your home page) or your browser search settings have changed without your knowledge. Some unwanted software has the ability to change your home page or search page settings. This means that the page that opens first when you start your Internet browser or the page that appears when you select “search” may be pages that you do not recognize. Even if you know how to adjust these settings, you may find that they revert back every time you restart your computer.
- You notice a new toolbar in your browser that you didn’t want, and find it difficult to get rid of. Spyware and other unwanted software can add additional toolbars to your Web browser that you don’t want or need. Even if you know how to remove these toolbars, they may return each time you restart your computer.
- Your computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks. Spyware and other unwanted software are not necessarily designed to be efficient. The resources these programs use to track your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer and errors in the software can make your computer crash. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine.
- You experience a sudden rise in computer crashes. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine.
we’ll talk about how to prevent Spyware from getting onto your computer in one of my next blogs. Stay tuned!
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