The Complete Windows Spyware Guide
Windows Antispyware

Windows Antispyware
Spyware is the latest big problem to arrive from the Internet.

In some cases it does resemble the actions of a Virus very closely, but as the name spyware implies it spies on you, or your pc,

mostly just on your browsing habits, but some times to a more more extreme level.

I'm sure most of you have heard of the word cookie, a cookie is a small file that your pc downloads when you go to a web site.

If you return to the web site, the cookie is then recognized and you show up as a returning visitor.

This type of windows spyware is harmless and is a general part of Internet browsing, but you can clear the cookies every now and then if you so wish, but this is normal and is nothing to worry about.

you can read more about deleting cookies and how they can be considered spyware on our FREE spyware removal page

The next kind of windows spyware can be much more annoying, ever been just browsing and all of a sudden you get a window popup?

It can be anything from a sales banner, to an advert for a porn or gambling web site, this probably means one of two things, either the windows messaging service is running or you have spyware on your pc.

(The windows messenger service should not be confused with MSN messenger, the two are completely different, MSN messenger enables you to chat to people through the MSN messenger interface.

The windows messenger service is actually part of the operating system, it enables you to send quick messages to other users, but if your pc is connected to the Internet, this could be used by a third party to send banners or popups to your pc.

If you are using Windows XP service pack 2 the chances are it's been disabled, but if you are not, it may still be enabled.

To disable it or check to see if it's disabled perform the following

Go to the start menu, select run type services.msc after a few seconds you should get a services box on the screen,

scroll through the services until you find the one listed as messenger

Right click on it, you will get a small menu, select properties and the startup type should have disabled selected, if not, just click in it and change it to this.

Once done , the next time you restart your computer it will be off.

Luckily this type of spyware or popup is not usually anything more than annoying.

If you find this kind installed or if your pc has these symptoms I would strongly advise you use some kind of windows antispyware immediately, as you may have more installed, which does not advertise itself,

I've added a couple of links to some of the best free Windows Antispyware programs on the bottom of this page, but please finish reading the rest before proceeding, it will save you time in the long run.

At present the most extreme kind of spyware around are the the key loggers,

Once this kind of spyware is installed, things can get very serious.

A key logger will record keystrokes, this could include passwords from banking or other private information,

the information is then uploaded to a web location, then the person who instigated the key logger, gets the file and browses it to see that can be found.

Key loggers can be the hardest to find and remove, one of the key points to a key logger is the fact that the person who wrote it does not wish it to be found, they sometimes have stealth capabilities, it's files may be hidden or disguised to look like system files. Spyware generally gets on your pc when security is too low.

When you browse a web page or it may get installed off the back of an application that seems ok,
For instance you download and install a third party calculator, along with the calculator you get a special freebie installed "some spyware".

By following our Windows Security fact sheet you should be able to avoid this, or if your pc is already infected you will be able to remove any spyware.

If you haven't already be sure to read our other articles on Windows Security

Now your up to speed on windows antispyware Why not checkout some of our other articles..

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