What is Spyware? Is Your Personal Information Safe?
What is spyware? Well, the name pretty much says it all. Spyware is software designed to spy on you. Or, at least, on the personal and financial information that finds its way onto your computer. This information is collected and then transmitted to another computer, to a third party who can use that information to do anything from run up your credit card bills, clean out your bank account, or outright steal your identity. If you have started getting phone calls from creditors insisting that you’ve made purchases you know you haven’t made, it’s very possible that you’ve been the victim of a spyware attack.
Some people seem to feel that fear of spyware, and other computer privacy threats, have been blown out of proportion, and even verges on paranoia. But anyone who has had t deal with the problems malicious spyware being installed on their computer can tell you that there is no such thing as worrying too much.
There are many types of spyware, and each type works in different ways to steal your information. Some spyware keeps track of every website you visit, and every piece of software you download. Other spyware keeps track of every key you hit on your keyboard. How many times have you typed in your passwords, credit card numbers, social security numbers, bank account numbers, and other important information using your keyboard? Well a type of spyware called a keylogger keeps track of it all.
The worst thing about the spyware programs installed on your computer is that you usually won’t even know they are there. That’s the point. They couldn’t really do what they were designed to do if they were that easy to find and get rid of. So they hide, and are free to keep stealing your information while you are none the wiser.
Spyware sounds kind of scary, doesn’t it? Well, it is. Fortunately, by learning what you need to do to scan your computer for spyware, and safely remove it, you can protect yourself, and your bank account.
