Free Spyware Software

One of the fun parts of owning a computer is, of course, access to the internet. The worldwide web is chock full of useful information, readily available at your fingertips! It is also home to potentially lethal viruses, many of which can wreak havoc on your system within moments. The following four programs can help you avoid trouble; best of all they are absolutely free.

Firefox - a web browser for the ages. Okay, a web browser that beats Internet Explorer by preventing pop ups and harmful scripts from being downloaded to your computer. Lots of nifty features too, including tabbed browsing, live bookmarks, and tons of add-on features.

Spybot Search and Destroy - gets rid of adware, spyware, and malware. Blocks the installation of spyware before it occurs; works in conjunction with anti-virus software, not as a replacement for one.

AVG Antvirus - offers basic antivirus protection including scanning email attachments for viruses and scanning of all hard drives, removable drives, and external drives on your computer. A paid version does some additional tasks and includes technical support.

Zone Alarm - if you don’t have a firewall installed on your computer, you are opening yourself up to potential catastrophic security breaches. With Stealth Mode enabled you can search the internet in private, away from the intruding eyes of those who might want to steal your important information.

As with many freeware programs, “pro” or professional versions of the software are sometimes available to give computer users a maximum amount of protection, for a price. Still, all four of these programs have something to offer and are worth exploring. Your computer safety and privacy is essential, insure it today by downloading the programs that are right for you.

Copyright 2005 — Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

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Spyware is simply what it sounds like - software that spies on your online activity. You won’t even know that it’s installed most of the time since it is usually installed when you are browsing on the web or download another program and there are no informative pop-ups that ask, “Would you like to install some Spyware so we can spy on you?”

While Spyware is exactly what it sounds like, what it actually does may be even more malicious in nature. One of the main goals of Spyware is to get information about you. One type of information seems almost harmful, but “Big Brother” in nature, is that it tracks your online activity and sends this information to its installer. The question is, who is doing the installing?

So why would your online activity need to be monitored? Well, one purpose is probably for good and that is to monitor a child’s activity on the internet. Spyware for this use seems like a good thing since it is being used to protect your child. However, other purposes are for the government to spy on you or for companies to build marketing strategies around your online activities. All of these uses are an invasion of privacy, and while the parent may have the right to invade a child’s privacy, the government and ad agencies spying on your online activity seems a little Stalinesque and malicious.

The worst effects of Spyware, however, are seen by Spyware programs installed by hackers intent on stealing your personal information. The Spyware programs installed by hackers could put you at risk for identity theft. These spyware programs can search your hard drive and gather any information that might be useful for them to obtain your bank account numbers, credit card numbers, passwords and any other information that would allow them access to your money.

The best solution is to get good software that will scan your computer for any Spyware, Adware and Viruses you might already have installed as well as eliminate it and protect you from further invasions.

For more information and to get a free scan, go to Anti-Virus Now or Opinedmind - Antivirus Software

The author runs the website Opinedmind.com writing articles on computing and financial issues.

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Spyware and Adware programs are the latest tools in the insidious world of information farming and computer hacking. The terms Adware, Spyware and Malware are typically used in an interchangeable manner by many end-users of PCs, but in truth, the definitions of the programs are different.

Spyware programs and applications are often downloaded unbeknownst to the end user, and installed in the computer’s hard drive. These applications then (as their name implies) spy on the user, transmitting surfing habits, sites visited, demographic information and more to the company that inserted the program. A tremendous concern about spyware is not only breach of privacy for the end user, but a growing trend in identity theft, credit theft and other forms of illegal usage of the information harvested. Spyware programs are rife among sites that employ shareware downloads, such as Kazaa, Bonzi Buddy, Morpheus and other shareware sites.

Adware applications are generally applications that come bundled in with a software program in order to encourage the consumer to purchase more products, upgrade to a pricier version or to test out other programs.

Malware programs are programs designed specifically to destroy or bring harm to a PC and its functionality. Malware includes the typical viruses, Trojans and worms that are typically protected against by anti-virus programs such as Trend Micro’s PC-Cillin.

While most end users typically employ some type of anti-virus shield, an alarming number of PCs are vulnerable to a spyware or adware program. Specialized programs exist which will shield computers from these specific threats. These specialized programs protect the end users in two ways. First, they protect the end user by employing a scanning technology similar to an anti-virus program. They will scan the PC and identify and remove and existing spyware on the PC. The second functionality is real-time protection, which prevents the re-infestation of the cleaned PC from any additional programs by notifying the end user of potential threats and preventing insertion of malicious code into the registry or other programs and downloads.

Most Spyware protection programs are downloadable from the internet, and several of them, such as NoAdware (downloadable at www.spybreaker.com”>), offer a free scan of the end-user’s PC before purchase. An ounce of prevention, though, is worth a pound of cure, though, and I highly recommend downloading a spyware protection program before your information gets hi-jacked.

www.spybreaker.com”>Protect Remove Spyware, Adware & Toolbars

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