About Adware and Spyware

Adware and Spyware

There are two more commerical types of software that you can find on your computer. Often legitimate developers will design programmes which incorporate useful functions, but unbeknownst to you either provide them with information about you or try to sell you things. They fall into two main categories:

Adware. Software that tries to sell you things.

Adware is software which sneaks onto your machine and opens up pop-up windows which sell you things, often but not exclusively gambling sites. It's easy to think of these as being related to the site you were visiting, yet often it's because a programme's snuck itself on your computer. If you've closed your browser and yet pop-up windows still appear on your desktop, chances are you've been infected.

Spyware. It tracks what you do. 

Spyware is a more dangerous, less noticeable type of software which covertly grabs information from your PC and sends it back to its leader in out in the cyber-ether. Owing undoubtedly to their potential for criminal moneymaking, malicious spyware programs have become much more advanced in recent years, to the extent that some of the top spyware removers of yesterday can no longer cope. Luckily, there are some new pretenders to the mantle.
Some spyware can be legitimate...

There are a couple of legit spyware programs too; Google's desktop (if you allow it to) can send info on what you've been searching back to Google, and Alexa's toolbar can do the same. In both cases the aim is to monitor your computer to help develop their own product and data about people's searching habits.

Whether you allow this depends on your view on how you want the information to be used. Its mostly harmless but does mean someone, somewhere has access to your searching habits.

Basic anti-adware/spyware measures:

To put your mind at rest you'll need to download some extra software, but in the meantime there are a couple of basic things to do:

Use a pop-up blocker.

If you presume you're being troubled by adware, use a pop-up blocker to alleviate the symptoms while you find a solution. Do be aware though, that not all pop-ups are bad; some sites open new windows in this way - if you want to see them, hold down CTRL while clicking the link.

Be careful when downloading. 

The usual way for ad/spyware programs to get on your machine is by attaching themselves to other things you download. Thus, check the veracity of download sources before getting files.

Delete programmes you don't use. 

Use the add/delete function on your Control Panel to get rid of any programs you don't need anymore; they may be corrupted.