How can you detect spyware, or  know that you have been infected with Spyware?

Have some of your software functions stopped working properly?
Do you experience difficulty connected to the internet?
Do adverts suddenly appear on your screen?
Has the level of your junk mail suddenly increased?
Do unfamiliar toolbars suddenly appear?
Do you find additional icons by your clock?
Does your home page change unexpectedly and whatever you do you can’t change it back?

If you find that you have answered yes to some of these, then this could well be an indication that you have become a victim of spyware.

So what exactly is Spyware?
In basic terms it’s a program that spies on what you do with your computer.  Spyware is able to gather together all kinds of information all without your knowledge.

Some spyware programs are more irritating than harmful as they tend to only show adverts and they send the collected information to various advertising companies so they know the type of adverts to give you.  But there are much nastier versions of Spyware, those that try and catch your passwords or even your credit card details.

What are the potential soruces of spyware?
This can vary, but some of the more common ones to watch out for are:

• file sharing programs,

• programs that state they provide special offers while you are internet shopping

• programs that give animated cursors, smileys etc

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are certainly the more common ways to find your computer infected with Spyware.

To remove spyware from your computer you need to use a professional spyware removal program, and these are widely available.   Best of all you need to ensure that your spyware protection is upto date and then you should not find yourself troubled with spyware