THE SLUGGISH COMPUTER
WHAT IS AD WARE AND SPY WARE?

I find more and more people are coming in through my door with the complaint that their computers are running really slow or every time they open their web browser, windows just start popping open. By web browser I mean internet explorer, which normally comes bundled with all of Microsoft’s operating systems, such as windows 98, ME or XP. The main cause for this type of behavior from your computer is Ad ware and/or Spy ware. The difference between the two terms is a little more than just the ad or the spy.

Ad ware, a form of Spy ware, collects information about the user in order to display advertisements in the Web browser based on the information it collects from the user's browsing patterns. Spy ware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. However, Spy ware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. Once installed, these programs transmit that information in the background to someone else.

Ad ware and Spy ware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. The biggest thing about spy ware is that users unwillingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spy ware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today (i.e. Music sharing programs).

Now if all that was like a foreign language to you, you’re in luck because I am about to do some translating.

Basically, don’t let your kids on your computer. Don’t download anything from the internet. Don’t receive any email. Actually, do not even plug your computer into the internet. If all that sounds a little harsh for you, or more so for your relationship with your kids, then there are a few steps you can take to prevent and/or control the amount of ad ware and spy ware installed on your computer. And, the biggest thing is it may save you a few bucks!

Ad ware can be controlled for free, I mean absolutely free! There are a number of Ad ware/ Spy ware removal programs out there that can be found by searching on Google or directly from the following website, www.download.com. The nice thing about download.com is you will find programs that are rated by users so you already know if the program is good before you download it. One of the top rated Ad ware/Spy ware removal programs is called Ad Ware SE Personal and can be downloaded at www.lavasoft.com .
Do not forget, when downloading you must click save not run. This will save the downloaded file to your computer, and allow you to scan the file with your always up to date anti virus program prior to installing.

Happy Computing!

Dwayne A. Kinsella
Discovery Computers
Duncan, British Columbia
Dwayne@discoverycomputers.com
www.discoverycomputers.com