Spyware Prevention and Best Practices
Spyware has become more and more dangerous each day. In the past, it was considered an annoyance and caused performance issues on your computer but today that reality is entirely different.
Spyware has become a big business, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars each year, all of which is obtained by cyberhackers exploiting computers that have insufficient antispyware protection or no antispyware protection at all.
The reality of todays Internet driven world is that is has become much easier for those cyber criminals to get their hands on a user’s personal and private information simply by programming spyware software that can secretly download and install itself and then log crucial information such as keystrokes and browsing habits and send that information off to another server that the hacker has control of. That data is then used to gain access to bank accounts, credit cards, etc. and ultimately can lead to identity theft.
Running antispyware software on your computer is no longer a luxury, but it is a necessity and is the only way to truly combat the complexity of today’s Internet Information Sharing Age.
More people are accessing the Internet each and every day without the proper knowledge or information on how to keep their computer free from spyware and keep their information secure from cyberhackers and criminals and are easy prey.
If you only do one thing to protect yourself and your computer, make sure you have top of the line antispyware software running on your computer that includes real time protection and you’ll go a long way to keeping your computer secure and your identity safe.
In addition to that however, are a number of other steps and measures you can take to help ensure your computer stays spyware free.
- Turn your Windows Firewall on
If you are running Vista or Windows 7, Click Here for Instructions
If you are running Windowx XP, Click Here for Instructions - Turn On Windows Updates
If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, Click Here for Instructions
If you are running Windows XP, Click Here for Instructions - Avoid “Suspect” websites. Most importantly, this means stay away from pornographic and gambling sites.
- Only open email from people you know and when viewing attachments, always save the file to your hard drive first and then have it scanned by your antispyware software. This will ensure that the file is clean before you open it.
- Never, ever, under any circumstances, click on security or warning pop-ups. This is the most common method hackers use to get you to install their malicious software for them, and that is by bombarding you with fake “Security Warning” or “Spyware Warning” pop-ups.
- Stay away from non-legitimate news sites. Another method hackers are using these days is by following the hot news stories and then putting up numerous fake websites that promote their malicious software. So if you are searching for news about the latest celebrity or whatever it may be, make sure you only visit a trusted website. If you haven’t heard of the site or if it sounds funny, don’t visit it. Stick to what you know and have used before.
- Don’t play games on Social Networking sites like Facebook or MySpace without antispyware protection. Some of the games on these popular sites have been known to install suspicious software on computers so if you do play games on any of these types of networking sites, make sure your antispyware software is on and running.
- Stay away from file sharing sites and torrent sites. The files and torrents you find on places like Kazaa, Limewire, The Pirate Bay, etc. are all loaded with viruses and spyware (not to mention many are illegal). Your best bet is to stay away from these entirely.
By folowing the advice contained within these 8 items as well as making sure you are running a top of the line antispyware software on your computer (like Spyware Doctor) – you will go a very long way to making sure your computer is, and stays, spyware free.
