Every person that uses their computer to get on the Internet, to get email and surfs websites must have security in mind. Whether your a home user or a business the general concept remains the same. You need protection from threats on the Internet, Viruses and Spyware.

AntiSpyware

If you surf the Internet you need protection against Spyware. First I will explain what Spyware is for those who don't understand. Spyware is basically a virus that you get from just visiting a website, however it's not actually a virus so your Antivirus software will not detect it. Think of it like this, you go to a website and the person who programmed that website made it so it will download and install on to your computer a little program invisibly (you don't know that it just got installed). Now since they made this little program they can make the program do whatever they want it to. So just by pulling up this website you got infected by this little Spyware program. Throughout the years I have seen Spyware do many different things. Sometimes they break your printing capability, sometimes they kill your Internet connection but most of the time they turn your computer into a zombie computer and thus making it possible for them to send you more Spyware whenever they want. If your computer is running slower and slower and weird things are happening like you can't print or you can't open a program, chances are you have Spyware.

The worst thing about Spyware is that it's almost impossible to get rid of. Viruses are easier to remove then most Spyware. The guys who make Spyware are very clever, they are always finding new ways to have their Spyware be un-removable. When you get infected it's making changes to your registry, Windows system files and settings. So when you try to use some Spyware removal software either it can't remove it or it does remove it but it breaks Windows because you're basically ripping out system files.

The best protection against Spyware is to not get infected in the first place. When I do Spyware removal jobs I explain I can certainly get rid of the Spyware but it might take me 4 hours to do it. You can reinstall Windows from scratch in about 1 hour so why fix when you can start over in less time. To protect yourself you can do a couple of things that won't cost you any money. Get Microsoft's Windows Defender, it's free. Stop using Internet Explorer as your browser and get and use FireFox, also free.

FireFox is a web browser just like IE except it will help keep the Spyware from being installed on your computer.

If you have Spyware Windows Defender can scan and remove Spyware. But you also need another scanner and removal tool called Spybot Search and Destroy also free. Between those two you should be able to rid most of it from your system. Keep in mind that your computer just might not work perfectly after you do remove the found Spyware, but you really have no choice you must get rid of it. Any stuff remaining that those two can remove will be a job for an expert unless your willing to spend hours researching and asking questions in Spyware message boards.  

Bottom Line

• Backup your computer all the time, should you get infected you might have to do a clean install.
• Know where your Windows and Applications installation CD disc's are along with serial numbers.
• Use Mozilla FireFox as your browser
• Stop Using Internet Explorer
• Use Microsoft's Windows Defender for your AntiSpyware program
• Use Spybot Search and Destroy also to scan, find and remove Spyware already on your computer