What is Spyware? Spyware is a software application that infects your computer in many different ways, and through various different methods. There are many different types of spyware. Some monitor your web viewing habits in order to better target advertising to you, others simply bombard you with several pop-up ads What is the difference between spyware and a virus? Spyware is different from a virus in a few different ways. Spyware most often, in one way or another is centered around advertising. In most cases, it is not the purpose of spyware to harm your computer. This is usually just a side effect of the spyware taking control of different aspects of your computer, or the result of multiple pieces of spyware conflicting with each other. Additionally, spyware and virus differ at their origin. Viruses are most often created by individuals for the purposes of gaining fame or recognition for causing widespread havoc. Spyware however, is created by Advertising companies for the purposes of making money. How can I tell if my computer is infected with Spyware? Here are some common signs that your computer may be infected with spyware: Your computer suddenly takes much longer than usual to start up, or shut down Your computer runs abnormally slow compared to in the past You see many new toolbars in your web browser that you did not install You receive more pop-ups than you have in the past I have AntiVirus/AntiSpyware software installed. How can I still be infected? With most AntiVirus software, every so often the application will download updates off of the internet to protect you against the newest threats. This is because new viruses are created on a regular basis, and AntiVirus software works by definition. This means that once a new virus is discovered, AntiVirus laboratories create a definition for it. This works sort of the same as an inoculation. With Spyware, the situation is the same, however spyware is updated much more frequently than viruses are. This is because sypware is made by large advertising companies, whereas viruses are made by individuals. Individuals create viruses in their spare time, whereas large advertising companies invest large amounts of money to pay a staff of programmers to update their spyware applications on almost a daily basis. Therefore, AntiSpyware applications have a difficult time keeping up. While they may protect you against certain spyware applications, they can not protect you against you against the majority of new threats. They are however good to have, as opposed to having nothing. But do not expect them to take care of all threats your computer may face. While it may protect you against a particular piece of spyware one day, when that same piece of spyware is updated the following day, you will no longer be protected against it until the AntiSpyware companies catch up. What can I do? Contact one of our certified technicians. We will give your system a full cleaning, to wipe out all infections. We will clean out your web browser of any toolbars, or malicious plugins. Finally, we will install countermeasures to limit your risk of being infected with more spyware in the future.

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