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There is a growing number of annoying (and potentially malicious) computer programs, quite frequently
found on Internet-enabled computers, that are similar to computer viruses,
but do not qualify as true "viruses". These programs are usually referred to collectively as
"spyware", although that is really just one of several categories into which these programs may fall.
Spyware and its ilk are considered different from "true viruses" because they do not "self-replicate" and/or "self-propogate". They are usually installed onto a computer by the computer user... although that user may be completely unaware that they have done so... and following installation these programs run silently in the background, busily performing tasks that the unwitting user does not know about and would probably not appreciate. Of the three major categories, spyware generally refers to programs that collect information about the computer user and relay that information (typically via the Internet) to an undisclosed third party. The information collected may be as innocuous as the user's Internet browsing habits... or as malicious as credit card information and passwords to bank accounts! The second major category, adware, refers to programs that deliver commercial advertisements in various formats to the computer user. These advertisements often appear as pop-up web pages while the user is browsing the Internet. To the unwary user, they appear to have been generated by the web page they had just intentionally gone to, when, in fact, that web page had nothing to do with the pop-up ad. The third major category identifies the most dangerous group of programs... those with various malicious intentions... and is hence referred to as malware. One type, called "Browser Hijackers", automatically redirect your Internet browser to web sites NOT of your choosing... often pornographic sites or on-line casinos. Another type of malware, called "Dialers", might use your modem to call a "900 number", which would then automatically bill your telephone account something like "$1.95 per minute" (or more)... bad news for people who discover that their computer has been "on the phone" all night! NOTE: Eight hours x $1.95 per minute = a $900.00+ phone bill! Currently there are over 400 such spyware/adware/malware type programs, and, like viruses, more come out almost every day. This is one of the most common reasons why computers seem to "suddenly" get a LOT slower, but, fortunately, these prgrams are generally even easier to identify and eliminate than viruses. If your computer seems to be c r a w l i n g at a snail's pace lately, call or email mindbum enterprises and request a PC Performance Tuneup. You will be glad that you did! |