Every day we are getting more and more calls from alarmed computer users who have purchased protective software but nothing they buy is working
-- in fact, quite a few programs seem to stop the computer from accessing the internet at all, which seems like too high a price to pay.
TFD OS’ technicians have to first remove the purchased programs, then check to see if spyware has in fact invaded the computer and remove it,
and then install proper guards against future invasions.
Spyware is a broad category of malicious software – but it shouldn’t be confused with other kinds of threats.
It doesn’t spread like a computer virus, instead it tricks users into downloading and installing the software themselves. Recently, spyware has come to include
deceptive anti-spyware programs, which masquerade as security software while actually doing damage.
Spyware can collect many different types of information about a user, from the genera --- what types of websites a user visits --- up to the particular:
key loggers that send whatever a user types to a third party --- it can intercept passwords or credit card numbers.
Other versions simply launch popup advertisements.
The distributor of spyware programs advertise them as useful — for instance as a "web accelerator" or a children's program.
One promised: "He will explore the Internet with you as your very own friend and sidekick! He can talk, walk, joke, browse,
search, e-mail, and download like no other friend you've ever had! He even has the ability to compare prices on the products you love and help you save money!
Best of all, he's FREE!"