PC optimization starts with antispyware scan

Spyware is a malicious form of software which is used to intercept or take partial control of a computer without the user's knowledge or consent. While the term implies that the software secretly monitors or collects data, it often plays a much more destructive and annoying role. While collecting your personal information without your knowledge is bad enough, Spyware can also lead to annoying advertising popping up randomly, your computer running slower, or even worse, Windows totally crashing. The worst thing about Spyware though is its popularity and infectious nature. In fact, it’s so widespread that statically it’s almost definite that you have Spyware currently installed on your PC, even without you knowing.

It is estimated that identity thieves using computer spyware have stolen over $24 billion US dollars of account information including credit card details in the United States alone.

Adware and Malware often gets installed bundled with software that users download and install onto their computer because it claims to speed up the computer or fix problems.

Spyware on your PC has usually been installed without permission of the user and may have been included in a program or even music or video you have downloaded at some time. Spyware generally sends reports of whats on your computer back to one or more third parties. Computer spyware can change your system settings, install keystroke logger programs, steal your passwords and personal information including your credit card details and deliver spam or ads. Spyware does not spread like a computer virus or worm. Instead, badware gets into your computer system through deception of the user or through exploitation of software vulnerabilities. Malware is potentially more dangerous than Adware because it can record your keystrokes, history, passwords, and other confidential information.

Many badware programs reveal themselves visibly by displaying advertisements. Some will simply display pop-up ads on a regular basis - for instance, one every several minutes, or one when the user opens a new browser window.

What is Computer Adware?

Adware is annoying computer scripts, software, or programs which deliver banners or other types of advertising to a users computer and often contains advertisements to make money for the people who wrote the program. Threatware is usually free software that is loaded onto a users computer, sometimes with the users permission, to perform some useful task (like automatically filling in forms or a internet explorer toolbar), in exchange for the ability to track the users web activity and show the user targeted contextual ads. Adware can also be defined as any software application or program in which advertising banners are displayed or Pop-up windows appear while the program is running.

Some symptoms of computer badware may include:

Slow computer performance when opening programs or saving files and random windows error messages.
Unwanted pop-up windows and/or new and unexpected toolbars in your browser window.
Browser homepage hijacked and/or repeated change in your browser's home page.

As the spyware threat has worsened lately a number of programs designed to remove or to block malware have emerged.

I have tried several different programs over the years and have had tremendous success at keeping our office computers free of adware and spyware by using XoftSpy. Not only is XoftSpy AS highly effective and easy to install it is one of the cheapest online today, but don't let the cheap price fool you as I found XoftSpy to be the most effective and signature-rich of several we've tried. It will work with Windows XP/98SE/ME/2000/SP2+/NT4 SP 6a.

XoftSpy Anti-spyware program will:

Remove malware and Prevent Future Intrusions
Stops badware from slowing and crashing your PC.
Protects your privacy and personal information.
Immunizes your computer against future infections.
Blocks homepage changes, pop ups, and unwanted redirects.
Defends your computer with real-time Active Protection.