Fend off spyware and protect your identity

Internet users quickly become familiar with viruses and other types of malware. Spyware falls into a similar category, but rather than threatening to damage files and settings, it threatens personal data and privacy.

Such software is usually installed secretly and there are often no visible signs of infection. But tiny programs running in the background may be collecting information about the types of website you visit and the data that is entered into online forms.

We will explain everything you need to know about spyware ­ including how to avoid it.

What is spyware?
Many computer users will be aware of spyware, even if they have only heard the word, and understand it is, as the name would suggest, a bad thing.

But before we look at the techniques that can be used to avoid and remove these unwanted pests, it is important to understand just what they are.

Like viruses and adware, spyware falls into the broad category of malicious software. It is software that has been designed to be secretly installed on a computer where it will then sit quietly in the background monitoring various activities.

This could include the websites that are visited, usernames and passwords entered into programs and websites, the people to whom emails are sent and much more.

This information can then be broadcast back to another (remote) computer, and there is no way of knowing who has this data or what they intend to do with it. But the fact that personal data is involved means that there is potential for id entity theft, fraud and other criminal activities.

Spyware infections
Spyware can be installed in a number of ways. One of the common methods of surreptitious installation is to hide it within another application, such as a game or utility.

Spyware may also be attached to emails, purporting to be either a helpful program or an amusing video, and there are also websites that when visited can, in certain circumstances, automatically install malicious software.

Be wary of links contained in emails from unknown contacts as this may lead directly to spyware, and remember that file-sharing services (the likes of Emule and Livewire) are common sources of infection, because it is often difficult to know what is being downloaded or its origins.

Occasionally, a program will let you know that it is installing additional components, such as advertisements. With this in mind, it is important to read the licence agreement that is displayed when installing software to check for references to unwanted elements.

It is sometimes possible to opt out of the installation of these parts of the program, but not always. If a program includes a compulsory advertising component, it is likely that attempting to remove it will be against the terms of the licence agreement.