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SpyWare
SpyWare, parasites, trojans are all items that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge. These programs are not classified as viruses. These programs can cause a variety of problems in your computer and your internet service.
Problems such as ...
- degraded computer performance (computer becomes unusually slow)
- unusual computer problems
- plague you with unwanted advertising ('adware' or 'pop ups')
- watch everything you do on-line and send information back to marketing companies ('spyware')
- add advertising links to web pages, for which the author does not get paid, and redirect the payments from affiliate-fee schemes to the makers of the software (such software is sometimes called 'scumware')
- set your browser's home page and search settings to point to the parasites homepages (usually loaded with advertising), and prevent you changing it back ('hijackers')
- make your modem call premium-rate phone numbers sticking you with a VERY high long distance phone bill ('diallers')
- leave security holes allowing the makers of the software to upload and run software on YOUR computer
- provide no uninstall feature, and put its code in unexpected and hidden places to make it difficult to remove.
To detect and remove these programs from your computer VCI's support technicians highly recommend Ad-Aware and Spybot-Search & Destroy. Both of these programs are free. Ad-Aware and Spybot will check your computer for various spyware and adware programs and remove them. Spybot and Ad-Aware also have an update feature so you can easily download updates to check for new spyware and parasite programs.
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