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DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER HOW TO
DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER INSTALL
DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER SOFTWARE
DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER DOWNLOAD

Don’t make it a habit to sign in as an administrator.

Instead of clicking on links on dubious websites or in emails, use bookmarks/favourites or type the web address into your browser.

DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER DOWNLOAD

Download only from known and trusted sources.

It may be bothersome, but it’ll be a lot less of a nuisance than dealing with malicious spyware once it’s installed. Look out for reference to data-gathering and sharing information with third parties. Make sure you read the privacy statements too.

Read the fine print in licensing agreements before clicking, ‘I accept/agree’.

Take particular care with free or file-sharing music and video programs. Ensure that you understand what the program will do.

DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER SOFTWARE

Make sure your security software includes protection against spyware.

DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER HOW TO

Prevention is the best defence but if your device is already infected, be sure to read our guide on how to remove spyware here.

There’s a lot you can do to protect your computer from unwelcome software.

Your security software doesn’t run properly.Your browser redirects to unsolicited sites.Your computer starts to run slowly, freeze or crash.However, there are signs that could indicate spyware infection. Spyware is designed to be hidden and can therefore be hard to detect. How do I know if my computer is infected? Spyware can also be picked up via drive-by download, where merely viewing a compromised email or website can trigger a spyware download. You might be persuaded to click on a pop-up window offering a prize, a free scan, or urging you to download essential software – but instead you’ll be opening the door to spyware.Įmails, instant messages and social media messages may all contain links to spyware. You can also inadvertently pick up spyware while surfing the Internet. We tend to accept end-user agreements without reading the tedious small print – which is where notifications of user tracking and ad delivery tend to be placed.

DO I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER INSTALL

Often spyware is covertly downloaded along with software that you’ve chosen to install – such as a video or music file-sharing program. It’s up to you to determine whether the compromise is worth it.Īsk yourself: is this program a nuisance or, worse, an invasion of your privacy and security? If so, you need to take action. You might knowingly sign up for a ‘free’ online service in return for allowing the software to track you and send you ads. Running quietly in the background, spyware can also use up your computer’s resources, slowing it down or causing it to crash. Often it can be hard to undo these changes. Spyware can alter your settings – change your default home page or redirect your browser, for example, or install add-ons that you don’t want. Spyware has been used to record instant messages and Skype chats, control webcams, take screenshots and even make changes to your hard drive. Spyware can gather lots of different sorts of information, from your game, social media and email account logins to sensitive financial and business credentials.

Collecting your valuable personal information and sending it on to fraudsters.

Sending you unwanted and annoying pop-up ads.

Redirecting you to advertising sites, and distasteful or compromised sites.

Tracking your browsing habits and monitoring program use for marketing purposes.

Spyware collects useful information for commercial benefit. Mostly, though, it’s malicious, aiming to exploit personal information such as your credit card details, user names and passwords. Sometimes spyware can be used legitimately.