Spyware, Malware and Adware

What is Malware
These days, the term malware refers to a large variety of software which all has one thing in common: it is unwanted software which someone else wants to run on your computer. This software infects your computer, making it behave in a way which you have not approved of.

Malware can sometimes include traditional viruses and worms, which are usually destructive in some way - these can delete files, wreck the operating system and change the behaviour of your computer.
Spyware has often been referred to as a virus, but this is not wholly accurate. Often the software does not duplicate itself like a virus, which is why it is almost never detected when a simple anti-virus program like the commonly used McAfee or Norton anti virus scans are run.
 
Some modern trojan viruses and worms can give control of your computer to an attacker. Once hacked in they can then use your computer to send spam emails of themselves to all of the people in your address book or launch attacks on other computers.

What is Spyware
Spyware can monitor what you do on your computer it can log all of your keystrokes on your keyboard and all of your mouse-clicks on screen.  At worst this can lead to credit card fraud or identity theft.

What is Adware
Adware can show you unwanted advertising, this typically shows up as pop-up ads or an unwanted homepage or a combination of the above.  You will sometimes find that you are directed to a website that you did not intend to visit this is known as a browser hijack.

There used to be clear differences between the groups above, but lately they can use similar infection methods to arrive on your PC. Therefore it is no longer useful to make a distinction between Spyware Adware Malware and Viruses.


How Does this nasty software get onto my computer in the first place?
Spyware can worm its way into your computer even if you are careful while surfing the Internet. Nowadays, it may invade your system if you simply visit a certain web site. Applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from media-supported sites.

MP3 File sharing networks like Limewire, WinMX, Kazaa, Bearshare, Shareza and various media heavy Bit Torrent clients. All these sites are infamous for carrying spyware and virus infections. Many Free software applications appeal to teenagers and kids and they simply cannot resist loading up the latest software gadgets for messenger and the like notorious offenders are Messenger Plus Plugins- Adware is sometimes disclosed, but buried, at the end of a License Agreement or Privacy Statement that the criminals know will almost never be read and almost certainly not understood.

Once installed, the spyware can monitor your activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to the criminals. It has been discovered that on occasion, spyware authors will pay shareware creators to distribute the latest spyware hidden with their software.

Spyware is becoming ever more sophisticated and many applications are designed to spread themselves out through your PC's other Users, through your PC Restore points, and on through all the other computers on your home network, making it even more difficult to wipe them out completely.

You can find lots of further information on the various kinds of spy/ad/malware at Doxdesk or simply Google the term for malware tons of useful forum information

Removing malware from a computer can be very difficult, even for some experts. It is highly recommended that you contact PCFix if you suspect that your computer has been compromised in any way PCFix will give your computer a thorough clean up and provide you with all the tools you need to prevent your computer being re-infected in the future.

The best protection for your computer is a three-tiered approach: anti-spyware software, anti-virus software, and a firewall PCFix can provide all of these tools and they are all included at no extra charge call Steve now on 01204 883136.