Spyware and computer security

johnbrown

Spyware is a malicious software application or software code that has been designed specifically to steal the user’s information like credit card details, social security numbers, online passwords, or similar information and to spy on the person’s Internet surfing habits. Spyware is usually designed in such a manner that it gets installed without the computer user’s knowledge and in most situations the user may not be even aware that his/her activities are being recorded and transmitted. Some spyware applications can also hijack home page settings, deliver unwanted popup advertisements and download and install other software, trojans or other malicious adware. Spyware can be sometimes problematic because they are often concealed from the computer user.

Before the word “spyware” related to hardware that was meant for espionage. However, after being used in a press conference in 2000 by Gregor Freud, a security expert at Zone Labs, the word has taken on its present day meaning. Today, almost all the people who are familiar with computers and the World Wide Web might be aware of viruses, spyware and trojans.

Spy-ware commonly install themselves by utilizing weak points in the operating system or when the user mistakenly installs malicious or “tagged” from CDs. The main difference between computer viruses and spyware is that dissimilar to virus programs, spyware programs do not replicate that is, make exact copies of themselves and spread to other systems. Some trojan horses also download and install spyware programs without the user’s consent.

Windows is more susceptible to spyware programs and other such malicious programs. Apple’s MacOS X and other OSes like GNU/Linux and PCBSD are more secure compared to Microsoft Windows. There are differing views as to why there are few spyware applications targeting Linux and FreeBSD. Some that these OSes are inherently much more secure and it is to code spyware programs to run on these platforms. Other security analysts believe that because the use of these is way lower when compared with Microsoft Windows, spyware writers do not think that it is worthwhile to develop spyware aimed at these operating systems.

If you use a Windows based computer, it is advised to daily install updates to your OS to stay secure from spyware. Windows update files contain bug fixes and patches to security loopholes. It is also suggested to switch to a better Web browser like Firefox or Opera instead of the default browser-Internet explorer. These browsers are much more safe and can help you in keeping your system safe from spyware.

You should also install a good anti-virus software and update it regularly. Many good anti-virus tools can find spyware and adware. However, you may also install an anti-spyware software in addition to anti-virus software for maximum security. A hardware firewall is also recommended. Many anti-virus packages or Internet security suites, as they are known, have a firewall as well.