Spyware uses the computer’s memory resources and internet bandwidth as it sends information back to the spyware’s home base via the user’s Internet connection. This causes the computer’s performance to get slower and slower. Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the spyware applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Spyware applications are usually bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements may not always be read completely because the notice of a spyware installation is often written in hard-to-understand legal language.

We recommend running spyware removal software, such as Spybot Search & Destroy or Ad-Aware, on a regular basis to detect and remove spyware from your computer. (For links to these free products, go to www.westal.net/software.htm)

OVER 90% OF COMPUTERS SCANNED ARE INFECTED WITH SPYWARE!