Spyware is easily picked up while surfing the web, so it's imperative that you protect yourself and your family!

It used to be that viruses were the number one enemy of computer users everywhere. While viruses still exist in various forms, today’s reality is that spyware is a much bigger threat to all computer users. Spyware is easily picked up while surfing the web, sharing and/or downloading files from friends, emails, or P2P applications. It is virtually impossible for a computer user to avoid spyware and the possible ramifications are serious. Sneaking onto your computer without your knowledge, these programs can track your Internet activity, your passwords, and even your banking and credit card information, conveying the information back to an interested third party. All of this information is very valuable and has resulted in the exponential growth in the spyware industry with spyware developers creating more complex coding and distribution methods every day. It is imperative that you protect yourself and your family from the potentially devastating effects of spyware.

Symptoms of spyware infection:

• frequent pop-up ads
• looping ads appear (ads that you are not able to exit)
• your home page or search page is different from that which you originally set
• your computer appears to be processing when you are not using it
• sluggish computer performance, freezing, and crashing

Fortunately computer security software firms are well aware of the threat of spyware and many companies have developed programs that effectively combat the threat and protect you and your computer from the damage that it can cause if gone unchecked. When choosing anti-spyware software it is important to keep in mind that while ease of use and scanning abilities are important considerations, you really need an application that uses a comprehensive and continuously updated spyware definition database.