WHAT IS SPYWARE?
Spyware comes in many forms. It can behave much like a virus. It gets its name because it often sends information about your computer and/or your usage to its author so that they can target you for advertising purposes. It can be in the form of a browser extension such as a search toolbar, some cute application such as Bonzi Buddy, or something that you don't even know you installed. More malicious spyware will hijack your browser's homepage, change settings in your web browser (and prevent you from changing them back) or even add entries to your Windows registry which will make it impossible to delete the software.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE SPYWARE ON MY COMPUTER?
Due to their sneaky nature, spyware will not make it obvious that it is present. They install themselves in ways that prevent Windows from recognizing them as programs. They usually do not show up in the Add & Remove Programs control panel. This is the reason that special tools are often required to remove them.

However, there are some signs that will suggest you have been infected. An abnormally slow system is a sign of infection. If your computer seems to be working harder than it should be based on what you are doing. Then you may be infected. For instance, if you are simply typing an e-mail your hard disk should not be constantly accessing data. Also, if you experience freezes (even if only for a few seconds at a time) this could indicate an infection. If your CPU usage is extremely high and you are not doing much, it is possible spyware is at work in the background.

Another telltale sign is popups. If you are getting ads popping up constantly, especially when you aren't even clicking on anything, then you almost definitely have some sort of spyware on your computer.

HOW DOES SPYWARE GET ON MY COMPUTER?
Because many people feel this type of software is an invasion of privacy, spyware authors have had to come up with more aggressive ways to get their software on your computer. The most common way is to get you to do it for them by installing certain applications. These are often "fun" applications, such as little creatures that roam your desktop like Bonzi Buddy or little games. You might view these things as harmless, but while the cute purple gorilla is entertaining you he's also trashing your system.

Spyware will often be a separate program that will install itself along with the program you think you are downloading. Checking the End User License Agreement (EULA) can sometimes tip you off to this before you install something. But, if a company is unscrupulous enough to surreptitiously install software on your computer, it's not a stretch to imagine that they would lie in their EULA also.

You can also get spyware by inadvertently clicking on links on websites. You will often get popup ads that say that you are infected with spyware. When you click on the button that looks like it will "fix" your problem you are actually installing the spyware. This is why it's important to know what you are clicking on and protect yourself from such aggressive tactics. (I'll explain how to protect yourself later.)

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