Spyware, adware, and viruses. Most of us don’t even know we are infected until its to late.
Most peer-to-peer file sharing applications such as kazaa, limewire, and morpheus are bundled with spyware and adware. Spyware applications are usually poorly written and can cause a persons computer to slow down or stop functioning at all. Spyware and adware are used to track a persons web usage and direct advertisements to the user, generally as pop-ups. Spyware also has been known to steal a users personal information. Once infected by spyware, it can be very difficult to remove. Some parts of spyware applications are still intact even though your spyware removal software says it has removed it. These pieces that are still intact can re-download the application and redistribute it throughout the file system. So the best way to defend from spyware is not to get it in the first place. Be smart about what you are downloading and where you are surfing around on the internet.
Viruses have been around for years, but not like they have been for the past 4 years. Getting a virus can be very easy. You can get a simple attachment in an email or just download the wrong thing. Most viruses come in through email and downloading applications on file sharing networks. If you don’t have up-to-date antivirus, chances are you have already gotten one. Viruses are written to exploit an operating system to either crash it or take ownership. If you remember awhile back about the Sasser virus, it would bring up a dialogue box saying it will shutdown your computer after so many seconds, making it impossible to keep your computer booted up. So the best way to avoid getting a virus is simple, have up-to-date antivirus and just be smart about what you are downloading.