Topic of discussion:

Description of spyware

Any software that gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes.

refers to a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user.

On the Internet (where it is sometimes called a spybot or tracking software), spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties.

can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program.

Effects and Risk of Spyware

Privacy : Compromising the user’s information or data, such asExposure to fraud or identity theft Loss of personal information Unauthorized tracking

Security : Impacting the system integrity of the computer, such asAttacking the computer, or using it as part of an attack Exposing the computer to risk by lowering security settings Using computer resources in an unauthorized manner Hiding programs from the user

User Experience : Impacting the user’s functionality of the computer, such asDelivering unexpected advertisements Changing settings Creating system instability or slowing performance

Symptoms of Spyware Infection

If you have A dA ware or S pybot S & D, should either one open, and appear for a few seconds, then disappear without scanning, more than likely, it's a variant of CoolWebS earch infection.

Every time you do a search, you wind up at the same unusual and unknown web site-search engine, or you get 1-3 pages of unrelated search results, before getting to your actual search.

There is a new program or multiple programs in the A dd/Remove Programs section of your control panel.

Y ou're unable to access any of these: task manager, regedit, M S CONFIG, they just pop up and disappear.

Y our desktop has been changed to a web page or some type of notice that your PC is infected and you cannot change it. 

Y ou get a lot of returned emails from people you don't know.

Steps to avoid SpywareStep 1: Use a firewall

provides a helpful defense against these hackers.

Step 2: Update your softwaremake sure all your software is updated.

Step 3: Adjust Internet Explorer security settingsY ou can adjust your Internet Explorer Web browser's security settings to determine how much information you are willing to accept from a Web site.

Step 4: Download and install antispyware protectionAdditional security tools to help block, detect, and remove unwanted software from your computer

Step 5: Surf and download more safely

The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place.

Source of Reference

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/spyware.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware

http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid11_gci214518,00.html

http://www.antispywarecoalition.org/documents/riskmodel.htm

http://www.infopackets.com/channels/en/windows/temerc_antispyware/2005/20051115_spyware_infection_symptoms.htm

http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx