Spybot - Search & Destroy

Spybot - Search & Destroy (Spybot-S&D) is a freeware program that can detect and remove spyware, adware and other malicious software (malware) from your computer. Spybot-S&D can also establish settings on your computer to prevent spyware from infecting your computer.

Spyware, is any software that covertly collects user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge. Typically, the information is used for advertising purposes. Spyware programs are usually bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that users 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 collect information like e-mail addresses, passwords and credit card numbers.

Adware is a form of spyware that collects information about the user in order to display advertisements in the Web browser based on the information it collects from the user's browsing patterns.

Malware can attack your computer through the Web browser; specifically, Internet Explorer. Examples of malware are spyware installers and browser hijackers. A browser hijacker is a small program or registry setting that adversely affects the behavior of the Web browser. The type of behavior includes, a change in the Internet Explorer start page and search pages.

If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if your browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have spyware or malware on your computer. But, even if you don't see obvious symptoms, it is possible to be infected, because more and more spyware and malware are emerging that are silently tracking your Web surfing behavior and affecting your ability to communicate over the network

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