Can Spyware Really Put Your Personal Information at Risk?

By:Kevin Nelson

If you’ve ever had to deal with spyware on your computer, you’re not alone…

Experts estimate that 9 out of 10 computers are infected with spyware and that most users don’t even know it. And while not all spyware poses a threat to you or your personal information, there are certain types of spyware that certainly fall into that category.

There are two types of spyware that can be particularly dangerous and leave you vulnerable to identity theft or other types of fraud. The first type of software is called a keylogger, which are sometimes packaged as part of a spyware application. These programs monitor your keystrokes as you work on your computer, perhaps checking your bank account online, logging in to check email or other password protected sites. Once your keystrokes are captured, this information can be sent back to the spyware program’s creator who can use that information for identity theft. Some experts estimate that this type of activity has resulted in billions of dollars worth of fraud just in the U.S. and a countless number of victims. Of course, this all could have been avoided if they had properly secured their systems…certainly a tough lesson to learn the hard way.

The second type of program is a dialer. These are becoming less and less common since many people are making the switch to broadband internet connections (i.e., cable modems, DSL, satellite, or fiber optics). However, the way these programs work is to take advantage of users who still use a regular modem and phone line to connect to the internet. But instead of dialing in to the Internet Service Provider, the program causes the modem to dial a long-distance number instead, often times an overseas number. You can imagine how quickly this could run up your phone bill, but as stated previously, these are becoming less effective thanks to high-speed internet connections.

Either way, spyware can definitely pose a threat to your personal information or business data by allowing hackers unfettered access to your system. We recommend that you incorporate a firewall, anti-virus program and anti-spyware program into your suite of tools to keep your system free of spyware and that you practice safe computing habits in terms of the sites you visit and programs you download. That way you are less likely to come in contact with spyware and will have the necessary software tools to keep your system secure as another layer of defense.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: spyware, adware, spyware removal, anti spyware, stop adware

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

For a limited time, get exclusive access to our anti spyware mini-course - protect yourself from this growing threat. A $29.00 value, yours free if you sign up now. Click here: Spyware Mini-Course.

Top Spyware and Viruses Articles
1). New Spyware Protection From Scansafe By : Scansafe launches Scandoo free spyware scanning service for web searching.
2). How to Get Rid of Adware and Remove it from Your Computer For Good By : Kevin Nelson Adware often shows up on your computer as annoying popups, even when you’re not online. This supposed enticement for you to buy some product actually becomes an annoyance to most users. But there are some easy steps you can take to rid yourself of adware and keep it off your computer for good.
3). Stop Leaving Your Personal Info at Risk And Protect Your Computer From Spyware Today By : Kevin Nelson If you’re not running an anti-spyware program, the shocking fact that 9 out of 10 computers are infected with spyware programs should be motivation enough to take a look at your options and invest in one today. This article covers several ways in which spyware can damage your computer or put your personal information in the hands of information thieves.
4). The One Virus Worth Catching! By : Helen Farmer How to catch the viral marketing bug.
5). Adware and Spyware Software By : Amber Lowery When you're learning about something new, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative adware and spyware article should help you focus on the central points.
6). Know the Basics of First Aid By : James Hunt Knowing the basics of first aid allows you to have emergency preparedness in any situation. Something could go wrong at any time, whether you’re at home...
7). Spy Ware, Ad Ware, Remove them now By : Chris Rohrer Is your computer infected with spy ware, malware, ad ware? Do you get popup adds? Does your home page change? Then read this and learn how you can put a stop to it all now and fight back.
8). Why Do People Fall Victim To Phishing? By : Matthew Davies Phishers are often able to fool people using a few simple psychological tricks. Recognise what they are and you'll be far less likely to fall victim yourself.
9). Identity Theft Prevention - Out of the Mouths of Inmates By : Submission Get identity theft protection advice straight from the source...from inmates who are incarcerated for committing this very crime! Identity Theft Security
10). Remove Harmful Spyware from Your Computer with a Spyware Remover By : Sandra Stammberger Spyware remover is a program intended to shield the computer and remove malicious programs that intrudes your computer.

New Spyware and Viruses Articles
1). Antivirus Trial Software By : Hans Hasselfors In the days gone by the phrase antivirus probably signified some new drug or hope for the human race.
2). How To Protect Your Computer From Spyware And Adware By : Terence Young Spyware and Adware viruses have rapidly become the number one threat to your computer with over 90% of computers already infected. These include "Popup Ads", "Trojans", "Worms", Web Bugs, Monitoring Software and more.
3). What to Do When Spyware Cripples Your Computer By : Kevin Nelson Spyware can cripple your computer and leave your personal or business data at risk. However there are some simple steps you can take to identify and remove spyware from your system.
4). What Kind of Anti-Spyware Program is Right for You By : Kevin Nelson More and more people are looking for good programs to keep their computers free of spyware. Here’s a quick review of both free and paid anti-spyware software.
5). What is Spyware By : Kevin Nelson Nine out of ten computers are infected with spyware, yet most users don’t know it and many don’t even know what spyware is. This short article gives you a quick primer on what spyware is, the threat it poses to your computer and personal information and what you can do to stop it.
6). What is Malware and What does it Mean? By : Kevin Nelson Malware is the broad term used for a variety of harmful programs that pose a threat to most computers in our increasingly connected world. However, with proper knowledge and good security practices, you can easily minimize the threat to your computer system.
7). The 5 Minute Guide to Preventing, Detecting and Removing Spyware By : Kevin Nelson This brief article covers tips for preventing, detecting and removing spyware from your system. For computer users not currently running an anti-spyware program, this could be one of the most important articles you read.
8). Stop Leaving Your Personal Info at Risk And Protect Your Computer From Spyware Today By : Kevin Nelson If you’re not running an anti-spyware program, the shocking fact that 9 out of 10 computers are infected with spyware programs should be motivation enough to take a look at your options and invest in one today. This article covers several ways in which spyware can damage your computer or put your personal information in the hands of information thieves.
9). Anti-Spyware Tips for Safe Computing: Spyware Prevention By : Kevin Nelson Spyware is one of those unfortunate side effects of computer technology and can have cause serious damage, both online and offline. Take the following preventative measures to help you avoid spyware and other similar internet nasties.
10). Anti-Spyware Tips for Safe Computing: Spyware Detection By : Kevin Nelson Spyware is present on the vast majority of computer systems. Not only can it compromise your computer, but it can place your personal information in the hands of criminals. Detecting spyware is the first step in ridding yourself of the problem and you don’t need to be a computer whiz to do so. Read on to learn how.