Beware of Spyware

Written by Nowshade Kabir


One day, you suddenly realize that your computer started to work noticeably slower than it used to. You decide to run de-fragmentation of your hard drive and add more virtual memory torepparttar system. No luck! May be, it’s probably some viruses, you reckon turning on your virus scanning software. Even after runningrepparttar 118323 anti-virus program you notice thatrepparttar 118324 problem won’t resolve. Not understanding what’s happening frustrated you pick uprepparttar 118325 phone. It’s time to call your tech-support. Sounds familiar? You are not alone! Each day, thousands of users are facing similar problems caused by malicious software called Spyware. According to Dell technical support, nowadays 12 percent of their support calls involve problems related to some kinds of Spyware. Microsoft reports that fifty percent of all computer crushes are caused by Spyware, viruses and Trojans.

What is a Spyware?

Spyware – also named Malware or Adware – are malicious software programs, which most ofrepparttar 118326 time get installed on your computer without your knowledge. These programs are capable of doing many outrageous, sinister things to your computer such as changing computer settings, tracking your online behavior, monitoring and controlling your computer, recording your keystrokes, displaying unwanted advertisement and reporting needed information back to repparttar 118327 person behind it.

The main types of Spyware are:

Key loggers: This type of Spyware copies everything you type to a file and send it torepparttar 118328 hacker. The more sophisticated type, which is used for identity theft, copiesrepparttar 118329 information you provide when you are connected to a secure website.

Browser hijacker: It modifies browser settings without your permission. This Spyware is capable of changing your start page, search page, search tool bar and redirect your url to specific pages.

Email redirector: Surreptitiously copies all your incoming and outgoing emails and sends torepparttar 118330 hacker.

Dialers: This spyware install themselves to your dial-up settings and dials numbers without your knowledge, often to out of country numbers.

Collectware: The purpose of this Spyware is to track your surfing habit and transmittingrepparttar 118331 statistical data torepparttar 118332 hacker. This information later gets sold to advertisement companies.

Adware: This Spyware downloads all sorts of banner advertisements every time you take some action such as typing a word on your search tool.

Why my antivirus program does not block a Spyware?

Although, Spyware uses same tactics like “Trojan” virus, technically it is not a virus. A virus is a program written to create trouble or possibly harm your computer system. Viruses are capable of replicate, evolve and cause severe damages to your computer files, registry or even hardware. Spyware, onrepparttar 118333 other hand, does not harm your computer intentionally. Any nuisance like system slow down isrepparttar 118334 collateral damage, which occurs whilerepparttar 118335 Spyware serves its mission of monitoring your activities and making unwanted changes to your user experience.

People rarely readrepparttar 118336 fine prints ofrepparttar 118337 user agreements while downloading a file, a program, a game or other free stuffs from repparttar 118338 Internet. Unethical sites use this to their advantage and add tiny Spyware withrepparttar 118339 file you are downloading.

The anti-virus programs can not be sure, whether this program is installed deliberately by you or it’s a malicious Spyware. This makes identifying and blocking a Spyware difficult for an Anti-virus program. However, things are started to change! Major anti-virus companies are planning to integrate anti-spyware programs to their existing products very soon.

Advice about joining an online dating site...

Written by William Hanes


Searchingrepparttar web for a dating or personals site can leave one very confused. There are millions of dating sites listed onrepparttar 118322 Internet. My search ofrepparttar 118323 word "dating" on Google resulted in 56,200,000 results! Talk about a tough decision. Let me give you some pointers and advice. Currently, I am a Webmaster of a few dating sites as well as dating referral sites. I have seen allrepparttar 118324 styles of personal sites. They all follow pretty muchrepparttar 118325 same format with a few variations. Sure, there are some great free dating sites, as well as some terrible ones. The same holds true for pay dating sites. Now, as a Webmaster, let me assure you of one thing, all us webmasters are promoting dating sites for one thing...money. Now, don’t get me wrong, but I could put up a decent free dating site, and allow members to join my dating site for free. I would just post some ads or banners, and offer to sell something, which might be of interest. Then, hopefully, I would generate enough revenue off these sales to supportrepparttar 118326 site. Kind of a traffic generator. My advice is this... If your looking to join a dating or personals site, before you even start looking, ask yourself, what am I looking for. Narrowrepparttar 118327 search down somewhat. Are you looking for a lesbian site, how about a military dating site? Maybe a "dog-lovers" dating site. Trust me, there all out there. Now, letrepparttar 118328 search begin. Try Google, Yahoo or whatever you prefer. My suggestion is that you look for personal sites that offer what I call a semi-free membership. A semi-free membership is where you are allowed to post your profile. (This is where you tell about yourself and post some pics) On this type of dating site, you are not allowed to contact other members, It's kind of like fishing, you put outrepparttar 118329 bait and see if anything bites. This type of dating site could work well if you’re not in a rush. Now,repparttar 118330 wait is on... Remember though; beware of some ofrepparttar 118331 replies you receive.

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