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What is a Spyware? |
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What Spyware can do and Problems you can face? |
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How do I know if my Computer is Infected by Spyware? |
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Why Antivirus and Firewall are not so effective on Spyware? |
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How do these spyware enter into the system? |
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What type of information do they gather? |
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Do these provide immediate threat? |
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How does Systweak AntiSpyware 2008 help remove the infections? |
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What settings can help the operation? |
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Does it provide real-time protection? |
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Can a program, suspected to be carrying spyware, be stopped from operating? |
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Can the scanning be scheduled? |
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Can the log file be maintained? |
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| Spyware are misleading applications that are usually installed as hidden component of any software without your knowledge or consent. When a computer is infected with spyware, everything that you type may be recorded or spied by the people or companies that have secretly installed the program on your computer. The consequences you face are that it can slow down system performance, steal confidential data, spy your system, logs your chat conversations and browsing habits, remotely control your computer, propagates via security holes on the computer network through self-replicating and fast spreading spyware etc |
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| What Spyware can do and Problems you can face? | | Top |
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• Spyware may steal information stored on your computer - Spyware has the ability to install itself, through internet, as Windows services. The purpose behind is to steal sensitive information like Credit Card details, contact details in your address book, websites you access, your online buying habits and much more.
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• Unwanted advertisements can be displayed based on your surfing habits - Spyware study your browsing habits and place unwanted adverts that pop-up on your computer screen while surfing on Internet. They often continue to generate advertising even when you are not running the originally desired program.
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• Everything typed on your PC may be recorded or spied - Spyware works in the background and transfers all important and confidential data that you type, to a remote location or hackers. Spyware records each keystroke which may include Bank details, passwords, website addresses and other sensitive information.
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• Browser settings can be changed without your knowledge - These malicious programs forcibly change your browser homepage, search pages and input porn or unwanted contents in favorites list.
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• May install a secret dialer that connects to malicious websites - Spyware can also install a secret dialer on your computer connecting to a premium-rate phone line that automatically lands on a porn or unwanted website.
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• Can corrupt your registry entries - Spyware can overwrite an existing registry entry and might corrupt an application, or develop innumerable registry entries which results in unnatural behavior of your computer. It clutters system registry and slower down your computer performance.
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| How do I know if my Computer is Infected by Spyware? | | Top |
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| The infection could be low risk annoying pop-up adverts to high risk stealing of confidential data to severe risk formatting of your system in stealth mode. All such activities lead to strong possibility of a Spyware’s presence on your computer. |
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| Why Antivirus and Firewall are not so effective on Spyware? | | Top |
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Spyware can easily enter into your computer in the form of Plug-ins. Since the widely used application like Internet Explorer supports Plug-in, Spyware can easily add them as a service to this application. Firewall installed on your computer allows all traffic to Internet Explorer, so it cannot prevent Spyware getting into your computer.
Whereas, Antivirus looks for such programs that can duplicate themselves in multiple copies, once it is installed or downloaded as executable code or document. Therefore, the basic purpose of antivirus is totally different and cannot track infectious Spyware on your computer. |
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| How do these spyware enter into the system? | | Top |
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| These programs usually get installed during surfing Internet or downloading of freeware programs from the internet. The user does not even get a hint about spyware infecting his computer. Advertising companies promote coders to put these types of programs into their applications with the intention to exploit the user’s information gathered by them. |
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| What type of information do they gather? | | Top |
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| They store all the working being done on the system with specific emphasis on personal information, Credit Card details, contact details in the address book, passwords being used or tracks users interest. The information gets retrieved later by some unknown program, which is being controlled by their mentors. Thus, they are able to identify their prospective customers. Their activities are monitored for the next targeted marketing and advertising campaigns. |
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| Do these provide immediate threat? | | Top |
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| These spyware and other malicious software may not always pose immediate threat but nothing can be predicted on their behavior. |
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| How does Systweak AntiSpyware 2008 help remove the infections? | | Top |
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| Systweak AntiSpyware 2008 has a vast database of spyware infections. It can protect your computer from Malware, Trojans, Sniffers, Adware, BHOs, Exploits, Key Loggers, Worms, Monitoring Programs and the type. Regular updation of database with latest threats helps you to protect your computer spyware-free. |
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| What settings can help the operation? | | Top |
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| The program settings should be configured to check for regular update and autostart with Windows. It is always better to make a proper scheduled run. Any unknown program that suspects you can be blocked. Restrictions can be imposed on adding up of unidentified Control Panel items, changing of password without your consent, appearance of items under context menu that you’re not even aware of, locking down of registry editor or workstation on its own. |
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| Does it provide real-time protection? | | Top |
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| The Protection Guard is available real-time for the proper safety of your computer from affecting the intrusion prone areas like Internet Explorer, registry, memory, etc . Different guards look after different areas of the system and their operation. |
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| Can a program, suspected to be carrying spyware, be stopped from operating? | | Top |
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| Yes. If you suspect any program then it can be blocked and not allowed to execute. It can be removed from the list anytime. |
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| Can the scanning be scheduled? | | Top |
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| The scanning can be done as and when required but it proves easy in operation if it is made scheduled. The user has several options of deciding date and time. The operation can be done once only or it can take place on daily/weekly/monthly basis also. The user can also decide to not to run it at all. |
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| Can the log file be maintained? | | Top |
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| Yes. The log file is created automatically to provide the scanning time, the details of the infections and its status. The log file can be saved for future use. |
