SPYWARE

We’ve heard this word “Spyware” either directly or indirectly. And we are using anti-spyware software to protect/prevent. I have tried to explain about “Spyware” here. Maybe it will useful to you.

What is Spyware?

As like its name, Spy+(soft)ware=Spyware. It has spying properties in it.

Any software that covertly gathers user information without user’s knowledge for advertising, marketing, malicious or any other purposes is known as “Spyware”. You can get spyware absolutely free with freeware or shareware programs. Spyware monitors your net surfing habits, collects information and sends same to the creator of the spaware.

It is not Virus or Worm

Spyware does not directly spread in the manner of a computer virus or worm: generally, an infected system does not attempt to transmit the infection to other computers. It does not usually self-replicate like viruses or worms.

Location of Installed Spyware:

You can manually find installed spyware on your computer. You should check the following registry entries.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\RunOnce

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\Run

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Spyware at Startup:

As like as run it modifies windows Winlogon. It adds an ADDITIONAL shell(default explorer application) a spyware program can get itself loaded on windows startup. The registry key is located:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Shell

Anti-Spyware:

There are many programs which prevent spyware and its activities. They remove/block them too. You can choose any one out of them and stop spyware easily.