Getting spyware infects computers through other programs and exploits vulnerabilities. Spyware monitors users' activities and slows down computers by using system resources. Signs of spyware include reduced performance, changed browser settings, and unusual hard drive activity. Users can protect themselves by using anti-spyware software, avoiding suspicious sites, and keeping programs updated.

1. Getting spyware
It’s influence
Ways of treatment
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2. Introduction
 What is spyware in general
 Ways of infecting the PC
 Spyware abilities
 How to recognize spyware
 Ways of protection
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3. What is spyware in general
 Spyware is a kind of malicious software which is
installed into the computer without user’s knowledge
or permission.
 Usually spyware becomes downloaded along with a
certain program, which contains malware code in its
body
 Once being installed onto the PC, spyware starts
working immediately
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4. Statistics
Users who have spyware
 As a rule, users usually don’t 100
even suspect they have 98
spyware in their system.
96
According to statistics, out of
94
100% users 92% don’t know
they have spyware and 91% 92
didn’t give any permission on 90
its installation. 88
 8% remaining have installed 86
spyware intentionally to
control the machine’s activity
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5. Spyware installation
 Often spyware function
is mentioned in the
license agreement, but
users generally click
“Agree” without reading
it. So spyware comes
onto the HDD absolutely
legally
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6. Ways of infecting the PC
 By installing the spyware together with some useful
program
 By exploitation of certain software vulnerabilities –
e.g., Internet Explorer
 By using the fake antivirus and antimalware programs
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7. Internet Explorer
 Many spyware programs
make use of IE. Mainly it
happens not because
Internet Explorer is the
most popular browser
nowadays, but because it
is deeply integrated with
Windows and has many
keys to critical system
features
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8. Fake antiviruses
 Today many antiviruses
are available for free
downloading – and some
of them contain
malicious code. It’s
worth being careful
when downloading anti-
malware applications
and pay attention to the
recognition and
acceptance of the
product.
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9. Spyware abilities
 User activity monitoring (web-sites, logins and
passwords, etc.)
 Bank and credit card information
 Collecting almost any kind of data
 Change system security and personal settings
 Often – slowing down the computer because of RAM
and CPU usage
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10. User activity monitoring
The main and most
widened aim of any
spyware is collecting data
about the user. Browsing
habits, passwords and
plenty of other data
becomes vulnerable. After
collecting and sorting out
the data is used for
different illegal purposes
including ID theft and
carding.
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11. System resources wasting
 As a rule, spyware has
access practically to any
system setting. It
changes the priority of
processes in order to
intercept data, and that
makes the computer
slower – as far as all
resources are primarily
maintaining the spyware
and only secondarily – all
other tasks. All these
make the machine slow.
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12. Spyware recognition
 PC performance is reduced
 Browser settings are changed, the homepage is different
from the normal one
 Internet traffic increases, especially outgoing traffic
 Computer turns to HDD without any reason – it can be
easily seen on the system block
 Antivirus programs warnings
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13. Browser warnings
Remember that browser
cannot change user
settings on its own. Once
you detect any changes in
the homepage, new
toolbars or anything like
that – it might be a bad
signal. Also do remember
that spontaneous webpage
redirection can also be a
warning sign to check your
PC for spyware
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14. Unusual HDD activity
A sure sign of spyware
presence is launching the
HDD when the machine is
idle. It happens due to
certain features of the
spyware, as it may collect
info independently. So when
the machine is idle and the
HDD suddenly starts
working (it’s a specific sound
that all of us know), it could
be the sign of spyware
presence
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15. Ways of protection
 Use appropriate anti-spyware applications
 Don’t download anything from suspicious websites
 Remember to update you IE, even if you don’t use it
 Use firewalls and web proxies
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16. IE regular update
 Even if you don’t use
Internet Explorer as your
chief browser, don’t
forget to update it
regularly. It is very
vulnerable even being
disabled. Do remember
to use a reliable browser
like Opera, Firefox,
Google Chrome etc. In
general – always keep
your system updated.
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17. Use anti-spyware programs
 The most powerful and
secure tool to keep PC safe
from spyware is buying a
good anti-spyware
program like PCKeeper or
Malwarebytes. It’s highly
advisable to keep them
updated. Choose the
respectable ones because
some anti-spyware
applications are spyware
on their own.
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18. Learn more at spywareguide.net
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