Modify your computer’s settings. Spyware is a major cause of computer problems

Modify your computer’s settings. Spyware is a major cause of computer problems

Modify your computer’s settings. Spyware is a major cause of computer problems, generating unnecessary troubleshooting calls. Spyware can also gather information about email addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.
Adware is a form of spyware that collects information about the user’s browsing patterns in order to display advertisements in the web browser.
Malware is short for malicious software, consisting of programming (code, scripts, active content, and other software) designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, gain unauthorized access to system resources and other abusive behavior. Malware can include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, and adware.

Symptoms of computer infection include:

• Changes to your web browser, such as extra toolbars or a different home page setting
• Changes to your browser’s security settings and favorites list
•  Pop-up ads that are not related to the web site you are viewing, quite often adult content in nature
•  You see advertisements when you are not browsing the Web
•  Hyperlinks that do not work, or take you somewhere you did not expect)
• You see unexpected messages and images
•  Programs start unexpectedly
• You hear unexpected sounds, played at random
• Your firewall notifies you that an application has tried to connect to the Internet.
• Your friends tell you they just received e-mail messages from your address and you haven’t sent anything
•  Computer freezes frequently or programs start running slow
•  You get lots of system errors
• Operating system will not load when you start the computer
•  You notice hard drive access when programs are not running
•  A sluggish system, or your system taking longer to load the Windows desktop

Spyware is downloaded from the Internet onto the computer. It is often attached to other files that you have chosen to download, or it can be downloaded when you click on banner ads on web sites. Types of downloads from the Internet that may contain spyware include:

Spyware is downloaded from the Internet onto the compute

 Games, Music, movies, or other file-sharing programs
 Themes and characters for your desktop
Screen savers
Toolbar  for Internet Explorer web browser
Free pop-up blockers that appear while you are online
 Free downloaded software
Employees can prevent spyware by simply not downloading software from the Internet. It is against Company policy to download non-business related material from the Internet. In addition, employees should surf the web safely by never clicking on any links that say I agree or in response to any pop-up ads or messages.
The IT Dept. combats spyware through the use of anti-spyware and intrusion detection software on the main Company firewall. In addition, workstation virus protection software also scans for spyware and adware. When necessary, the IT Dept. will install workstation antispyware software to clean up and/or prevent individual computer spyware infections.