What is Spyware?

Spyware, also known as adware, is Internet jargon for any data collection program that secretly gathers information about you and relays it to advertisers and other interested parties. You can unknowingly install spyware by installing a new piece of software, most commonly a piece of freeware or shareware (e.g.,Hotbar, YahooBar, KaZaA, iMesh, WeatherBug). Many of these programs are intended to track your Internet browsing habits, such as frequented sites and favorite downloads, then provide advertising companies with marketing data.

Some spyware programs, such as CommonName, MarketScore, and Gator, can adversely affect your computer's performance.

What can you do to protect yourself from spyware?

Spyware is not the same as a virus. It records what you do rather than alters how your machine works. Hence, anti-virus software may not be effective in identifying and removing spyware. Unfortunately, you cannot fully remove most spyware programs by using the uninstall option in the Windows Add or Remove Programs control panel. To completely remove spyware from your computer, we recommends using anti-spyware like Windows Defender, Ad-Aware, Spy Sweeper or Spybot - Search & Destory. From now on, staffs can install Spybot (spyware remover) from the Network Teaching Software for your office desktop.

If you want to know more about spyware and how to protect yourself, please visit the following websites for details: