Is Your Computer Protected?

Did you know that 8 out of 10 PC's are infected with some sort of Spyware, with an average of 24.4 spies per PC scanned? Microsoft estimates that 50% of all PC crashes are due to spyware. Likewise, Dell reports that 20% of all technical support calls involve spyware.

Spyware refers to a broad category of malicious software intended to take partial control of a computer. It monitors the websites and types of e- mails you receive and displays pop ups based on the content that you were previously reading, hence the name spyware.

Malware -- software that, among other things, spies on computer users and plagues them with constant barrages of popups -- is a growing concern in the internet community, and Google is stepping in to help protect consumers by warning them if they are about to visit a site with a reputation for the harmful programs.

The search engine giant has teamed with Lenovo, Sun and the Stop Badware coalition to provide the warnings to anyone who visits a site deemed as harmful by the watchdog organization. The initial warnings will be generic, but Stop Badware said it would begin providing specific warnings as harmful sites are analyzed. The warning will suggest people try a different site, but will not actually prevent them from continuing.

According to a May research report -- partly sponsored by McAfee's SiteAdvisor, which also warns of potentially harmful sites -- the average search term results will be comprised of 4 to 6 percent harmful sites. Certain search terms returned an even higher percentage; "free screensavers" for example returned 64 percent harmful sites in its result.
Dangerous keywords found by the report include:

· Free screensavers
· Bearshare
· Screensavers
· Winmx
· Limewire or Lime wire
· Download Yahoo messenger
· Free ringtones

"Most dodgy websites that have spyware or are infected with viruses come through search," said ScansSafe Chief Executive Eldar Tuvey. "Because they are the ones that people do not know as well and find through searching."

Today, computers are vulnerable to spyware and adware, especially since different types are created everyday. Spyware and adware are the reasons for pop-ups, computer crashes, delay in response time, and your computer just being slow! Most of the time, these annoying programs get installed on your computer without you knowing.

Obviously you know of the traps that lie out there on the Internet that can be potentially dangerous to you, your computer and your personal information.

It's a hard spot to be in when trying to decide on protection for your computer because there are just so many options out there.

Some are extremely expensive and some are so complicated to use that no average person would be able to use them properly.

Even worse, there are protection options out there that just flat out don't work properly.

Not to say these don't work but many cheap alternatives just don't do a proper scan. But there is a tool that's free and produced by the biggest technology company in the world.

It's called the Malicious Software Removal Tool and is available directly from Microsoft's website here:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.msp

While this is just a start and by no means a complete solution to finding the dirty stuff on your computer, it is a great start.

Article Source: http://www.articlesinsight.com

Is Your Computer Running Slow? Stalls, Freezes And Hangs Up? You Might Be The Victim Of Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans Or Vicious Viruses. Find Out Here. Complete Protection For Your Computer

Please Rate this Article

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Security Articles Via RSS!

Additional Articles From - Home | Computers | Security

Device Lock and Security - By : Sushil Kumar
The Security Basics of Internet 101 - By : Jagdip Singh
Is Your Computer Safe from Spyware - By : Parveenn Kumarr
Maximum security for your Macintosh computer - By : kashish mittal
Top-rated Privacy Eraser & Internet Eraser for Windows XP and Vista - By :
Protect your computer and your personal information from spyware - By : Navneet Kaur
Secure Your Home PC from Invaders - By : acanders
Internet Security Basics 101 - By : Nisha
Understanding and avoiding Internet security risks - By : Charles Brooker
Fiber Optic Security - By : Fiber Centurion

	Print This Article
	Post Comment
	Add To Favorites
	Email to Friends
	Ezine Ready

Member Login
Submit Articles
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Article RSS Feeds

New Stuff
About Us
Site Blog
Links
Link to Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Sitemap

articlesinsight.com » Copyright © 2006
Links | Terms of Service | Submission Guidelines | Contact Us | Improve google rankings| Privacy Policy | About Us