Computer Spyware a Key Threat to Network and Information - Essay Example

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Computer Spyware a Key Threat to Network and Information

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Subject: Information Technology
Type: Essay
Level: Undergraduate
Pages: 3 (750 words)
Downloads: 2
Author: douglaselliot

Extract of sample "Computer Spyware a Key Threat to Network and Information"

WHAT IS SPYWARE? There are numerous viruses that we come across during our work on computers or internet. Spyware is a kind of virus which hides somewhere on the computer hard drive and gathers information about who you are and your activities online. It tries to take over partial control of the computer system. Spyware can also change the settings of a computer system that can have an impact on the internet connection. It slows it down and or less of connectivity altogether. Similarly, the home page can also get change without any warning.

HOW IT WORKS? Since people hardly get to know what is stored on their PCs, spyware can easily enter by force into the computer and keep a record of all that is done online. This poses a serious threat to any individual’s privacy since the software can then pass on anyone’s personal details across the internet. This is one of the reasons, that the use of credit and debit cards online is strictly condemned. Using them online in the presence of spyware on a computer can lead to credit theft.

The simplest kinds of spywares are mostly downloaded on any computer when other free software is downloaded from the internet. More often people ignore going through the license agreement for any software that is downloaded from the internet. A lot many times the license agreement in itself has indications that the software might contain spyware. It normally says that the browsing habits will be sent to the company’s website, which is mostly understood being lawful. In many cases, the data transmitted to company’s via software downloads is used for advertising purposes only, but then again it has no security what-so-ever since spyware can access data on the hard drive and miss-use it.

Spyware not only scan files on the hard drive but also keep a watch on other applications chat programs and even read cookies. In many instances, data collection software is already installed on computer systems for many companies that require building up a database. But these are programs are different from spyware for the reason that they are installed with the consent of clients and prior information. KINDS OF SPYWARE There are different kinds of spywares. Another kind is called adware. Adware is spyware which automatically installs promotional software on the computer.

What this spyware does is that it produces on-display ads, which are normally, in the form of pop-ups. The most horrible kinds of adware are links on the web pages which are takeover links. They take anyone accessing it to a different website from the one that an individual is trying to access. The site the persons take to is the one who normally pays for the adware. Yet another kind is malware. Malware is a short-term for malicious and is designed to harm computers unlike the other spywares that transmit data to other sources or are solely for advertising purposes (Adams, 2006).

Different kinds of malware can also help hackers to attain confidential information like keyed-in passwords, pins, etc (Spyware, 2009). MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH SPYWARE I believe adware is one of the most common kinds of spyware on the computer systems that individuals are normally unaware of. I have also been a victim of it. I downloaded some antivirus that was said to be free, but when I began to use it, I started getting instant alerts of some inter-related promotion that I didn’t intend to download.

Continuous alerts were annoying. Similarly, once I download a movie torrent, with which some porn clips along with subscription details were downloaded on my system without my consent. It is necessary that individuals know about spyware. As it is rightly said, prevention is better than cure. What is recommended is highly avoiding clicking on pop-up advertisements, which as learnt, are loaded with spyware. Any of the most highly recommended anti-spyware software should be downloaded since they are easily available online.

This will prevent spyware from unknowingly entering a computer. REFERENCES Adams, G. J. (2006). What Is Spyware And What Does It Do? Retrieved October 19, 2011, from Ezine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Spyware-And-What-Does-It-Do?&id=910587 What is spyware and what does it do? (2009). Retrieved October 21, 2011, from Yahoo Answers: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080905085352AAM9NJ1

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