While the internet is a great tool for research, or for just keeping in touch with e-mail or looking for a perfect gift, there is an annoying problem that is becoming increasingly dangerous for your computer. While everyone understands what a computer virus does, many people are still relatively unaware of the problem that is Spyware.
Spyware is another word for Advertising Supported software (Adware). There are several large media companies that place banner ads and pop-ups on certain web pages in exchange for a portion of the revenue from banner sales. This is the front for the more harmful Spyware that almost always comes along with it behind the scenes. While the banner placement may be a great concept, the downside is that the advertising companies also install tracking software on your system, which is continuously “calling home” and using your Internet connection to report on everything on your computer and everywhere you go, and then reports this information back to the source program. While every site you may visit may have a privacy policy about not sharing information, the fact remains that someone put a program on your PC that is sending...