| With an estimated 90% of computers connected to | | | | screen savers (only download a screen saver if you |
| the internet being infected with spyware, it is very | | | | are sure the website is legitimate), free scratch and |
| interesting to look at how programs like this spread. | | | | win programs, pop-up windows that claim you have |
| How do unethical companies manage to infect millions | | | | messages waiting, or the typical "you are the one |
| of computers, while legitimate software developers | | | | millionth visitor) type of ads. You have to be aware of |
| struggle to get anyone downloading their software? | | | | things like this because in many cases, they will infect |
| The reason lies in the fact that malicious programs are | | | | your computer. Just remember that there is no such |
| downloaded differently. | | | | thing as free money, and in the vast majority of cases, |
| The first thing you need to know is that spyware is | | | | advertisements like this are just aiming to download |
| not a virus, and so (by definition) it does not try to | | | | malicious programs to your computer. |
| replicate itself. A virus will try to replicate itself by | | | | Direct download infections also come in the way of |
| sending it to your contacts and friends in your instant | | | | bundled software. This is where the malicious program |
| messaging account once it has infected your machine, | | | | is bundled with another piece of software, so that you |
| whereas spyware doesn't try to spread like this. | | | | get infected just by downloading a legitimate program. |
| Rather, it gets on your computer simply through direct | | | | Sometimes, unethical companies will even pay |
| downloads. | | | | legitimate software developers to include their |
| The most common way malicious software infects | | | | spyware with the legitimate developers program. In |
| your machine is simply through direct downloads. You | | | | other cases, adware companies will bundle their |
| may think that you would never intentionally download | | | | adware in the legitimate software developers product |
| these programs onto your computer. Well, harmful | | | | without them even knowing about it. |
| programs often infect your computer by pretending to | | | | With direct downloads infecting millions upon millions of |
| be something else, mostly in the form of "honey pot" | | | | unsuspecting web surfers with spyware, this is the |
| offerings like free money or adult material. | | | | primary method used to infect machines. In order to |
| Unsuspecting visitors download the program thinking it | | | | protect yourself, you really need to watch out and |
| will help them out, when in fact it just infects their | | | | take a close look at everything you download. Ask |
| machine with hard-to-delete spyware. | | | | yourself, is the site reputable? Is the offer realistic? By |
| What should you look out for when it comes to things | | | | carefully looking at what you download you can |
| like this? Mostly, spyware is disguised as things like | | | | greatly reduce the risk of infection. |