How to Prevent Spyware From Being Installed
Everyone knows that viruses are a real threat to personal information stored on your computer. But did you know that spyware can pose an equally harmful threat? Spyware can be anything from annoying popup ads to keystroke loggers that record your passwords and other private information. Luckily, preventing spyware is incredibly easy and inexpensive to do. Learn how to protect yourself online and prevent spyware from being installed on your computer
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Instructions
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Install spyware protection software. Spyware protection software is the first and most important step in preventing spyware from being installed on a computer. There are many software programs available, some of which are free. One extremely popular free software is Spybot (see Resources).
If you already have an antivirus program installed on your computer, see if it also has antispyware settings. Most of them do, and there's no reason to download or pay for antispyware software if you already have a program that will do what you need. -
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Install or set up a firewall. Firewalls, as well as spyware, are extremely important for preventing viruses. Chances are good that you already have a firewall program on your computer even if it's not set up. For example, Windows XP comes with a firewall that can be enabled through "Start->Control Panel->Windows Firewall." If you don't have a firewall, many types are available. Since all firewalls prevent viruses and spyware, you only need a basic firewall package. You don't need to buy an expensive firewall just because it emphasizes spyware protection.
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Adjust your Internet browser security settings. Open up your Internet browser and set the options to prevent the opening of popup ads.The names of the settings are slightly different, depending on which browser you are using. Here are the general option names to look for in each of the major browsers.
In Internet Explorer: Tools->Options: Look for the "Internet Surfing Settings" and set them to the medium or high level.
In Netscape: Tools->Options->Spyware Protection: There are several settings here that will really secure your system.
In Firefox: Tools->Options: Enable "Block Pop-up Windows" and "Clear Private Data." -
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Be cautious when downloading files. Only download files from well-known sites. Be especially careful when downloading music and video files, as these are notorious for containing spyware, especially if they are "free downloads." Always read the download page of sites and make sure you are not "signing up to receive advertisements." Websites will often use this phrase as a way to install spyware on your computer, while most consumers think they are signing up for emails or a newsletter.
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Install ad-blocking toolbars. Most of the main Internet browsers come with toolbars that you can install that will automatically block ads. They will also tell you the number of ads that sites have attempted install. It's good to know this number because you can visually see which sites attempt to install the most spyware and avoid those sites in the future.
One popular ad-blocking toolbar is the Google Toolbar (see Resources), which can also be installed in Internet Explorer. There are various other toolbars that can be located and installed by searching for "ad blocking toolbar."
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Resources
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