How to Prevent Adware, Spyware & Malware
Malware and adware are two forms of spyware. Malware, which includes viruses, Trojan horses, rootkits and worms, damages computers. Adware bombards computers with targeted advertisements. According to Microsoft, spyware is to blame for 50 percent of computer crashes. The most malicious forms of spyware can disable a computer's anti-virus software, harvest personal information and alter a computer's registry. From secure browsers to firewalls, there are several ways to prevent spyware.
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Instructions
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Use a secure browser, such as Opera or Firefox. Less secure browsers come with security holes that allow spyware to automatically download. However, secure browsers reveal what programs are trying to self-download and whether to approve or reject these downloads. If you use Internet Explorer, use the latest version and set the security settings to high.
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Practice safe surfing habits. Avoid file-sharing and pornographic, ad-laden and .info websites since they are notorious for harboring spyware. Do not download programs until after researching them online or on CNET.com--a popular download site. When downloading free programs, read the End User License Agreement to learn if the software installs adware as a condition of it being free.
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Install McAfee's Site Advisor. Some forms of spyware self-download as soon as a person visits a website. With Site Advisor, red and green icons appear next to Google and Yahoo search results. Green checkmarks represent safe websites while red crosses represent dangerous websites. Clicking on the icons redirects the user to the Site Advisor website, which contains basic information about the site and what type of spyware it installs. Site Adviser does not cost anything to install.
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Install a firewall. Firewalls serve as a buffer between a computer and the outside world. With a firewall, inbound activity, such as downloads or pings, must be authorized. Nevertheless, get a firewall that also has outbound protection, such as Zone Alarm, since it stops intruders from sending personal information to third-party websites.
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