Yep, you’ve been hijacked or infected.  You have a sick computer. How did it happen? “I haven’t done anything!” is the common cry I hear.  Well, these programs are tricky.  A little box shows up on your internet browser that says you have many problems in your registry or on your computer.  “Click here” the box says “and I’ll fix it.”  But instead of fixing something that wasn’t sick, as soon as you click that little box, wham, you’re infected.  That’s one way they trap you, by scaring you about your computer.

How about that free piece of software that is going to let you download free music or videos?  Those kinds of offers are just junk waiting to come on your computer.  First they take you to their site and when you click the button to download that “free” program, zap – it downloads a program you weren’t even aware of!  Yep, you’re infected.

But what kind of infection do I have?  Usually you have a combination of problems, namely spyware, malware, adware or a virus. So I am asked, “What are those nasty things and what do they do?”

Spyware is just what it says, a spy.  It collects and gathers data secretly about you and your browsing habits and then sends it to advertisers and other companies without your knowledge. These nasty programs hide on your computer, keeping track of how many times you visit certain websites and they usually track what kinds of websites you visit. This information is valuable to many companies and is a real threat to your computer and sometimes even your identity.

Adware is a software application that adventives.  Banners, box ads, annoying pop-ups telling you where and what to by usually “popup” or display while a program is running.  Adware is often “woven”  into free applications as a way for developers to cover the cost of the development or make new money.  Adware is annoying because it downloads secretly or by a misleading statement or dialogue box or other ways of installation that you are completely unaware of.     Now what?  There are a few things you can do to prevent this in the first place.  DO NOT AGREE TO DOWNLOAD ANY PROGRAM YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH!

The post “My Computer is so Slow” gives some tools to help you clean up an infected computer.