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Did you
know that 80% of Computers
connected
to the Internet
are Infected by Spyware
Think about
it. Someone could be spying on your
every movement on the internet, recording
your credit card transactions
or going through all the files on
your computer.
While it is true
that most
spyware only seeks to monitor your internet activity with a
view to targeting you with pop-ups and advertisements, the real
risk is
someone taking
control of your computer, downloading your files then
committing
bank account or credit card fraud or worst case scenario, stealing
your
identity.
Symptoms
of Spyware on your Computer
- Slow
performance - your system loads and operates more slowly than usual.
- Settings
- your homepage, browser or security settings suddenly change.
- Increased
number of pop-ups or unsolicited advertisements.
- System crash.
While I let
all of that sink in, let me tell you my spyware
story,
how my computer became
infected and what I did to remove the spyware and protect my system.
I always thought
that I was
well protected from intrusions - running active anti-virus software, a
highly rated but free anti-spyware program and both Windows and an adsl
router firewall on my
computer. Nothing however was further from the
truth. The
other day without warning my whole system
crashed!
My screen went
blue, I
kept getting a flashing message
telling me that my computer had been infected
with
spyware and
prompting me to
go to
a download site to obtain the latest anti-spyware solution.
Naturally I didn't do that. The first thing that I did was
pull
the plug on my internet connection, then run my anti-spyware software.
What happened
next was really
surprising. My software detected
some 75 instances of spyware, adware, malware, trojans and keyloggers
but it could
not remove them. This
happened in spite of me running a full spyware scan of my
computer the day before.
HELP!!!
What to
do? I rang my
local technician who had built my system:
"Restart your
computer in
'safe
mode' and run your anti-spyware software
again".
Still no good.
"What software
are you
using", I
told him the name of a free anti-spyware
program that I had downloaded from the internet, "Well that's your
problem, you need to be using much better software"
- what do you recommend, I
asked, CounterSpy
he replied, "I consider it to be the best and most
powerful software available
and it's what I would use to clean up your
system if
you bring
it
in".
You
Get What You Pay For
Or
in my case
what I didn't pay for. I now know the downside of running free
software, it just does not work as well. The other risk in using free software is
that some unscrupulous operators have actually conned people into
believing that they are downloading legitimate software when in fact
what they are really getting is more spyware.
Don't make
the same mistake that I did, thinking that the free software
that you download from the internet will protect you, it
won't.
Sooner
or later you will suffer, or maybe your system is already
infected but
you just don't know it.
So if you have a
spyware
problem, or more to the point, if you never
want to have a spyware problem, spend a little money and get the
best internet security software,
it is very inexpensive
insurance. I
recommend you do it right away.
CounterSpy
is
the anti-spyware choice of IT pros for their networks and their home
PC's
and a favorite of leading publications for its effectiveness and
pricing.
Recent
CounterSpy Awards
- Windows
IT Pro - Readers' Choice
- Computer
Shopper Magazine - Best Buy
- CNET
Download.com - #1 Editors' Choice
STOP PRESS
NEW CounterSpy v.2
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