Spyware is a form of virus that can significantly impede the performance of your computer. If you think you have spyware, then you need to run antivirus software in order to eliminate it.
Spyware can be used by hackers to steal your personal information. For example, think of all the tasks that you do on your PC in an average day: banking, e-mail, taxes, and whatever else you are doing may all be monitored if a malicious form of spyware has taken root in your PC. For example, some spyware may use keyloggers to track exactly what you’re doing on your computer and discover your passwords as you enter them.
Other forms of spyware could target your e-mail account, sending out mass messages to your contact list filled with any number of spam or viruses.
So where does spyware come from? Like any form of malware on your PC, spyware can come from websites, peer-to-peer networks, and many other places. In fact, simply going to a malicious site may be enough to install spyware on your computer. Once on your system, spyware may even open up security loopholes to allow other forms of malware to slip in.
To ensure that your computer will not be affected by spyware, it’s important to invest in a high-quality software solution that will track down spyware at the source. For example, when browsing, these programs may pop-up a security alert, which will then tell you not to enter the site. Or, if you have already been infected with spyware, programs like this can effectively root out and delete them from your system.