Spyware is the latest trend in marketing tracking and identity/data theft software that sneaks onto your machine with other 'free' programs, such as Gator, Bonzai Buddy, Kazaa etc. Call it what they may, but to us it may as well be just another vius. Sadly, regular antivirus software does not detect them. While this may be a great concept, the downside is that the advertising companies also install additional tracking software on your system, which is continuously "calling home", using your Internet connection and reports statistical data to the "mothership". While according to the privacy policies of the companies, there will be no sensitive or identifying data collected from your system and you shall remain anonymous, it still remains the fact, that you have a "live" server sitting on your PC that is sending information about you and your surfing habits, as well as your personal information (such as accounts, passwords, credit card numbers) to a remote location for use in stealing from you.

While legitimate adware companies will disclose the nature of data that is collected and transmitted in their privacy statement (linked from our database), there is almost no way for the user to actually control what data is being sent. The fact is that the technology is in theory capable of sending much more than just banner statistics - and this is why many people feel uncomfortable with the idea.

Spyware can slow down your computer or Net surfing because it continually delivers pop-up ads. Some are not written well, so they can conflict with existing programs, cause computers to crash or otherwise use computing resources inefficiently.

On the other hand.Millions of people are using advertising supported "spyware" products and could not care less about the privacy hype, in fact some "Spyware" programs are among the most popular downloads on the Internet.

First, you (or anyone else) must think about how you might have gotten the programs in the first place. Did you download and install file-sharing or other free software?

Then likely, you got spyware as part of the deal. It's a bargain you made when you installed the free software by clicking "yes" to accepting legal language you probably didn't bother to read. Buried in the legalese often is disclosure of such ad products. But there are trickier ways spyware sneaks onto your computer.

If your Web browser's security settings are low, you might have gotten it simply by visiting a Web site. Perhaps you mistyped a domain name and got a search engine you never heard of, one that surreptitiously placed the spyware on your computer.

Pop-up messages that claim to help your computer run better are sometimes fronts for getting you to accept spyware installations.

Even though the name may indicate so, Spyware is not an illegal type of software in any way - although the eventual theft of your identity and/or money will be a crime. However there are certain issues that a privacy oriented user may object to and therefore prefer not to use the product. This usually involves the tracking and sending of data and statistics via a server installed on the user's PC and the use of your Internet connection in the background.

How can I stop it?

Spyware can be tricky to find and remove, you should invest in a good and reputable spyware removal software package.

Once you've removed all the errant programs, do a scan every so often in case new spyware has sneaked in since then. Just make sure you update the lists first, as spyware makers are constantly finding newer ways to get to you.