What is spyware? Is antivirus capable to protect your device from it?

What is spyware? Is antivirus capable to protect your device from it?

The term “spyware” is easy to understand: it is software that spies on someone. However, detecting spyware on your device is far from easy. It disguises itself and runs unnoticed in the background, collecting information or giving its author remote access to your system.

Spyware is different from a computer virus in that it does not reproduce itself. However, spyware is one of the most dangerous forms of malware given its ability to go unnoticed and rummage through your most private information. Viruses can damage devices or data, but spyware goes beyond that and can steal your identity or real assets.

 

What can spyware do? Criminal organizations use spyware to get information about online banking accounts and passwords or credit card details. Advertisers use them to study your online behavior and to present you with advertising that is as tailored as possible. Authorities use them to collect every imaginable piece of information about you. In this case, one often speaks of "software" or "policeware".

How does spyware get your data?

Spyware can take many forms and can be used for many different purposes. Among other things, spyware can:

 

Record your keystrokes: This form of spyware called keylogger spies on all your inputs, for example, to gain access to credit card details, user names, and passwords.

 Track online activity: Some tracking cookies can rightly be called spyware as they capture your online movements and relay them to advertisers so they can send you targeted information. But there are also more criminal forms of follow-up.

 Take control of your computer: Certain Trojan spyware can make changes to your security settings, allowing you to remotely control your device.

 Reduce device performance: Sometimes the only telltale sign of spyware infection is that processing power and Internet bandwidth are diverted to transmit the stolen data.

What types of spyware are there?

From keyloggers to following treats, spyware comes in all shapes and sizes. Here some examples.

• FinFisher: Spyware designed for law enforcement agencies but got into the hands of criminals.

• GO Keyboard: An app that spied on consumers and tapped personal data on a large scale. Worse still, it was easy to download from Google Play!

• Look2Me: As if spying wasn't bad enough, Look2Me always started the PC in safe mode, which made detection even more difficult.

• Trojan.Zlob: Not only spied but also displayed pop-up advertisements and manipulated the PC controls so that the devices could hardly be used.

How can I detect and remove spyware from my computer?

If spyware were only to spy on your actions, it could potentially go undetected forever. "Fortunately," hackers almost always bundle spyware with other malware, such as Trojans and adware, so other symptoms make it easy to find spyware on an infected computer:

• Slowdown: Is your device suddenly running abnormally slow?

• Pop-ups: Do you get a lot of pop-ups even when you are not browsing the internet at all?

• Unexpected toolbars, search engines, or start screens: do they suddenly appear on your computer even though you have not downloaded them?

If you experience such problems, then there is likely spyware on your system as well.

How can I remove spyware from Windows?

If you find any unusual uses on your PC, you should undergo spyware removal. Doing this manually is not easy, but most sophisticated antivirus products like Free Antivirus offer help with spyware (and other types of malware) removal as part of their general anti-malware tools.

How can spyware be avoided?

As long as you follow a few simple best practices while browsing, you have a good chance of avoiding infection with malware, including spyware:

• Don't trust everyone when you go online: The hackers' favorite trick is to spoof websites, popups, and emails ( around 92% of malware is distributed via email!) That makes you suspicious of downloading them Wants to trick files. Don't fall for it. If you're not 100% sure about a file, just don't download it.

• Be careful: make sure you don't land on a fake website. Check the URL to avoid typing errors and make sure it is also an HTTPS website. Not only can you avoid malware, but you can also protect yourself against phishing attacks.

• Get an ad blocker: Malvertising is when hackers infect banner ads, which can then bring malware onto your computer even if you don't click on them. Even large, reputable websites are not always immune to this. The best solution is therefore to block all advertising.

These measures can reduce the risk of infection - but comprehensive protection when connected to the Internet can only be achieved with powerful antivirus software. Free AntiVirus protects you from all dangers on the Internet and does not cost a cent. So there's no need to go without it when it comes to keeping your PC, data, and family safe.