spyware?

[dar1again]

what is the meaning of spyware?

[Undeadlord]

Spyware is bascially programs that run in the background operationg system that collect data about what you do aka what sites you surf to, how much time you spend online and your shopping habits, etc and report it back to some company. Hence they "spy" on you with you knowing it.

Hope that helps http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Undeadlord

[GroundZero3]

if those explainations didn't help http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif (http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci214518,00.html)

and if you want to see if you have any on your comp (http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10106-100-6290669.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.6290669)

Jason

[dar1again]

thanks for the info! will norton personal firewall stop spyware from sending info out of your computer?

[samwichse]

Oops

[This message has been edited by samwichse (edited 06-21-2001).]

[samwichse]

I don't know about Norton, but I've heard the best availible software firewall is ZoneAlarm (http://www.zonealarm.com) (stops anything I've seen from accessing).

[jansson_markus]

I recommend Ad-Aware. Its GREAT! Run it every now and then and configure your IE settings so that you dont get that **** onto your machine. If you dont know how, drop me a email.

But firewall doesnt block all spyware! Keep in mind that you *have to* open ports to stuff like RealPlayer etc. and when those ports are open, out goes spyware info! I personally have only opened "hole" for my IE, Opera and Outlook Express. Everything else stays inside but since Im being carefull, there isnt anything trying to get out. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Also, concider MDM.exe too as a spyware. MS Office has couple of them but I dont know which one (since I have erased them long ago), they dont "actually" spy on you, they just collect lots of stuff about your Office usage and take lot of space on you HD:s.

Markus

[This message has been edited by jansson_markus (edited 06-21-2001).]