Spyware is the software that collects information about your online activities and preferences. The information is then sent to another computer with the intention of selling it to online advertisers.

Spyware and adware can enter your computer through e-mail, downloads or instant messaging. This is a frightening prospect for anyone, who uses the net frequently or constantly downloads products and services online. It is upsetting to think, that someone may be watching your every move, when you are online.

What is Adware?

Adware is software that displays advertisements like banners and pop-ups on your computer. It may also track the preferences of the user without his knowledge. If ad ware keeps building up, on your computer, you may face a deluge of pop-ups, banners and search tool bars, making it difficult for you to work.

Adware infection may change your homepage repeatedly. Mysterious toolbars may appear on your browser. Your computer may run at a noticeably slower speed or there may be other mysterious changes on your computer.

What Are The Signs Of Spyware?

If your computer shows any of the following symptoms, spyware or some other malicious software may have infected it:

* Spyware and other malicious software may add additional toolbars to your browser, which you don't want. Even, if you delete them, they will appear again, each time you restart your computer.

* Pop-up advertisements may appear whenever the computer is turned on, even when you are not online. Some of them may be for adult or other objectionable sites.

* The computer's settings may change mysteriously. Even if the user changes the settings back to the earlier settings, they may revert repeatedly to the new settings. Malicious software may change your homepage or search page settings.

* Spyware and other malicious software are not designed to be efficient. The process of watching a user's activities and displaying advertisements may noticeably slow down, the functioning of a computer or even makes it crash.

If spy ware or ad ware infects your computer, don't despair. You can use any of the free or paid spy ware or ad ware elimination software products, available to detect and eliminate them.