Bsmart with Bsafe Online – Easter Edition

What is Spyware?

What is spyware & what does it do?
Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their informed consent. This personal information is secretly recorded with a variety of techniques, including logging keystrokes, recording Internet web browsing history, and scanning documents on the computer's hard disk.

Purposes range from overtly criminal (theft of passwords and financial details) to the merely annoying (recording Internet search history for targeted advertising, while consuming computer resources). Spyware may collect different types of information. Some variants attempt to track the websites a user visits and then send this information to an advertising agency. More malicious variants attempt to intercept passwords or credit card numbers as a user enters them into a web form or other application.

How does spyware get on my computer?
Most spyware is installed without users being aware. Spyware can come bundled with downloadable software, as well as music CDs. The user downloads a program and installs it, and the installer additionally installs the spyware. Although the desirable software itself may do no harm, the bundled spyware does. In some cases, spyware authors have paid shareware authors to bundle spyware with their software. In other cases, spyware authors have repackaged desirable free software with installers that add spyware. Another way of distributing spyware involves tricking users by manipulating security features designed to prevent unwanted installations. Internet Explorer (IE) prevents websites from initiating an unwanted download by requiring a user action such as clicking on a link and without the user knowing it during that click spyware was installed on their computer.

How do I know if I have spyware on my computer?
Many times the following symptoms can be warning signs that spyware is on your computer.

Unwanted behavior such as Home Web page changing or re-directing you to a different site.
Degradation in system performance, severe slow downs or system crashes.
Difficulty connecting to the internet.
New components added to tool bars.
If you have the All-in-One Filter you can run a Anti-Virus scan (powered by McAfee) which will identify spyware already installed on your computer and allow you to remove it.

How does Bsafe help protect me from spyware?
Bsafe provides an initial layer of protection within the Content Filter. The Bsafe Content Filter blocks known spyware programs from accessing the internet which protects your personal information from being sent out unknowingly. We are constantly updating the list of known spyware programs to better protect your information.

Additionally, the Bsafe All-in-One Filter offers another layer of protection by actively scanning and detecting spyware using McAfee’s Spyware Killer. The All-in-One Filter provides users the ability to remove identified spyware from their computer and also stops intruders which strengthens your protection against Identity Theft. The All-in-One Filter is available at only $20 more a year!

Information provided by Microsoft and Wikipedia

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