Spyware - Where Does it Come From?

[DoctorRobert]

It seems that a debilitating problem inherent in IE (all versions, it seems) comes from spyware that reports your surfing habits to a no-longer existing server. (See the thread entitled "Internet Explorer Loads Slow from Task Bar".)

My questions are as follows:
[ul][li]Where does such spyware come from?[/li]
[li]How does it embed itself in my computer?[/li]
[li]How does it differ from a virus?[/li]
[li]Finally, and most important, how can I protect myself from other spyware programs embedding themselves through IE, or other browsers, on my computer?[/li][/ul]

 

[dsi]

Check out the freeware program called Ad-aware from

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

You can also download it from CNET. Just do a search for ad-aware and you should find plenty of references. Some of these sites will answer your other questions regarding spyware.

Hope this helps...

 

[johncurtis]

Check out

http://cexx.org/

for detailed explanations and what to do about it.