Spyware & Web Page Hijackers
Many people don't know about the little bits of code downloaded by some web sites. Most of them are quite legitimate and help you the next time you visit the site but some are quite intrusive and monitor your Web browsing habits and pass details back to market research companies to help with targetted email advertising.
Some of the more badly written versions can actually slow your computer down as they continually try to communicate with sites on the Internet.
Recently there has been an upsurge in software installed from the internet by web sites despite the user not accepting them. Often there is a pop-up with an OK button and a Cancel button. Pressing either button seems to install the software.
Once the software is installed the user is inflicted with random pop-up windows filled with adverts and the default home page is hijacked and set to a previously unseen advertising sponsored search page. What makes this particularly iritating is that it is almost impossible to uninstall some of these programs.
There are programs to help remove this intrusive software, see the pane to the right but the best way is not to install it. If you get offered routines to make your computers clock more accurate or additional toolbars for your web browser or scanning of your PC to improve performance don't accept them unless you are totally sure that you understand what you are downloading. Don't press the cancel button, use the X in the box at the top right hand of the window to close it or use Alt and F4 together to close the window.
Lastly make sure you are using the latest version of Internet Explorer with all the latest downloads and security patches installed.
| 
