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Every time you surf the web you are at risk. Visiting certain websites can make annoying popups appear. Sometimes one popup can lead to others. What a waste of time! You regret even clicking on a link, to the site with the popup, to begin with. What you may not know is that there is more then just the annoyance factor that you should be worried about. Popups can be dangerous to you and your computer.
Popups are dangerous because they can contain spyware. Spyware is an invasive software code that can transmit private information to a third party through the popup ad. The information that spyware can obtain may include information on your system resources, performance, and memory, scans of files on your computer, keylogging, access to forms that store data (such as credit card #’s, address, social security numbers, and more), track where you’ve been and where you go on the internet, and even change the settings on your computer.
Having spyware installed on your system can lead to system crashes, infection of your system by Trojans, viruses, and worms, indentity theft and a slew of other problems you won’t want to deal with.
As I stated previously spyware can lead to keylogging. Keylogging traces every keystroke your computer makes. The information that is collected through keylogging is transmitted through email or another web based application. While keylogging can be useful if used in the right way (for logging online activity and recording errors) the use is often abused.
Keylogging can allow an attacker to have access to sensitive material including your email, passwords, credit card information, home address, phone number, full name, social security, checking and saving account numbers, and anything else you can think of. The result of keylogging may cause your accounts to be hacked into, credit card misuse, and the attacker may even try to steal your identity.
Keylogging can lead to another harmful scheme that attackers may use to get personal information they can use against you. If a hacker has your email information and they have tracked you, through keylogging, to certain websites where you submit sensitive information (such as online credit card verification).
Phishing is another huge problem on the internet today. This is when a scam artist creates an email that appears to be one thing though it’s not. They use scare tactics in order to get people to react in fear. This normally means that people willingly hand over credit card and other information into the hands of criminals.
All of these things have one thing in common. They are all forms of malware (malicious software). Malware is any form of software that was created with intent to slow down or potentially ruin your system.
All forms of malware do have solutions to stop them. Using the right anti-virus solution, which includes safety against worms and Trojans, is necessary. It is also important that you have the right software to protect you from spam, spyware, and adware. Having all of these programs will ensure that your computer is running safely and smoothly. It is the one thing that will be sure to protect your computer and keep your surfing experience one that remains worthwhile.
From Anti-phishing Malware back to Anti-phishing.info