Unprotected PCs can be hijacked in minutes
Surfing the Web has never been more risky.
Simply connecting to the Internet — and doing nothing else — exposes your PC to non-stop, automated break-in attempts by intruders looking to take control of your machine surreptitiously.
If your Windows PC is being used as a remote pc, you may notice recurring slowdowns of e-mail and Web browsing. Or you may not be able to e-mail or browse at all. If your PC has been infected with a self-replicating network worm, a dormant backdoor Trojan horse or several other types of stealthy programs, you may not notice anything.
Don't install just any software without knowing exactly what it is.
Take time to read the end-user license agreement (EULA) before downloading any software. If the EULA is hard to find — or difficult to understand — think twice about installing the software. Watch what it wants to install.
Minimize “drive-by” downloads.
Make sure your browser security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized downloads, for example, at least the “Medium” setting for Internet Explorer. Keep your browser updated.
Don’t click on any links within pop-up windows.
If you do, you may install spyware on your computer. Instead, close pop-up windows by clicking on the “X” icon in the title bar.
Don’t click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware software. Some software offered in spam actually installs spyware.
Install a personal firewall
to stop uninvited users from accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your computer is sending information out.
If you think your computer might have spyware on it, experts advise that you take three steps:
Spyware is software installed on your computer that tracks what you do whenever you are online surfing the Internet.
There are many spyware protection software like keylogger remover to secure your PC against privacy and tracking threats.
Unfortunately spyware keeps getting more and more elaborate and the average spyware programs aren’t enough to fully protect you. Today's sophisticated, multi-pronged attacks often involve spyware, hacker and other Internet security threats.