There’s a lot of hype about spyware these days. Kind of reminds me of the big outbreak of computer viruses that occurred earlier in the decade. It amazes me how many people are running spyware toolbar removal programs, yet don’t even know what spyware and toolbars are! So let’s take a moment, first of all, and define the two.
Spyware is a type of software that gathers info about you or your computer, and may potentially attempt to take some or all control of your computer, with or without your knowledge (usually without). This sounds awful, but some spyware is actually fairly harmless. However, if you’re like most people, you don’t want anything or anyone doing anything on your system without your implicit consent!
A toolbar is a group of icons in a row located on your computer screen (usually in Internet Explorer, or whatever browser you use, near the top). A toolbar is intended to give you access to certain functions or commands (often it’s just a marketing ploy to try to get you to buy from or visit sites from a certain company or their partners). Some people might find this useful. Users of Yahoo Mail or Yahoo Messenger, for instance, might enjoy using the Yahoo Toolbar for quick access to their mail and instant messages. However, there are many users who would say that toolbars are annoying. Many are upset that toolbars seem to suddenly “appear” in their browser, without prompting the user first to ask whether the toolbar installation is desired.
I think the main issue that irks people about both toolbars and spyware cause issues with your system’s speed, and sometimes result in a loss of computer functionality.
So it seems safe to say that spyware is malicious, and toolbars (while they can be helpful to certain users) are quite cumbersome to most people. And that begs the question: where do spyware and toolbars come from? Are there hackers lurking in every corner of the online world, just waiting to eat our computers for breakfast? Or is there something a bit more rational going on? The answer to that is: both… but mostly the latter.
Yes, granted, hackers (yes, I mean “the bad kind,” for you computer geeks out there) are out there, and yes, they do write programs and viruses that scan ports on your computer to try to get in and do things to your system. But the fact is that most of us are behind a firewall, which essentially blocks almost all our computers from being accessed without our permission. When a program attempts to break through, nowadays even Windows XP will prompt you before it allows the access. (Technical jargon: Firewalls built into routers and the Windows Firewall add two solid layers of natural protection, without our having to install anti-virus or anything else!)
The point is that, if you’re using Windows XP and your computer is connected to a router, your computer is actually somewhat safe from attacks and intrusions when you do normal everyday things like check email and surf the net. The real truth is that most spyware and toolbars make their way onto our systems by things that we actually do (not because we don’t have Norton or Spy Sweeper installed—these programs may not even be necessary if you maintain your computer carefully)!
Bottom line: the best way to keep your system healthy is to be careful when you install programs. Don’t just click “Next” over and over again because you’re too impatient to wait through 30 seconds while a program installsn. Especially when you install programs via download, pay attention to the prompts and uncheck boxes that ask you to install things. And always, always choose “Advanced Installation” rather than “Custom Installation.” It’s not that advanced anyway. All it does is give you the option to uncheck boxes that install things like—you guessed it!—spyware and toolbars.
Another great word to the wise is: Don’t fall for “free” stuff online. The old adage, “nothing is free,” or “there’s not such thing as a free lunch applies.” Whenever you download or install free stuff (particularly from a site you don’t already trust), you’re in for potential trouble.
So before you spend a fortune on spyware and toolbar removal, do your part first by using some common sense. It will save you a lot of time and money. In the event that your computer is running slowly, sure—get it repaired or install anti-virus, or spyware and toolbar removal programs. But don’t forget that you can remove many programs from your computer by the age-old method: Click START, go to Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, browse the list, and remove what you don’t use. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, Google it to find out what it is.
Finally, remember: computers are not just for geeks, and don’t have to be complicated. You’re over-thinking it!
