How do you know

your computer

has spy-ware

You have too many pop up windows. Some of these are a normal part of web browsing. But if you get pop ups before you open your web browser, it's a sure sign you have spy ware.

You can't reach certain web pages.

Your home page has changed and you can't change it back. Software other than your regular anti-virus warns you that you have spy ware.

You get an anti-virus message warning about multiple infections. Most anti-virus software will give you a warning for each virus it detects. If there's a second virus (unusual), it will give a second warning. It will rarely give a single warning of multiple problems at once. However, spy ware sometimes does this in order to trick you into downloading it.

Your web browser has new toolbars you didn't remember installing. Toolbars come with a lot of software (Yahoo, Ask.com, Goggle), but if one appears for something else, and you haven't installed software recently, it's a warning sign.

Your computer runs slowly. This can be caused if the computer is low on memory, but if you have a new computer, one cause of the slowdown can be spy ware.

What is a virus?

Computer viruses are small software programs that are designed to spread from one computer to another and to interfere with computer operation. A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your e-mail program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk. Viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or instant messaging messages. That is why it is essential that you never open e-mail attachments unless you know who it's from and you are expecting it. Viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files. Viruses also spread through downloads on the Internet. They can be hidden in illicit software or other files or programs you might download. To help avoid viruses, it's essential that you keep your computer current with the latest updates and anti-virus tools, stay informed about recent threats, and that you follow a few basic rules when you surf the Internet, download files, and open attachments. Once a virus is on your computer, please contact your computer technician at once before your computer stop working or will not be able to boot up and your will have to pay more money to reprogram your computer and you might loose all of your pictures and documents.