There are many people who have never heard of spyware. When you try to tell them of the dangers of spyware they want to know what is spyware. It is such Internet users who are the targets of spyware makers. They are rarely aware of the damage that surreptitiously slipped spyware is causing to their system, and to them.

Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge. The gathered information is delivered to advertisers or others who use it to promote their interests.

Spyware is generally slipped into a user's system by rogue websites without the user being aware of it. Among other things, the spyware records a user's keystrokes, history, passwords, credit card numbers, sensitive information, which sites the user surfs, and the user's chat logs.

The most common sites from which you are at a risk of downloading spyware are freebie websites and pornographic websites. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. After this the 'spy' can view any and every activity that you engage in on your computer, regardless of whether you are online or not.

Besides the obvious pitfall of having your information at the mercy of a third party, spyware programs can also affect your computer. For instance, they may eat into your memory space, slow down the computer speed and even clog your Internet connection. They may also trigger an interminable number of pop-up advertisements that hinder your work and lead to unnecessary waste of your time. It may even change your favorite settings, directing you to sites that you don't want to visit.

Fortunately, there are several anti-spyware programs that will help you avoid or get rid of this harmful software. The only thing is that you must make sure that you choose a reliable and secure software program that will detect and delete all the spyware files from your system. You should also adjust the security settings level in your PC to medium in order to avoid downloading any new spyware into your system.

The most crucial rule to adhere to is the avoidance of freebies and pop-up ads. It is most likely that the free music video you downloaded brought along with it the dreaded spyware virus, and the appealing pop-up ad you clicked on transported you directly to a spyware-ridden website. You therefore need to exercise caution and discipline while surfing the net.