Daybreak: Consumer News

Shield yourself from spyware

07:43 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Consumer Reports

Microsoft says spyware is the cause of more than one-third of all PC crashes these days. Consumer Reports' cover story this month, "Protecting Yourself Online," looks at this latest scourge and the best way to fight it.

Repair shops are busy these days fixing computers overrun by spyware.

"I would say it is probably the number one issue right now," said Steve DiLoreto, who fixes computers for a living.

Consumer Reports says just about anyone who goes online has spyware on his computer. "Spyware is parasite software that sneaks onto your computer when you click onto a pop-up ad or download free software," explained CR's Kim Kleman. "It can track where you go online and even hijack your browser."

A computer loaded with spyware can be inundated with pop-up ads. If you try to do a search, the computer slows to a crawl or freezes up.

"Spyware is a cheap way for online advertisers to target their ads or have people click onto their Web site," Kleman said.

Consumer Reports' Dean Gallea just tested six programs designed to protect your computer against spyware. Ad-Aware's free program is a good choice. Whenever you run it, Ad-Aware scans your computer and eliminates any spyware it finds.

But some users need even more protection.

"If you do a lot of downloading, you should run a program that continuously scans for spyware and prevents it from ever getting on your computer," Gallea said.

The $27 version of Ad-Aware does provide continuous scanning; so does Pest Patrol, which costs $40.

CR says don't put off installing a spyware protection program. Otherwise your computer could wind up in the shop like so many others.