How Did It Get There?

Spyware is often downloaded onto your PC in many ways for example when you download free software or are downloading peer-to-peer file swapping programs like MP3 music downloads.

Spyware companies pay these file swapping services to bundle the spyware into their downloads.

In the unlikely instance you see a license agreement, EULA (End User Licence Agreement), for any software you download from the internet read it carefully.

Often buried in the deliberately lengthy licence agreement, which you must always read thoroughly as a matter of habit, should be a disclaimer saying that information about you and your browsing habits will be sent to the software company's website. However, due to the unethical nature of these companies and associated software these are often omitted or veiled in allegory.

More often than not as you'll soon find out either the information is not available in the EULA or it downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge or consent, commonly referred to as a “Drive by Download”, yep sinister as it sounds, like a “Drive by Shooting”.

Many free utilities that you download from the Internet will install hidden software that sends details of the websites you visit and other information from your computer (which can include your email address) to advertisers so they can target you with pop up ads and spam.

Children using home computers without the parents present or unsupervised are particularly vulnerable as these spyware companies know they are easy targets whether playing games or downloading music files, an automatic action by a child if presented with a Yes / No dialogue box would be to press “Yes”, then before you know it spyware is on your computer. Basically what is happening is that these spyware companies are coercing your children by entering them into an illegal contract .... What are your thoughts on that?

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