Unlike a toaster you cannot use a computer and not take proper precautions to make sure it is protected from people and companies trying to hijack it. Many people are beginning to understand a computer must have a virus scanner to protect it from viruses but most people still do not understand the need to protect their computer from spyware. Spyware is commonly referred to as a program which monitors and collects information about a user with the purpose of sending the data back to a central server. It is estimated 90% of computers are infected with spyware.

Spyware not only gives out information collected about the computer user but can also cause an increase of popup ads displayed on user’s computer, slow down the internet connection and computer and make the computer more acceptable to more spyware and viruses. I once talked to an individual who had over 1000 different files which made up the spyware and viruses on his computer. I would not have believed one computer could be so bad till he showed me a printout of everything found on his computer. And he wondered why his computer ran so slow.

Hackers and some software companies use the practice of using spyware; many times without informing computer users they are installing a program to collect user information.

How can you get spyware on your computer?
1) Accidentally click on something you didn't mean to, because of a popup. Once one piece of spyware is installed many spyware programs act like a virus and have some friends join the fray.

2) Users that hit porn sites. Some porn sites use exploits in Internet Explorer to install spyware without giving users a hint the porn site installed software on their computer.

3) Install a program that comes with spyware. Some software companies to provide users with free software include spyware with their software. The software companies then sell the information they collected to other companies.

Even if you do not think you have spyware on your computer you should still install and run the following two spyware removal programs:
Spybot Search&Destroy
Ad-Aware

There are other programs claiming to have the ability to remove spyware however while they may remove some spyware they install their own spyware programs. That is not to say there are not other legitimate spyware removal programs.

You have now been informed and therefore Dell should now longer be able to claim every 5th support call is spyware related.