People are becoming dependant on internet for more reasons than one. Be it for information, entertainment, business or leisure internet gives an answer to all our queries. Hence keeping our computer guarded and secured from the growing threat of adware and spyware is also becoming important.

Major difference between Spyware and Adware

• Spyware is a kind of software that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge and keeps collecting valuable and personal information of the user. The information collected may vary from sites visited, password and username of your email addresses and more threateningly your credit card information which you might have used for some online payment.
• Whereas Adware is a kind of computer program where advertisements are automatically loaded and they keep popping up hindering your use of the system. Adwares display advertisements on your computer screen even when you are not working on the internet.

Ways in which Spyware and Adware affect your computer

• Spyware can execute independently and can track your keystrokes, change your default home page, install other malicious programs, scan files on hard disk drive, secretly monitor other applications that are open on the system like reading your chat history etc thereby collecting valuable date and sending it to the manufacturer of the spyware who will in turn use this information for marketing purpose or sell it to any other third party without your consent.
• Adware on the other hand affects the computer by slowing down the operating system and at times changing computer setting too. It is natural that when many adware programs are running simultaneously the processor memory gets overloaded. This results in slowing down of the computer and finally a time comes when the computer can barely function at all. Changing of computer setting refers to addition or deletion of toolbars or change in homepage which is a cause of annoyance to the user.

Tips to avoid Spyware and Adware

There are several steps to protect the computer from such hazards. Apart from installing good antispyware and antiadware, there are some regular tips that need to be followed by every user.

• We should never download or install any file or program whose origin we are not sure of.
• Never open an email attachment from unknown person or source.
• Avoid using freeware.
• Install patches recommended by Microsoft.
• Always disable Active X download option in the internet explorer. This will avoid malicious programs from getting downloaded to your computer without your permission.
• Be very careful before you click on any pop up on your screen. The best way to close them is by clicking the X button on the top right hand side corner of those windows because most often the close tab on such windows are the install button for spyware and adware.
• Experts recommend having more than one antispyware installed on your computer. This is because not every anti spyware will be able to delete all types of spyware that might have got installed in your computer.

Spyware once installed leaves traces in the registry hence it is advisable to buy antispyware of a reputed company which will not only detect but also help in removing them from the registry.