Privacy

[Kirk Maldonado]

You can download free software that searches your computer for, and deletes spyware. This software is available at Spybot.com and Lavasoft.com (for Ad-Aware).

For those of you who aren't familiar with the concept, spyware are programs that track your computer usage. For example, they would track the websites you visit, what you purchase online, how long you are on specific websites, etc. That information is then transmitted to a third paraty.

If you spend any time at all on the Internet, you undoubtedly have some spyware on your computer. There was an article in a computer magazine about a computer at a law firm in Arizona that had over 200 pieces of spyware on it. I found between 20 and 30 the first time I used the anti-spyware programs.

Besides being a serious invasion of privacy, these programs can also degrade the performance of your computer.