One of the main concerns for just about anyone who has a computer is keeping it secure. With the modern ‘always on’ Internet connections, this has become more and more important. Nowadays, there is plenty of opportunity for someone to install spyware on your computer.

Spyware and malware can be a real pain, particularly if you use your computer often. If you use it for work or it has any important documents on it, it can be especially important that you protect it. Knowing how to protect yourself against spyware is a vital piece of knowledge which all computer users should have. If you are worried about the state of your computer – or you want to learn how to prevent spyware from appearing – then read on. Here is a basic guide to protecting your computer against spyware.

Know The Enemy:

The first step in any battle is to know your enemy; here it is no different. To know how to combat spyware, you first need to ensure that you know what it is, and how it functions and behaves. That way, you will be able to spot it early, as well as take better preventative measures in the first place. So what is spyware? Spyware is an umbrella term. Spyware carries out advertising, collects personal information, and changes configurations on your computer. Any piece of software installed without your consent, which performs any of these three functions, is spyware. As you can see, it can be a real nuisance. You know you have spyware if your Internet connection is grinding to a halt. You might also be experiencing an increase in pop-up advertisements.

Install The Right Software:

Fortunately, there are some basic steps to take to get around spyware. The first, and most important, is to install some anti-spyware software. This is software which locates, identifies and ultimately safely removes the spyware on your computer. There are many different kinds of spyware removal software, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. See this hands on Spyhunter 4 review by way of example. Whichever you go for, ensure that it is sufficient for your needs. You want software which will be able to handle the amount of spyware that your computer has. However, even this only goes a certain way – and it is ultimately retroactive.

Use A Firewall:

There are also preventative measures which you can take – and you should take them. One of the main ones – and the easiest – is to use a firewall. A firewall implements a stateful inspection of various data ports. These are the ports through which data flows between network and computer. In doing this, the firewall can be an effective way of safeguarding your computer against unwanted incoming threats. Basically, when it works properly, the firewall stops your computer being visible to others wanting to get in. There are ways around a firewall, however, so they are not flawless. Nonetheless, they are an essential tool which you should utilize to protect your computer as much as possible.

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