Computer Tips - Spyware, Adware and Firewalls

Spyware is a program that is secretly placed on your computer and without your
knowledge or consent gathers information about your surfing habits, or even your
personal information and will send it to someone else. Here are the two I use, and
not only are they good, but they are free:
Micro Soft Anti-Spy   and   Spybot Search and Destroy

     Adware

Adware is also a program that is secretly placed on your computer and without
your knowledge or consent. It's mission in life is to... you guessed it, put ads in
your face. Pop-ups that may be triggered by surfing to a competitors site, or for
no reason at all are usually from adware programs.Micro Soft's Anti-Spy program
is great at catching these as well. In addition I use another free program:
Ad-Aware SE Personal

     Firewalls

Everyone should be running a firewall. There was a time when only high-speed users
needed to be concerned but now even dial-up connections need this. If you are using
Windows XP, you have a firewall built in, check your help files to find out how to check
if it is on and how to turn it on. For others I have used two different firewalls, again for
free (notice that is my favorite word?)
Sygate   and    Zone Alarm