Frequently Asked Questions
Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without the user's knowledge which gathers information about that user for later retrieval by whomever controls the spyware.
Spyware can be broken down into two different categories, surveillance spyware and advertising spyware.
Surveillance software includes key loggers, screen capture devices, and trojans. These would be used by corporations, private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, suspicious spouses, etc.
Advertising spyware is software that is installed alongside other software or via activex controls on the internet, often without the user's knowledge, or without full disclosure that it will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads. Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computer's hardware and software configuration, the name, age, sex, etc of the user.
Just as we have different files on our desk for snail mail, we also have compartments in our email programs which help us classify and store our email according to category.
The main folder, called the Inbox, collects your incoming email. Once you delete a message from here, it goes into your Trash folder, from which it can be recovered if needed. However, certain email services periodically delete messages from this folder.
Sometimes, you may type out an email that does not have to be sent immediately. In this case, you can send it to the Drafts folder, to be retrieved when you feel the need to send it. Once you do send it, a copy of the same email will be stored in your Sent Message folder. This is a very useful facility - especially in cases where someone tells you they have not received your email – as it allows you to verify that you have sent a particular message.
You may also receive unwanted mail from Web sites. Some email programs detect such messages and automatically relegate them to the Junk or Bulk folders. This helps separate your personal correspondence from commercial spam.
It can be defined, broadly, as using newsgroups and email addresses as a broadcast medium, without the approval of recipients or members or the newsgroup.
You may have received a message like,
Win a fee trip to the Bahamas, just click here to register and claim your prize.
or
A brand new magical diet will help you shed 10 pounds in 10 weeks. Click here to register for a trial.
If winning were as easy, we would all be in the Bahamas sipping Martinis by the beach.
The reality is that spammers entice surfers by using hooks like these, to get them to register and collect their email addresses. The Scam Busters page also has heaps of links on how to recognize spam and resources on how to stop it. There is also Spam Cop which helps you report spam, and secure white-list filters that prevent it from reaching your inbox.
The Web pages on the Windows Update site were designed to be viewed at 800 by 600 or higher screen resolution. To set this resolution, click the Start button, and then click Control Panel. Click the Appearance and Themes icon, and then click Change the screen resolution.
ActiveX Controls are reusable software components that incorporate ActiveX technology. These components can be used to add specialized functionality, such as animation or pop-up menus, to Web pages, programs, and software development tools. Windows Update uses ActiveX controls to check what software is installed on your computer in order to provide you with a correct list of updates and other software you may want to download.
Windows Update is the online extension of Windows that helps you to keep your computer up-to-date. Use Windows Update to choose updates for your computer's operating system, software, and hardware. New content is added to the site regularly, so you can always get the most recent updates and fixes to protect your computer and keep it running smoothly.