A 2004 report by the Aberdeen Group, a leading IT market analysis research group, shows that there are more than 7,000 spyware programs operating undercover on most PCs.  Aberdeen Group stated then that “Spyware is now on every PC in every home, corporation, and government agency throughout the world. Serving the interests of their creators, not the owners and users of PCs, Spyware — in its worst form — is a direct assault on the privacy, integrity and confidentiality that most people, corporations, and governments expect.” Since 2004, the amount of spyware has increased dramatically. Scary isn’t it?

Spyware  programs are software programs that are installed without the computer owner’s knowledge. In most cases they piggyback on other programs that are downloaded from the Internet. They are completely transparent to the end-user, so your computer can be infected without your knowledge. Spyware programs or bots, as they are often called, are downloaded to your computer to gather information that is usually used for marketing purposes.   Some bots are fairly innocent, while others are extremely invasive. Spyware bots almost always track the Internet browsing habits of the user. They often can also monitor keyboard strokes, and eavesdrop on instant messenger communications. Some can even capture passwords and personal information. At their worst, spyware bots can take complete control of a remote PC and can be inside agents for electronic industrial espionage.

Unfortunately, many common downloadable programs have become infested with spyware. In an effort to find a way to make a profit from free programs, many companies have succumbed to installing spyware to gather and sell marketing information. The popular Kazaa music file-sharing program and the Gator program that automatically fills in forms are just two of many spyware-laden programs. A company called Radiate is installing spyware in many different downloadable programs.

Many of these companies will say that they do not condone or use spyware programs. This is because they have a different definition of the word spyware. They say that these programs can only be called spyware when they are installed without the downloader’s knowledge. When, however, they are installed with the user’s knowledge, they like to call them adware. So these marketers hide a notification about these programs in the tedious–to-read small-print user acceptance for their programs. Very few folks take the time to read these notices. If they did, they still might not understand the true implications of what is being said because the text is usually peppered with complex and confusing terminology. There is no obvious notification that the adware and/or spyware programs are working in the background tracking the user, so many of us continue to call these programs what they really are: Spyware.

The spyware problem continues to escalate in size and severity. In 1999 research groups identified fewer than ten spyware programs. Today there are thousands. Special spyware bots are even being created to be inserted into company computers by disgruntled employees and/or competing companies.

To see just how many spyware programs are installed on your computer and to remove them, try a software program like LavaSoft’s free Ad-aware program. I have installed this program on multiple computers and haven’t yet found one that wasn’t infected with some type of spyware. For a comparison of the two most popular spyware detection programs, see my Ad-aware -- Spybot Search & Destroy software review.

Another type of program that can be helpful is a firewall program. A good firewall will notify you when information goes out or comes into your computer and may alert you to spyware activity. Try the free Zone Alarm program, McAfee’s Personal Firewall Plus, or Norton’s Firewall. Don’t rely on the firewall built into Windows XP, as it only monitors information that is coming into your computer. All of the other programs mentioned monitor information that is going out of your computer, as well. To control spyware programs you want to stop information from leaving your computer without your explicit consent.

One of the reasons that spyware has proliferated is because most people don’t know about its existence and don’t realize that they must take control to stop these programs. I’m so glad that you read this because now you know and now you can take steps to eliminate spyware from your computer.   The spyware epidemic may even be worth an e-mail to your governmental representative. The government is currently prosecuting those who spread viruses. The government is also considering alternatives for stopping spam. Let’s make the elimination of spyware a concern for everyone, as well.