Antispyware: One Scary Word

Sometimes it's all in a word. "Antispyware," for example. But you might be surprised how many people don't know exactly what spyware is, what it does, and why it's a bad thing when you run across it. Luckily for all of us, there is a solution to spyware.

Can we talk about antispyware?

Can we talk? Can we have a conversation about antispyware programs without freaking out? Sure we can. I'll be gentle.

Even just hearing or reading the word "antispyware" might make you nervous, particularly when you think about those warnings that are all over the Internet, from Facebook to MySpace to Twitter, to your email account. "This will destroy your hard drive and wipe out all your information!" they often shriek, and often in capital letters. "Look out!" they say. Protect yourself.

Protect yourself, and more.

Good idea, protecting yourself. But let's think about antispyware a little more. You know about it, and you know what it's for: To prevent spyware from landing on your hard drive.

And here's why this is important: Spyware doesn't want to erase your hard drive. No matter what those warnings like to terrorize us with, most of the spyware, viruses, keyloggers, Trojan horses and just general malware wants your computer to stay functional. Because that's when they can do damage.

Spyware wants to steal your stuff. Spyware wants to bombard you with pop-up ads, sometimes masquerading as real messages from Windows. Spyware very well might want to take your identity, your credit card numbers, your passwords. Your MONEY.

This is why an antispyware program is so important for all of us to have. Not to prevent our hard drives from dying; to prevent them from working for somebody else.