It is not only viruses that pose a threat to you and your data's privacy - there are also a number of programs that may have been installed on your system to track your web surfing habits or program usage. Chances are that unless you've got a utility to detect or block these programs they are running on your PC right now.
So called "Adware" or "Spyware" files can be downloaded in combination with other programs (mostly likely freeware) or as a feature of commercial software and, while most of them do not harm your computer as a virus might they are nevertheless an unwanted intruder to your system.
They can manifest themselves in a number of ways - for example, key words being double-underlined in web pages that you visit which offer links to commercial products - or they may be silently working in the background.
Fortunately, help is at hand. There are a number of free to use utilities that you can download and install that will then scan, delete and even immunise your system against the Adware and Spyware attacks.
One such program, and the one that we recommend, is Spybot: Search and Destroy.
Not only is this program simple to use - its graphics interface with clearly labelled buttons is simplicity itself - but it also has a very useful on-line update facility which means it is always aware of knew Adware and Spyware programs.
The latest version of Spybot can detect over 6,000 different variants and many of them can be blocked from re-appearing.
There's no excuse for not running Spybot at least once a week and you can download it for free now via download.com by clicking here.