What is Spyware you say, well according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia-Spyware is a type of malware that is installed on computers and that collects information about users without their knowledge. The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user. Typically, spyware is secretly installed on the user's personal computer. Sometimes, however, spywares such as keyloggers are installed by the owner of a shared, corporate, or public computer on purpose in order to secretly monitor other users.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's computing, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habits and sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software and redirecting Web browser activity. Spyware is known to change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and/or loss of Internet or functionality of other programs. In an attempt to increase the understanding of spyware, a more formal classification of its included software types is captured under the term privacy-invasive software.

Now although at this point you may feel like running away from your PC,- personal computer as fast as you can, I urge you to stay and hear me out. There are some really great programs out there to combat this very type of pest. There are programs that can not only detect spyware but they can get rid of Spyware as well. There are a few that stand above the rest. I will give a quick over view of what I like more about these programs and share a freeware link so you cantry them as well if you like.

Really I hate spyware with a passion so I have tried quite a few programs; having said that I will list my favorite programs and tell you why I like them.

Spyware is a general term used to describe software that does certain things, most generally not getting your consent first.

Spyware may be in the form of Advertisements and Spyware is notorious for collecting personal information from you with out your knowledge. Many Spyware programs trade tracking of your online habits for services. Some times Spyware can be part of software that displays ads known as adware or software. This Spyware can track your personal or sensitive information from your computer.

Some Spyware can even make changes to your personal computer settings. The worst part about Spyware is the fact it slows down your computer and can even cause it to crash. Some Spyware can changed your browser, called browser high jacking and also change your start up programs.

Honestly I will start with one of my all time favorite programs it is called Spybot Search & Destroy, sounds fierce right, well it is! Two of the all time greatest features of this program are the shredder feature and the start up feature. The easiest way to speed up your PC is to read my hub on Spybot and find out. There you will find a bit more detail on how to use that program. This program is free and easy to use, in my opinion it's one of the best there are for Spyware.

Next I will talk about Ad-Aware like Spybot it is also free. This is a good program to help keep the Spyware down and help you to feel like you are more in control of your PC. I like that you can install it and use it right away. This program is easy to understand and operate. This is a very straight foreword program in my opinion a very good program. 

Even running these programs at times you might have to run them in safe mode. In safe mode the spyware programs are not active on your start up which allows your spyware removers to be ale to locate and remove the spyware in some cases. No doubt about it Spyware is bad news. Lucky for us there are many free programs out there that really do help remove it.