Department of Foreign Languages & Cultures

Language Learning Resource Center

Spyware and How to Deal with It

What is Spyware? (definition from GOOGLE)

A general term for a program that surreptitiously monitors your actions. While they are sometimes malicious, like a remote control program used by a hacker, software companies have been known to use spyware to gather data about customers. The practice is generally frowned upon.

A technology that assists in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet, "spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties." As such, spyware is cause for public concern about privacy on the Internet.

This is also known as "adware". It is a hidden software program that transmits user information via the Internet to advertisers in exchange for free downloaded software.

To deal with spyware: We like the spyware killer product called Spybot Search and Destroy.

To download this product (it is freely available) click on this link - Download Spybot here

To get some help on how to use this software click on this link - Access Spybot tutorial here

If you have any questions or concerns you can also call or email Carlos or Cecil.

Happy Spyware Hunting!
Foreign Languages & Cultures, PO Box 642610, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-2610, Ph: (509)335-4135, Fax: (509)335-3708, Contact Us