How To Protect Your Small Business From Spyware

If your computers are connected to the Internet in any way, they are regularly bombarded with spyware, viruses, and other malware.

Here are 5 easy steps you can take to block these programs, or at least detect and remove spyware from your company’s computer systems and networks.

What are these sneaky little programs doing?

The most benign spyware and adware simply look at the pages you visit on the web so companies can fine-tune their marketing based on profiling.

However, malicious spyware goes beyond tracking, monitoring keystrokes, capturing passwords, and other functions that pose a definite security risk to your business.

Be careful where you dump

Unscrupulous programs often come from unscrupulous sites. If you are looking for freeware or shareware for a specific purpose, try searching for reputable sites like cnet.com or download.com.

Actually read the EULA

That is an End User License Agreement. It’s all the legal verbiage in that box about radio buttons that say “No, I don’t agree” or “Yes, I accept these terms.” Most people click “yes” so fast you would think they were playing a computer game.

Please note that the EULA is a legal agreement that you are entering into with the software vendor, and they may be agreeing to install spyware or allow a variety of other changes to your system. First assess whether it is worth it.

Read that popup

Windows that appear on websites are sometimes helpful. But sometimes clicking the button or link will start the installation of harmful software. Like the EULA, many users will click “yes” or “ok” without pausing to read the text for it to disappear.

Maybe it said “Would you like to install our spyware program?” Okay, it is true that they do not go out and say it directly, but that is all the more reason to pause and read those messages before accepting.

Defend yourself with antivirus software

Viruses are only a small part of the software that you need to protect yourself from. Antivirus software has expanded to include the fight against worms, Trojans, vulnerabilities, pranks, hoaxes, and even spyware and adware.

Check that your company’s antivirus system detects and blocks spyware. You can try a product like AdAware Pro, which will protect your system against spyware or adware in real time.

Scan your networks

Even with antivirus software, firewalls, and other protection measures, some spyware or adware can reach individual computers over the network.

While a product like the AdAware Pro mentioned above will monitor your systems in real time, your business must pay license fees to install AdAware Pro on the entire system.

The most robust solution is worth evaluating and using when you consider the IT expense of repairing systems and wasted time by employees, not to mention frustration.

However, AdAware is the free alternative for personal use provided by Lavasoft, the makers of AdAware Pro.

AdAware will not monitor in real time, but you can manually scan your system for spyware. Another excellent option is Spybot Search & Destroy, also free.

Follow these five steps and you will proactively protect your computers from spyware and detect and remove any malicious code that creeps in. Take care of it today!