1. By: Donny Gray Katrina Winters Deondrick Pina Alex Napper

2.  The word 'spyware' was used for the first time publicly in October 1995.  It popped up on Usenet (a distributed Internet discussion system in which users post e-mail like messages) in an article aimed at Microsoft's business model.

3.  Spyware refers to programs that use your Internet connection to send information from your personal computer to some other computer, normally without your knowledge or permission.  This information is a record of your ongoing browsing habits, downloads, or it could be more personal data like your name and address.

4.  Most spyware is installed without users' knowledge.  Spyware gets on a system through deception of the user or through exploitation of software vulnerabilities.  Most of the time it is bundled with some sort of other software that the user has downloaded.

5.  A spyware infestation can create significant unwanted CPU activity, disk usage, and network traffic.  Stability issues, such as applications freezing, failure to boot, and system-wide crashes, are also common.  Spyware, which interferes with networking software commonly causes difficulty connecting to the Internet.

6.  Some types of spyware disable software firewalls and anti-virus software, and/or reduce browser security settings, thus opening the system to further opportunistic infections, much like an immune deficiency disease.  Some other types of spyware use rootkit like techniques to prevent detection, and thus removal.

7.  Spyware is still changing, meaning remedies can vary from different types of spyware.  If programs do not work to rid the computer of the infected then a full system reinstall would be needed.  Most big anti-virus firms have added anti- spyware to their anti-virus packages. (Such as Macafee and Symantec)

8. 1. They can provide real time protection against the installation of spyware software on your computer. 2. Anti-spyware software programs can be used solely for detection and removal of spyware software that has already been installed onto your computer.

9.  CoolWebSearch  Internet Optimizer  HuntBar  Movieland  MyWebSearch  Zango  WeatherStudio

10.  Ad-Aware SE  Spybot - Search & Destroy  GIANT AntiSpyware  AVG Anti-Spyware Professional Edition