Keep the Spies Away

If you're like me, your life is punctuated by conversations in which folks gripe about the latest problem with their computer. Lately, the biggest single gripe has been spyware--the software that looks at your keystrokes and Internet habits, and may "helpfully" redirect browsers to various entertaining web sites.

I was surprised, then, by this article that says fewer than ten percent of companies have installed any sort of anti-spyware software on their desktop computers. Now, it's true that most anti-spyware software is something of a pain in the rear, but it can make a huge difference in keeping people productive. If you're looking to experiment, Ad-Aware is a good place to start. I've been using ZeroSpyware for a while now, and it's caught several helper objects trying to attach themselves to my browser.

With virus and worm traffic continuing to grow, spyware may seem just an inconvenience, but I have seen heavily-infected systems taken down because of the burden placed on the CPU, and no one wants strangers watching your keystrokes. Anti-spyware software is easy enough to find and install--make it your Awesome Autumn gift to your employees and their bosses.