{"id":131224,"date":"2021-11-11T08:46:52","date_gmt":"2021-11-11T16:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=131224"},"modified":"2024-04-10T16:09:18","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T23:09:18","slug":"how-to-live-a-digital-life-free-of-spyware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/how-to-live-a-digital-life-free-of-spyware\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Live a Digital Life Free of Spyware"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spyware\u00a0is\u00a0tricky.\u00a0Some\u00a0types notify users that they\u2019re monitoring activity. Others function in stealth mode and use the information they collect for nefarious purposes.\u00a0<\/span>Spyware is a type of software that collects data about online users and reports it to\u00a0a company or an individual.<\/span>\u00a0What just about everyone can agree on is that anonymous browsing\u00a0is looking more and more appealing and is likely the way of the future.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s more about the\u00a0types of spyware, which types are legal, and how you can scrub your device and live more confidently online.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Spyware<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Here are\u00a0a few\u00a0types of spyware\u00a0and facts about each:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Keyloggers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Is it\u00a0legal?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Definitely not!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is its purpose?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Criminal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keyloggers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are the most intrusive of\u00a0the\u00a0spyware\u00a0variations.\u00a0It does exactly as its name suggests: It takes note of keyboard strokes, logs them, and reports to the owner of the nefarious software.\u00a0Once the cybercriminal has digitally looked over your shoulder at your online activity, they make note of your passwords,\u00a0walk into your online accounts,\u00a0and pilfer your private personal information.\u00a0They could use this information to gain entry to your online bank accounts or steal your identity.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keyloggers are downloaded onto devices (cellphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers) without the user\u2019s knowledge. Cybercriminals can hide them within email attachments or in malicious web pages. So, the best way to steer clear of keyloggers is to never download attachments you\u2019re unsure about and don\u2019t visit sites that seem unprofessional. One rule of thumb is to mostly stick to URLs that begin with https and include a lock icon. These sites are almost always secure.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To determine if your device is infected with a keylogger, check\u00a0your system\u2019s performance. Is\u00a0your device running slowly?\u00a0See\u00a0if there are any\u00a0spikes in activity or unknown programs running in the background.\u00a0This could indicate that your device is hosting a malicious program.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adware<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Is it legal?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Sometimes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is its purpose?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Advertising\u00a0and criminal<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adware is categorized as a\u00a0<\/span>type of spyware<\/span><\/a>. It tracks users\u2019 online activity and spits out targeted pop-up advertisements. If you have the pop-up blocker enabled on your browser, you\u2019ll likely be spared from the annoyance. Additionally, pop-ups can slow your device, so that\u2019s another reason to turn on the pop-up blocking feature. Legitimate adware often asks users to opt into targeted ads.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adware turns malicious (and illegal) when it contains malware. Sometimes cyber criminals hide malware within pop-ups. It\u2019s easy to accidentally hit a link within a pop-up when you\u2019re aiming quickly for the X to close it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to spot a device with an adware\u00a0infestation. First, the number of pop-ups will be out of control. Also, the device will crash often,\u00a0run very slowly, and have a short battery life.\u00a0An\u00a0<\/span>antivirus\u00a0program<\/span><\/a>\u00a0will likely be able to\u00a0identify and\u00a0remove the culprit. You can also check out your system monitor and end tasks that are draining your device\u2019s power.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cookies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Is it legal?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Yes<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is its purpose?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Advertising<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cookies are delicious, especially to advertisers who use them to better target ads and make profits selling collected user data to\u00a0third-party companies.\u00a0Cookies are sometimes categorized as spyware, because they log the websites you visit and report them.\u00a0You may notice the banners on websites that ask you to accept cookies.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many users today are uneasy with sharing their online activity with strangers and advertisers. Sometimes the ads that pop up on your social media feed or in sidebars seem a little too targeted and it feels like someone is listening in to your conversations and attempting to make a profit from\u00a0them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Browse Free of Spyware<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To scrub cybercriminals\u00a0from your devices\u00a0and\u00a0confuse\u00a0advertisers,\u00a0consider the following steps\u00a0you can easily add to your daily routine:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Clear your cache periodically. <\/span><\/b>This is a quick way to delete all the cookies from your device. It also helps if your device is running slowly. Clearing your cache deletes your browsing history, meaning that you won\u2019t be able to type in your usual shortcuts to your most-visited sites and the browser won\u2019t automatically auto-fill the rest of the URL or remember your passwords. Consider making bookmarks of your favorite sites for quick access and entrust your passwords to a <\/span>password manager<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that will remember them for you.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Know how to spot phishing attempts. <\/span><\/b>Cybercriminals often hide their spyware within <\/span>phishing texts and emails<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0so\u00a0it\u2019s key to know how to spot them. Phishers\u00a0trick users into acting quickly, either\u00a0through\u00a0scare tactics or fake exciting news, to\u00a0download attachments or give up personal information.\u00a0Luckily, phishing attempts usually aren\u2019t too difficult to identify and delete immediately. Did you enter a contest lately? No? Then why would someone get in touch saying you\u2019re a winner? Also, phishing messages are often full of typos and poor grammar.\u00a0Before you click any links in an email, hover your cursor over it to see\u00a0where\u00a0the URL\u00a0will take you. If it has typos, is filled with a long string of letters or numbers, or doesn\u2019t match the site the message says it\u2019ll\u00a0redirect\u00a0you to, delete\u00a0it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Browse in incognito mode. <\/span><\/b>Browser sallow users to toggle incognito mode to\u00a0<\/span>use the internet anonymously<\/span><\/a>. Once\u00a0users\u00a0exit incognito mode, all of their browsing history\u00a0and the cookies collected during the session\u00a0are\u00a0deleted. Incognito mode, though effective against cookies, does not combat keyloggers or\u00a0aggressive adware.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Use a VPN. <\/span><\/b>A <\/span>virtual private network<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(VPN) is even more secure than incognito mode.\u00a0It completely scrambles your online data, making it impossible for a spy to\u00a0hack into your device if you\u2019re connected to a public wi-fi network.\u00a0A VPN doesn\u2019t stop cookies, but the geographic information they report may be incorrect.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Sign up for antivirus software. <\/span><\/b>A comprehensive online protection software suite that includes antivirus software, such as\u00a0<\/span>McAfee Total Protection<\/span><\/a>, can boost your confidence in your online safety. It can scan your phone, tablet, or computer for viruses or malware and automatically logs you into a VPN for secure browsing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Spyware\u00a0is\u00a0tricky.\u00a0Some\u00a0types notify users that they\u2019re monitoring activity. Others function in stealth mode and use the information they collect for nefarious…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":674,"featured_media":131227,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10670,13],"tags":[8719,10837,10834,4549,5188],"coauthors":[3973],"class_list":["post-131224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-privacy-identity-protection","tag-adware","tag-cookies","tag-keyloggers","tag-ransomware","tag-spyware"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Live a Digital Life Free of Spyware | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spyware\u00a0is\u00a0tricky.\u00a0Some\u00a0types notify users that they\u2019re monitoring activity. 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