Running Anti-Spyware Software on Your Laptop

Spyware is a relatively new category of evil computer software, also known as malware. It sounds innocent: The software monitors your activities on the Internet in order to target you with better, more appropriate advertising. In fact, many people willingly sign up for such a service.
The problem is that spyware is often installed without your permission or knowledge. Often the spyware is disguised as some other program, computer utility, or cute little game. It claims to do one thing, but secretly it monitors your Internet activity.
Anti-spyware software removes those programs and tools that monitor your Internet activities. In some cases, anti-spyware software is the only way to fully remove those programs.
Protecting yourself from spyware
The best way to protect yourself from spyware is to be very, very cautious about what you download from the Internet and which Web pages you visit. Sites that cater to children, to music-swapping fiends, and pornography sites are full of means and devices for delivering spyware directly into your computer. If you can avoid such sites, do so.
In your Web browser, it helps to eliminate third-party cookies being deposited on your computer. Third-party cookies come from advertisements on Web pages. You often don't need this type of cookie at all to use the Web page that you're viewing, so you can turn it off without a problem.
In Windows, follow these steps to disable third-party cookies for Internet Explorer:
1. Choose Tools --> Internet Options.
The Internet Options dialog box appears.
2. Click the Privacy tab.
3. Click the Advanced button.
4. In the Advanced Privacy Settings dialog box, select the Override Automatic Cookie Handling check box.
5. Under First-party Cookies, select the Accept option button.
6. Under Third-party Cookies, select the Block option button.
7. Select the Always Allow Session Cookies check box.
8. Click the OK button and close the various other dialog boxes and windows.