Most PC security experts agree that the problem of computer viruses is now largely under control. The most common viruses on the internet are more than 12 months old and there hasn't been a massive virus incident like 1999's Melissa virus for quite a while now.
Don't get me wrong - viruses can be nasty, but they are not the biggest threat to your PC anymore. This is because there is a widespread recognition of the need to use antivirus software and most people now know how to deal with viruses.
One of the more prevalent of the new generation of security threats is spyware. Definitions of spyware vary to some degree, but it is normally defined as software that surreptitiously tracks your activities on a PC. It is also an all-encompassing term for everything that is not a virus.
The danger with spyware that makes it a much bigger threat to your PC security is that it is more difficult to detect and harder for software to automatically remove. Detection can be complicated by the fact that spyware often installs itself as part of what appears to be a legitimate program, or a free download.
The increase in the volume of spyware has resulted in the availability of a plethora of free spyware detectors. However, some of them will report an infection every single time and this has lead to a popular notion that security problems such as spyware are perpetuated by antispyware software companies to ensure their market share.
However, it is estimated that there are more than 98,000 spyware programs in circulation, looking to cause havoc on your computer.
