Spyware
I had a spyware problem, but have since gotten a firewall and an anti-virus program. I would like to buy ZoneAlarm Pro but am afraid the spyware will record my credit card number if I do an Internet transaction. How can I be sure it is safe to purchase things on the Internet again?
You obviously have been very careful to cover your bases and now have much better PC security than the vast majority of people out there, so give yourself a pat on the back.
You are right to be concerned about spyware, though, because it may contain a keylogger that could record everything you type (it probably doesn't, but better safe than sorry).
You might install and run a good anti-spyware program first; all the good ones offer free, fully functional trials that don't require entering a credit card number to download. Visit our article, "What's the best spyware removal program?" for some anti-spyware options and information. I would recommend doing this prior to purchasing ZoneAlarm.
If you have reason to believe this spyware is still lurking on your computer after running a full anti-spyware scan, you may need to back up all your software and important documents, re-format your hard drives and start from scratch. While all of us want to avoid such drastic measures, this absolutely beyond a shadow of a doubt WILL remove any spyware and/or virus issues. Some people may find that the peace of mind from this alone is worth it.
If you choose to do this, I recommend that you install your OS and device drivers, then your anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall. Then you can run an anti-virus and spyware scan on your backup CDs before installing to prevent an infection that might have transferred itself to CD while you were backing up your important stuff.
Last update: 2005-06-24 14:09
Author: Jordana
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