SEND THIS ARTICLE TO A FRIEND

Just when you thought you were Web savvy, one more privacy, security, and usability issue springs up--spyware. Spyware is the techno-version of a Peeping Tom. Installed on your computer without your consent, spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to specific websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your key strokes, which, in turn could lead to identity theft and misuse of your private information--such as credit card numbers. Why do so many computer users allow spyware snoops to monitor them online? The answer is very simple. They may not even know they are being watched.