How did I get these spyware programs on my computer?

Here are a few of the ways these applications find their way onto your computer. Please keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list:

• Unintentional Download
  You may intentionally download and install applications without realizing that they have an unrelated, secondary purpose. For example, you may download software to keep your computer clock synchronized with the atomic clock. If it is spyware or adware, the application may also send information about your browsing habits or display advertising pop-ups whenever you are online.
• Software Bundle
  Spyware and adware may be included (bundled) with applications you download and install. For example, many file-sharing applications require you install additional, unrelated applications that may be considered spyware or adware.
• Unintentional Install
  You may voluntarily but unintentionally install spyware or adware while surfing the Web. Spyware or adware often appears to be corrective software or a special plug-in that will help you view a site. Or, for example, you may be told that the software will keep your computer clock synchronized with the atomic clock. If you don't know the source of the download or aren't sure what the software does, you can generally learn more by searching on the name of that application in http://search.yahoo.com.
• Other Users
  Someone else who uses your computer may install spyware or adware on your computer. They may do so unintentionally in any of the ways mentioned above, or they may maliciously install software with keystroke logging to capture passwords or other personal information.
• Computer Virus or Worm
  A computer virus or worm can also install spyware that could allow someone to remotely access to your computer, turn your computer into a pornography or spam server, log keystrokes to steal passwords or credit cards, or perform other malicious acts.
• Automatic Installation
  Some unscrupulous companies use advertisements to automatically begin the installation process for their applications. By default, most browsers prompt you with a security warning to either continue or stop the installation process. Typically, these warnings don't offer a description of the application or tell you what it does.

When you open the Rogers Yahoo! Anti-Spyware window and click Scan Now, Rogers Yahoo! Anti-Spyware scans your computer against a list of known applications that display these unwanted behaviours. You can decide to remove, ignore, or quarantine any applications found in the scan results.

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