I am impressed with CCleaner. For the most part, it was very easy to navigate through the website. Once the first screen came up, I simply clicked on the “Download CCleaner Now” link, which brought me to a different page where I was asked for a donation, which being the broke college student I am, I denied the request. http://blackboard.bentley.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab=courses&url=/bin/common/course.pl?course_id=_6093_1

Once this donation site came up, I clicked on the tab for “Download from filehippo.com” where I was bombarded with a seemingly endless array of different versions of CCleaner, which I could download for free. http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

After I clicked on the “Download Latest Version” link, I was confronted with another screen with an option to save the file to your computer, which I accepted(Below).

I followed the steps of installation and ran the scan. I was surprised to see how much CCleaner picked up; it terminated 14 mb of useless files hidden on my computer. I was even more surprised at this because the computer that I scanned is pretty much new; I just started using it a week ago and I already have at least 14 mb of useless files.

The spyware protection software I tried is called XoftSpySE. I found this free software link by visiting http://comparespywareremovers.com/ and choosing the top rated spyware detection program. XoftSpySE was rated 9.8 out of 10, easy to use, and was rated High/Very High in popularity. I clicked on the “Link” button on the website which brought me to a site where I was prompted to either download or view testimonials; I chose to download because I don’t have any time to waste on useless user opinions. http://www.paretologic.com/xoftspy/se/newlp/xray/?uid=p33il

When I chose to download the application, a similar screen came up asking me to save the downloaded file to my computer, which I did. Again, I followed the simple installation directions, reflex clicked on the “I have read and accept the terms of agreement” box and performed my first scan. XoftSpySE recognized 106 objects; I briefly scanned through them, and chose to instantly delete rather than to look at more information on the objects found.

I think it is dangerous to have both adware and spyware on a pc, but I think the more dangerous of the two is spyware. This type of software enables someone to track what you have been doing, obtain personal files, and possibly even steal your identity depending on how much information the spyware projects. On the other hand, I think adware is more of a nuisance than a danger. It has to do with advertising gimmicks such as pop-ups and other things of that sort. The most common way for these programs to infect your computer is through the visitation of non secure internet sites. Every time a site like this is visited, many little files are downloaded onto the computer, which can potentially add spyware or adware to the pc that visited the sites.

I think sites contain these kinds of programs so that the makers of the site can obtain information about whoever visits. For example, if the owner of a website wants to obtain bank information about the people that visit his or her site, he can install a program that will put spyware onto every computer that visits his or her site. The predator can spy and copy bank usernames and passwords in order to gain access to that individual’s account. Also, adware may give the advertizing company an idea of how many people are viewing their ads or make it easier for ads to pop up on the user’s computer screen. As far as adware and spyware are concerned, people may gain a lot of information about many different people. Spyware essentially lets people spy on you through what you do on your computer, and adware allows people to advertise on your computer screen when you are not interested.