Phishing is a form of identity theft. Phishers send e-mails with a message that claims to be from a legitimate business or financial organization and generally states that you must immediately update or validate your account information. The e-mail contains a link to a Web site that looks identical to that of the target bank or other financial institution. The purpose is to mislead you into disclosing your personal information, such as credit card numbers, bank account information, Social Security number, and passwords. Then, scammers can log into your legitimate account with your identity, transfer funds, create new accounts, and perform other activities in your name.

Spyware is a generic term for computer programs that surreptitiously monitor user’s actions. It can provide information to advertisers or other interested parties- or it can steal your user accounts and passwords.

Spyware applications are typically bundled in malicious e-mail messages, installed “drive-by” downloads form less-than-legitimate Web sites or activated as hidden components of freeware or shareware files that users download form Web sites. Many types of free downloads may contain spyware including, games, music, movies, animated characters for your desktop, and screen savers.

Spyware can slow down your computer, steal your personal data, and use your computer as a launching point for Internet attacks.

Here are three steps to avoid being a victim of phishing and spyware:

Don’t reply or click on links in any message requesting personal or financial information: Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via e-mail or pop-ups. If you are concerned about your account, call the company using a telephone number that you know to be legitimate or open a new Internet browser session and type in the company’s Web address.

Don’t download programs by companies with which you’re not familiar: There’s no such thing as free lunch. You may want to avoid shareware and freeware programs. Never download pirated software.

Secure you computer: Set your brows security level to the highest possible for your environment. Block pop-ups maintain a personal firewall to prevent spyware from sending out your personal information. Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software and keep it up to date. Check your computer regularly with at least one anti-spyware program.