Spyware is a software program which is installed on your
system which sends information to a third party. For
instance, if you are familiar with Gator (now called
Claria), when you would be surfing the web it would track
what sites you went to and would report that information
back to Gator who in turn would send that information to
advertisers.
The information sent did not specifically identify you but
simply you as a web surfer went to certain sites.
Malware is a modified version of spyware. Malware would be
something like the Hotbar toolbar or a piece of software
which resets your home page and prevents you from changing
it. Malware is actually more insidious (IMO) than spyware
since it can mangle parts of your system and uses every
trick in the book to hide itself and all its parts from you
to try and prevent removal.
The vast, vast, VAST majority of these programs get
installed through pop-ups. You may have seen some which
indicate your system is unsafe and do you wish to install
X? These pop-ups are due to javascript within web pages or
using Windows Messenger Service.
A third-party pop-up blocker such as Googles Toolbar or
using a different browser such as Firefox or Opera who have
a built-in pop-up blocker are the easiest ways to prevent
99.9% of all spyware/malware infestations. Using a
personal firewall is also an option if you are comfortable
with learning a bit more about technology.
As far as your proxy problem, sorry, can't help you with
that but it appears there are others having the same problem.
Hope this helps.
