Hijackers 

Some of the spywares are called hijackers. Often you can find a definition of homepage hijackers or browser hijackers, but the meaning of these is the same. These spywares change your home page settings. They are used for advertising mostly. After changing, user's starting page may contain:

• pop-up ads;
• porno sites advertising;
• remedy advertising;
• e-commerce pages;
• sites that provides “pay per click” things;
• starting page may be bundled with dialers, spyware, malware, keyloggers, advertising toolbars.
• etc.

Some of them are not very serious hijackers and they let the user to change his homepage, others-don't. It also may install helping toolbar which is a spyware too. Some of the hijackers are considered to be at the same risk level as viruses and Trojans, because:

• They get installed without users knowledge or permission;
• It slows computer work;
• It may damage computer system by sending worms, bugs and spyware to user's computer.
• Homepage hijacker's leave security holes often.
• Hijackers can cause identity theft, carding, etc., if users enters personally identifiable information after he had hijacker installed on his PC.
• If user uses a dial-up connection, he will have troubles with dialers.

So hijackers are great threat to user's privacy and security. The best way to prevent it, is to have a reliable anti-spyware program. Make sure that software supports updates function, because everyday a number of new hijackers and spyware is increasing rapidly. It is also recommended to avoid freeware, P2P programs (Kazaa, iMesh) and free music, video files.

Get yourself an Internet Filtering Software, witch will prevent you from sites containing hijackers and will protect you e-mail from spam that often contains links to hijackers sites.

Don't download files or programs from suspicious or porno sites.