OK spyware is basically the evil of the Internet. It comes from different websites (accessed through Internet Explorer) and also from software (mostly freeware) that we download and install. It tracks what we do and sends info to the people who wrote it, all without our knowledge or consent.
Spyware isn't just a privacy concern. It also affects computer functionality. I can bear smarting testimony to this. When I had Win98, I'd get crashes and freezes whenever spyware got installed on my machine. When I got rid of the spyware, it'd be fine again until the next time.
One of the easiest ways to get spyware on your machine without even knowing it is driveby installs. This happens when you web surf with Internet Explorer. IE runs these things called ActiveX controls whenever a webpage tells it to. These ActiveX controls are normally fine and provide functionality to a site. Some sites put up bad ActiveX controls that surruptitiously install spyware on your machine when you go to the site.
Internet Explorer's security settings should always be set to their highest except for trusted websites.
OK so how do I get rid of this, you ask. Well there are several things you can do.