They open up suspicious looking email messages. When visiting a website and a dialog box pops up, they click "yes" and download an application in order to view the website. Consumers download free screensavers, free software, and songs (mp3s) from music websites. Some of them download video and movie clips from adult websites. Unknowingly, Spyware may be being installed without your permission.

Consumers need to beware of malicious Active X pop-up dialog boxes. While Active X allows the user to enhance Web pages with sophisticated formatting features and animation, there are serious security risks. The malicious ones are relentless and aggressive. They keep popping up and prevent the user from going any further on a website. The dialog box insists that "yes" gets clicked and an application must be downloaded. When that happens, all types of Spyware, AdWare, and Trojan Horses are given permission to infest your computer.

If a computer suffers from the following symptoms, Spyware is on the computer. Symptoms include: browser home page keeps changing; excessive pop-up ads or pop-under ads, ads that appear after you close the site; new toolbars appear in browser; the computer is slow and applications do not start quickly; slow Internet access speed; frequent computer crashes; an increase of Spam.

Gary Guseinov, CEO of Eblocs says, "Consumers cannot see Spyware, but it certainly sees what the user is doing online. Spyware operates behind-the-scenes, and tracks every online activity."

Here are some tips for consumers to protect their online identity and stop identity theft.

1. Do not click "yes" when an Active X dialog box keeps popping up unless you know exactly what you're downloading.
2. Do not open and delete all suspicious email messages.
3. Do not fill out any web forms asking for your social security number, driver's license, email passwords, bank account information, or your mother's maiden name.
4. Do not download or install any software unless you know and trust the source 100%.
5. Do not give your email address to anyone you don't know.
6. Clear out cookies and other tracking data on your computer.
7. Try using disposable email accounts when filling out forms on the Internet.
8. Do not enter any sweepstakes or contests online without first reading the privacy policy. The majority of contests are set up to capture your personal information and sell it to 3rd party vendors. Check to see, as Couples Company specifies since our CEO really hates spam, that any information obtained will never be sold or traded to others without your option to opt-out.
9. Install software to counter-attack Spyware, AdWare, Spam and pop-up ads.  Couples Company recommends freeware SpyBot, Ad Aware and AVG for dealing with these issues.  We also recommend spending the $49.95 for WinCleaner® Pro, a software that eliminates these issues from Windows Based programs effectively.
10. When forwarding e-mails to others, delete the contact information of the person who sent you the e-mail prior to forwarding by highlighting over it and back spacing.  Place all other e-mail addresses under the BCC heading to further protect your friends from falling victim to ID Theft.

For more information, please visit eblocs.com