Spyware: What It Is and How to Combat It
by: Dean Phillips
Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without the userกs knowledge which gathers information about that user for later retrieval by whomever controls the spyware.
Spyware can be broken down into two different categories, surveillance spyware and advertising spyware.
Surveillance software includes key loggers, screen capture devices, and trojans. These would be used by corporations, private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, suspicious spouses, etc.
Advertising spyware is software that is installed alongside other software or via activex controls on the internet, often without the userกs knowledge, or without full disclosure that it will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads. Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computerกs hardware and software configuration, the name, age, sex, etc of the user.
As with spam, advertising spyware uses the CPU, RAM, and resources of the userกs computer, making the user pay for the costs associated with operating it. It then makes use of the userกs bandwidth to connect to the internet and upload whatever personal information it has gathered, and to download advertisements which it will present to the user, either by way of pop up windows, or with the ad banners of adsupported software. All of this can be considered theft in the cases of advertising spyware that installs without disclosure.
And while antivirus software like Symantecกs Norton Anti Virus or McAfeeกs ViruScan can offer some protection, one of the best ways to combat spyware is with antispy software. Two of the best are Lavasoftกs Adaware and Spybotกs Search & Destroy, which are available as free downloads.
http://www.lavasoft.de/
http://www.safernetworking.org/en/index.html
The free version of Adaware does not proactively protect against spyware infestation. You have to start the Adaware application and initiate a scan to detect spyware. But the paid version, Adaware Plus does remain alert in the background, like Spybot, to deflect any attempts at infestation. In recent tests, Adaware Plus and Spybot both protected systems extremely well.
If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend installing Microsoftกs Service Pack 2. SP2 tightens your PCกs security with a new Windows Firewall, an improved Automatic Updates feature, and a popup ad blocker for Internet Explorer. Plus, the newly minted Security Center gives you one easytouse interface for keeping tabs on your PCกs security apps.
There are also other steps you can take to protect against spyware. One simple step is to switch from Microsoftกs browsers, which have security holes for spyware programs to exploit. A good alternative is Mozilla Firefox. Another not sosimple step is switching to the Mac or Linux operating systems, which don’t have spyware problems.
Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: [email protected]
Double your income! Internet marketing expert, Dean Phillips will teach you how to double your income, starting today…Guaranteed! For details just visit my website.
Website: http://www.letsmakemoney.net
About The Author
Dean Phillips is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Dean can be reached at mailto: [email protected]
Double your income! Internet marketing expert, Dean Phillips will teach you how to double your income, starting today…Guaranteed! For details just visit my website.
Website: http://www.letsmakemoney.net
This article was posted on September 22, 2004
by Dean Phillips