One day, you suddenly realize that your computer started to work noticeably slower than it used to. You decide to runde-fragmentation of your hard drive and add more virtual memoryto the system. No luck! May be, it's probably some viruses, youreckon turning on your virus scanning software. Even afterrunning the anti-virus program you notice that the problem won'tresolve. Not understanding what's happening frustrated you pickup the phone. It's time to call your tech-support. Soundsfamiliar? You are not alone! Each day, thousands of users arefacing similar problems caused by malicious software calledSpyware. According to Dell technical support, nowadays 12percent of their support calls involve problems related to somekinds of Spyware. Microsoft reports that fifty percent of allcomputer crushes are caused by Spyware, viruses and Trojans.
What is a Spyware?
Spyware - also named Malware or Adware - are malicious softwareprograms, which most of the time get installed on your computerwithout your knowledge. These programs are capable of doing manyoutrageous, sinister things to your computer such as changingcomputer settings, tracking your online behavior, monitoring and controlling your computer, recording your keystrokes, displayingunwanted advertisement and reporting needed information back tothe person behind it.
The main types of Spyware are:
Key loggers: This type of Spyware copies everything you type toa file and send it to the hacker. The more sophisticated type,which is used for identity theft, copies the information youprovide when you are connected to a secure website.
Browser hijacker: It modifies browser settings without yourpermission. This Spyware is capable of changing your start page,search page, search tool bar and redirect your url to specificpages.
Email redirector: Surreptitiously copies all your incoming andoutgoing emails and sends to the hacker.
Dialers: This spyware install themselves to your dial-up settings and dials numbers without your knowledge, often to out of country numbers.
Collectware: The purpose of this Spyware is to track your surfing habit and transmitting the statistical data to the hacker. Thisinformation later gets sold to advertisement companies.
Adware: This Spyware downloads all sorts of banner advertisements every time you take some action such as typing a word on yoursearch tool.
Why my antivirus program does not block a Spyware?
Although, Spyware uses same tactics like "Trojan" virus,technically it is not a virus. A virus is a program written tocreate trouble or possibly harm your computer system. Viruses are capable of replicate, evolve and cause severe damages to yourcomputer files, registry or even hardware. Spyware, on the otherhand, does not harm your computer intentionally. Any nuisancelike system slow down is the collateral damage, which occurswhile the Spyware serves its mission of monitoring youractivities and making unwanted changes to your user experience.
People rarely read the fine prints of the user agreements whiledownloading a file, a program, a game or other free stuffs fromthe Internet. Unethical sites use this to their advantage andadd tiny Spyware with the file you are downloading.
The anti-virus programs can not be sure, whether this program isinstalled deliberately by you or it's a malicious Spyware. Thismakes identifying and blocking a Spyware difficult for anAnti-virus program. However, things are started to change! Majoranti-virus companies are planning to integrate anti-spywareprograms to their existing products very soon.
How did I get infected with a Spyware?
There are numerous ways how you might end up with having aSpyware on your system.
- When you download and install programs, games, smilies, pictures, screensavers from dubious sites, there is a big chance that you might install a sneaky Spyware along the way.
- Some websites and pop-up windows try to download and install Spyware while you are there. According a recent analysis of sex-based websites, up to 80 percent of these sites are now being used to upload Spyware, worms and Trojans to unsuspecting visitors.
- Some add-ons to you browser that is supposed to enhance your browser experience may secretively install Spyware.
- The most cynical method of infecting you with Spyware is when you receive a sudden pop-up ad, which claims that your computer is contaminated and you have to run certain program to cure your system. If you are credulous enough to run this program, it just installs a Spyware instead of eliminating any.
How to fight back?
If you carefully follow the instructions outlined below, your chances of getting infected with Spyware are pretty slim.
Update your Windows Allow your version of Windows to update it automatically. Ensure that you have all the latest security patches installed.
Use Firefox as your default browser Since Internet Explorer is the main target for many Spyware, you will be better of with Mozilla Firefox. Moreover, it is a better browserthan IE in many aspects.
Be extremely careful with your downloads Try not to download anything from a unknown site. If you still feellike getting a shareware or freeware program check it out on one ofthese online Spyware database. Spychecker (http://www.spychecker.com/) is one such service, and Camtech 2000's Spy Chaser (http://camtech2000.net/Pages/SpyChaser.html) is a nifty downloadable database of nearly 1000 spyware-infested programs.
Use an Anti-Spyware application Download and install one of the following anti-spyware programs:Ad-aware (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/), Spybot (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html) and Microsoft AntiSpyware. Although, Microsoft's Anti-Spyware
(http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) is still at beta stage, I am using it and very happywith its performance.
Get a Firewall If you are using Windows XP with Service Pack 2, you are probablyfine! In other cases, if your computer is connected to the Internetdirectly you should get a firewall and install it. Zone alarm
(http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp) is agreat firewall you can download for free.
A recently conducted survey of the Top Network Security threats in2005 reveals that two-thirds of IT managers and administratorsbelieve that Spyware will be the number one threat to networksecurity. So don't take any chance! Make sure that you are protected!
Nowshade Kabir is the founder, primary developer and presentCEO of Rusbiz.com. A Ph. D. in Information Technology, hehas wide experience in Business Consulting, InternationalTrade and Web Marketing. Rusbiz is a Global B2B Emarketplacewith solutions to start and run online business. You can contact him at mailto:nowshade[at]rusbiz.com http://ezine.rusbiz.com |
