How-To Guides: Spyware
James Bond aka 007 had it easy. He only had to fight insane bad guys. We have to defend our computers systems against spyware every day, with no time off to brag about our successes. Spyware is everywhere. It invades our PCs, our Palm Pilots, and now it is even beginning to attack cell phones. We know it’s bad and causes problems but what is spyware and where does it come from?
Spyware is software that gathers and reports information about a computer user without the user's knowledge or consent. Some spyware may:
- deliver ads and pop-up ads
- steal private information
- redirect users to unrequested commercial sites
- install stealth phone dialers.
Spyware usually starts every time the computer boots and runs all the time. It may cause very slow response time. Often the technician will need to reformat the hard drive, reinstall the operating system, and restore data from backups.
HOW YOU GET SPYWARE
Download free software and you may download spyware programs without even knowing it. The makers of such packages usually make them available for free downloads to encourage downloading. Examples of such packages include:
- Kazaa
- Gato
- Morpheus
- Limewire
- WeatherBug
- Bonzai Buddy
- Many screensavers
- Some instant messenger services (not AOL,Yahoo, MSN)
Solution: Don’t download any programs you are not sure of and ALWAYS read ALL of the end user license agreement (EULA).
Click here for a list of known spyware
ALREADY HAVE SPYWARE? FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO REMOVE SPYWARE.
- Download the new Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) or another spyware removal tool (see below list).
- Run the tool to scan your computer for spyware and other unwanted software.
- Review the files discovered by the tool for spyware and other unwanted software.
- Select suspicious files for removal by following the tool's instructions.
Click here for a list of spyware removal programs
Here are two examples of spyware masquarading as spyware removers:
[Posted on April 26, 2005]
