How to Control Spyware and Adware
Upstate Technology Services
What is it?
One of the biggest annoyances for computer users today is called Adware or Spyware.
Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. Spyware applications monitors your surfing habits and shares this information with marketers, but at its worst it can track and steal your private information, including passwords, email addresses, and even your banking or credit information.
Adware (advertising supported software) is any software application in which advertising banners, pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The authors of these applications usually include code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge.
Spyware and Adware programs are constantly running in the background, unknown by most people, using your computer and network resources. Besides the invasion of your privacy, Adware can cause slow response times and cause computer crashes.
How did I get it?
There are many causes, the most common are:
• You downloaded free software, games, etc. from a website
• Something you clicked on and agreed to on a website
• A program masquerading as something you actually use
• Maybe it was an offer to fix something on your PC
• Silently installed software from visiting a web site
Very often Spyware manufacturers will present themselves to you in the form of a pop-up ad that tells you that your PC is infested with spyware, and offers to fix it for you. In this case, the fix is to download spyware. The ads may tell you that your computer or your internet connection is slow, and offer to fix that too. These ads can be found on websites as well as when searching for information on search engines. Again, the fix is worse than the condition it pretends you need to have fixed.
DO NOT TRUST ANY WEB SITE TO FIX YOUR COMPUTER!
Several programs may sound like good deals, but they load spyware when you install them. Hotbar is a package that offers to assist you by giving you a new toolbar and other visual improvements to Internet Explorer, as well as finding web pages that may appeal to you. Again this little guy tracks your surfing habits and directs advertising to you, slowing down your computer and Internet surfing.
Precision Time and Date Manager is a program offering to keep your PC clock current.
Unknown to you, this is a product of the Gator Advertising Information Network. Sure, it might maintain the time and date on your PC, but it also does everything else that Gator does. Gator saves your internet passwords for you, but it sells your surfing habits to marketers and pop-up ad companies, directing pop-up ads to your computer. Pop-up ads slow down your internet surfing by forcing you to close them before the website will go where directed. Is it worth it?
These are just three examples of the many of privacy violators out there. Others include Bonzi Buddy, Bargain buddy, Comet Cursor, Kazaa, and several free MP3 players. When you download your favorite song or a cute computer graphic, you are often downloading programs which will cause your computer to slow down and possibly crash more often.
Any free software can be a potential carrier, and you must be wary when downloading these items. Peer-to-peer file sharing applications are notorious for transmitting not only spyware and adware applications, but also virus, Trojans and worms.
How do I get rid of it? How do I protect my computer?
That’s easy enough. Stay away from free software, or do a little homework.
Before you download and install any software, look it up with a Google search. If the program is spyware or if it will install spyware, someone is bound to be complaining about it.
When I typed “Bonzi Buddy” into Google, several entries were found explaining how “Bonzi Buddy” was spyware and needed to be removed. Another method is to read the End User License Agreement before installing any program. This is the little box that stops the installation of a new program.
Very few people read this agreement before clicking “I Agree”. Many (but not all) of the adware and spyware programs will reveal themselves in the License Agreement. This is not always reliable, because not all programs are honest. If you are in doubt, then do not download the program. It is really pretty easy to avoid this stuff. There really is no such thing as a free lunch. These folks have to make money somewhere. What better way than to agree to push software on the computers of customers, or sell their personal information?
The Internet has a lot of interesting and useful information, and can be a source of great entertainment. But remember that you have to protect yourself when hanging out there.
Most things that seem “too-good-to-be-true” are, and downloading every cool song, graphic, or cute “computer pal” that comes your way will result in slower computer processing to the point of possibly not being able to run necessary programs like Word or Internet Explorer.
“Look but do not touch (or download)” is the best phrase to remember when traveling theInternet.
Use a combination of spyware/adware removal tools. There is not one solution but rather a combination of removal tools to protect you.