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Spyware

Common Files of File Sharing & Adware/Spyware

What is spyware?

• Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without their knowledge. It is generally used for advertising. It is often included within freeware or shareware programs that are downloaded off the Internet.

• Spyware can invade your privacy. It can monitor keystrokes, scan harddrives, read cookies, install other software, load advertisement, and constantly relay information back, and forth to the author of the spyware. It can gather information about email addresses, the users' activities on the Internet, and even password and credit card numbers. This information then can be passed along undetected to someone else.

• Spyware robs the user of memory resources on their computer. It can make your computer system and browser unstable and cause your system or browser to crash. It can also make your system run slower.

• The bad news is there are hundreds of these types of programs out there. Some common spyware programs include: Hotbar, Comet Cursor, Xupiter, Gator, Offer Companion and BonziBuddy. RealAudio Player can also put "data mining" software on your system to "track preferences" and report back to the mothership. Even free CD games from a cereal box or fast food kid's meal can put "adware" on your system.

Symptoms

• browser crashes
• computer instability
• high CPU utilization
• unexplained freezing
• slowness
• slow boot time
• "blue screen of death"
• illegal operation errors
• signature lines change
• pop-up/under advertisements appear when the user is online and offline
• default homepage of the browser changes

Spyware categories

• Adware networks
  The backbone for big time spyware are ad serving networks that pay publishers of games, utilities and music/video players per download, to include their ad serving programs. As serving networks are DoublClick, Web3000, Radiate, SaveNow, GAIN.

• Stalking horses
  A number of programs that enable the adware networks to function on desktops are bundled in many popular programs and often (not always) presented in installation disclosure screens as desirable add-ons to their Trojan horse hosts. All collect information. Included in TopText, Cydoor, OnFlow, Medialoads, Delfin, WebHancer, New.net

• Trojan horses
  These popular Internet downloads usually come with ad serving network basic software and at least one stalking horse. Included in KaZaa, Grokster, Morpheus, Limewire, AudioGalaxy, iMesh, DivX.

• Backdoor Santas
  Stand-alone programs that incorporate similar approaches have no links to ad serving networks and collect information from users. Included in Alexa, Hotbar, Comet Cusor, eWallet, CuteFTP, BonziBuddy.

• Cookies
  Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer will still send out existing cookies even after disabling cookies in the browser settings. You must manually delete any/all cookie files on your system to eliminate being tracked by third party ad networks or spyware or adware providers.

How do you get rid of Spyware?

Many anti-Spyware products are available for free download, such as Ad-aware and Spybot. These products scan for Spyware and allow you to remove it.

In Ad-aware, the Scan now option will search default or selected drives for Spyware files. When the scan is finished, click Next to view display results for the objects found. Double-click on any object to view its details and decide whether you want it to stay on your computer. To remove objects, click their checkbox and then click Next.

In Spybot, the Search for Problems option will perform a system scan for Spyware. When the scan is finished, results will appear in the white box. Click the fix selected problems button to delete the checked files. Spybot also has an Immunize option to block problem files.

How do you keep from getting Spyware?

• Always install from trusted sources and make sure to read the End User License Agreement.
• Set your browser not to allow third-party or session cookies. For Internet Explorer (5 and above), this is done in Tools-->Internet Options-->Privacy.
• Delete temporary Internet files and set History to 1 day. For Internet Explorer (4 and above), this is done in Tools-->Internet options-->General.
• Use anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date.
• Use a personal firewall such as Zone Alarm and/or an Internet filter such as DNSKong.
• Avoid using Peer-2-Peer file sharing programs or “freeware.” 

• Do not click on banners that appear at the top of web pages even if they look like a fun game, they say you are a winner or they are going to help you correct a potential problem on your computer (your clock is wrong, you have spyware, ect.). Do not download free software. If you must use free software, be as selective as possible and only install that which is completely necessary. Use trustworthy web sites.

• Do not follow links in spam e-mail messages. They often take you to sites that install spyware on your computer.

• Music/file sharing software is illegal. It is also a pipeline to spyware, viruses and hackers.

Are cookies considered spyware?

• Cookies are used in a manner similar to adware and spyware. They report information about you back to the publisher of the cookie. Many, many web sites use cookies. Respectable sites, such as Amazon.com, use cookies responsibly. They only store information directly related to the use of their web pages. Other sites gather more information than they should. Cookies can easily be deleted and they can recreated when you revisit the site.

How to detect and remove spyware

• There is no one software product that will detect and remove all spyware. Until better anti-spyware software is developed the best you can hope for is to manage the problem. Try using free products and use them in tadem. Neither product is known to install spyware or adware. They are Adware and Spybot.

• Removing spyware may disable the software it tagged along with. In some cases the spyware cannot be removed until the free software it came with is also removed.

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