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Backing
up your PC
Cool Programs
iPhone
Apps
Mac Stuff
Security
Spyware
Web Browsers
Wireless Networks
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Adware
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Adware
is considered a legitimate alternative offered to consumers who do not
wish to pay for software. Programs, games or utilities can be designed
and distributed as freeware. Sometimes freeware blocks features and
functions of the software until you pay to register it. Today we have a
growing number of software developers who offer their goods as
"sponsored" freeware until you pay to register. Generally most or all
features of the freeware are enabled but you will be viewing sponsored
advertisements while the software is being used. The advertisements
usually run in a small section of the software interface or as a pop-up
ad box on your desktop. When you stop running the software, the ads
should disappear. This allows consumers to try the software before they
buy and you always have the option of disabling the ads by purchasing a
registration key.
In many cases, adware is a legitimate revenue source for companies who
offer their software free to users. A perfect example of this would be
the popular e-mail program, Eudora. You can choose to purchase Eudora
or run the software in sponsored mode. In sponsored mode Eudora will
display an ad window in the program and up to three sponsored toolbar
links. Eudora adware is not malicious; it reportedly doesn't track your
habits or provide information about you to a third party. This type of
adware is simply serving up random paid ads within the program. When
you quit the program the ads will stop running on your system. |
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Spyware
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Unfortunately, some freeware applications which contain adware do track
your surfing habits in order to serve ads related to you. When the
adware becomes intrusive like this, then we move it in the spyware
category and it then becomes something you should avoid for privacy and
security reasons. Due to its invasive nature, spyware has really given
adware a bad name as many people do not know the differences between
the two, or use the terms interchangeably.
Spyware is considered a malicious program and is similar to a Trojan
Horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install
something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to
download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available
today.
Spyware works like adware but is usually a separate program that is
installed unknowingly when you install another freeware type program or
application. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the
Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone
else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and
even passwords and credit card numbers.
Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have
the capability to monitor your keystrokes, scan files on the hard
drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word
processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the
default home page on the Web browser, while consistently relaying this
information back to the spyware author who will either use it for
advertising and marketing purposes or sell the information to another
party.
Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn
the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the
requested software, but the licensing agreements are not always be read
completely by users because the notice of a spyware installation is
often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers.
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Combating
Spyware
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While
one may not realize they have installed spyware, there are some signs
that it exists on your computer. If you notice any changes to your Web
browser that you did not make such as extra toolbars or different
homepage settings, as well as changes to your security settings and
favorites list, you could have spyware running on your system. Other
signs of a spyware infection include pop-up ads which aren't related to
a Web site you're viewing; usually spyware advertisements are adult
content in nature and are not displayed in the same fashion as
legitimate ads you would normally see on your favorite Web sites. You
may also see advertisements when you're not browsing the Web. Clicking
hyperlinks which do not work (or take you somewhere you didn't expect),
a sluggish system, or your system taking longer to load the Windows
desktop are all signs that your computer may be infected with spyware.
With the onset of spyware comes a plethora of anti-spyware software
packages to rid your system of these unwanted and malicious programs.
Anti-spyware software works by identifying any spyware installed on
your system and removing it. Since spyware is installed like any other
application on your system it will leave traces of itself in the system
registry and in other places on your computer. Anti-spyware software
will look for evidence of these files and delete them if found.
It is important to remember that not all companies who claim their
software contains adware are really offering adware. There is always a
chance that adware is spyware in disguise so to speak, and that
programs with embedded spyware may not state its existence at all.
Always stay on the side of caution and be sure to research privacy
policies and licensing agreements that come with freeware. You should
also become familiar with Internet lists of companies reported to be
using spyware. Much like a firewall or anti-virus program, anti-spyware
software is crucial to maintain optimal protection and security on your
computer and network.
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Prevention
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As
stated above, there are many "Anti-Spyware" programs. I use
"Malwarebytes MBAM" and "Spybot Search and Destroy". They are
both free.
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