With all of the security concerns in the computing community today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep your computer secure and safe.
Every day, hundreds of new threats emerge from all around the Planet.
In addition, with identity theft being one of the fastest growing crimes in the Country today, ensuring safety of our personal information becomes more challenging with each passing day.
As a result, I wanted to share some information regarding a category that is often overlooked, easily misunderstood, and what I consider to be quite dangerous.
It is often dismissed as nothing more than a nuisance, however it can be much more than that.
This category of software is called "Spyware".
I know, the name evokes images of James Bond and his technical gadgets, mini cameras, and wristwatch phones; however this software is anything but glamorous.
In fact, many people have spyware on their computers without ever knowing it.
I often times find computers that have come in for routine repairs or service and find spyware present.
What is spyware? You may have heard the term somewhere before.
Perhaps you are unsure as to what exactly it is, and what it does.
It is a mysterious category of software, so you are not alone if you are unsure as to what it is.
There are so many new types of security threats these days; it can be difficult to keep them all straight.
Spyware is not exactly a computer "virus" in the truest sense; however it is in the same category, in terms of having malicious or less than reputable intentions.
Spyware, also known sometimes as "adware" is a category of software that, once installed, will send you a barrage of pop-up ads, redirect you to websites you didn't intend to visit, block you from visiting other site, and more.
Some spyware or adware can even go so far as to monitor precisely what sites you visit, and even monitor the keys you type.
Once the software has this information, it can send this information back to a central server somewhere, where it can be used, shared, or sold.
With this information, the potential user will know what type of sites you visit, your approximate age category, and your interests, thus allowing them to target their advertising efforts.
This is how a lot of spam is generated, as the software can capture your email address and the email addresses of friends in your contact lists.
This is one of the ways other people can obtain your usernames and passwords for websites you visit, and could even be used in identity theft.
If you typed data in a form, with information such as name, address, phone number, and email address, they could capture that information.
So, now that you know a bit about what it is, and why it is so dangerous, how do you know if you have it? There are many signs that you may have spyware.
I will address treatment a bit later in this article.
Some of the signs are as follows: · Sudden computer slowness (programs not responding, taking longer than usual to save or open files, etc) · Your browser's home page is changed, and you do not remember changing it · Your browser's default search engine has changed unexpectedly · Lots of Windows error messages suddenly appear · New toolbars appear at the top of your browser suddenly · New icons appear on your desktop or in your toolbar at the bottom of the screen that you do not remember installing · You are redirected to a different website when typing in a website name Remember, these signs are not a guarantee that you have spyware; however they are certainly leading indicators.
If you have found these things happening suddenly, you may have a problem with spyware.
You could also have other viruses or malicious software to deal with as well.
This is obviously a mess, but it can be handled.
So, now that you know what spyware is, the next step is to understand where it comes from.
Oddly enough, most spyware is installed by the end user without even knowing it.
These guys that create the spyware are slick enough to convince you to install their malicious software on your computer without knowing the risks.
If you have done this - don't feel badly.
These guys are masters of deception, and it happens to the best of us.
The secret is to understand how they manage to trick you, and defeat it before it happens.
Here are some of the ways spyware can get loaded on your computer.
Be aware of these, and you will be one step ahead of the spyware.
· Some free software isn't "free" - There are many sites that offer "free" downloads, such as toolbars and other browser plug-ins that seem appealing.
Perhaps they are offering to share coupons, discounts, or other interesting things.
This software may be used for less than honorable purposes, so be aware.
This isn't saying that ALL free software is bad; rather, be wary and only download from trustworthy, reputable sites.
After all, someone had to spend considerable time and effort on the software, so think about what return they are getting for that time and effort.
· Irony abounds online - There have been many reports of online ads and email ads that report to sell anti-spyware, when the website you are directed to actually contains the very spyware they claim to prevent.
It is almost like a form of extortion: they install the software, and then sell you the product you need to remove it.
Don't click ads in email, web pages, or pop-ups that claim to provide anti-spyware tools.
· Just say no - If you see a strange pop-up claiming you have spyware, and asking if you want it removed, just click "No".
This relates to the previous example, where the pop-up is probably caused by the spyware itself.
· Web pages that are overly "giving" - Websites that seem to give away the World are often giving you more than you bargained for.
Remember the phrase "there is no free lunch"? Now that you know a bit about what spyware is, what it does, and where it comes from, let's discuss a strategy to prevent it and, if you already have it, get rid of it.
You can take it into a professional technical services firm, if you don't want to deal with it, however, you can do it yourself.
It will take a little time, and some patience, but you can usually get it off of your computer and not lose your data.
You do not have to replace your computer, as some computer retailers would have you believe.
Also, there are no viruses or spyware that can actually damage hardware, rendering a computer useless.
These are just myths, not reality.
Taking these steps can help remove the spyware and prevent future spyware from being installed.
· Run Anti-spyware Software - Make sure you have a tool specifically designed for spyware.
The fact that you have an anti-virus tool isn't always enough.
Some anti-virus tools do scan for spyware, some don't.
Check with your vendor to ensure you have the capability to scan for, and delete, spyware.
· Run A Full Scan - You should be running scheduled scans on at least a weekly basis as it is, however if you think you have been affected, run a scan immediately.
This will help catch it as early as possible, instead of waiting for the next scan.
· Check for programs/toolbars you didn't ask for - This can be accomplished by going to the Add/Remove programs feature in Windows.
Look for toolbars, helpers, and other programs that do not belong there.
You can also open a browser, and look at the top below the Address bar (the place you type the web address).
If you see lots of different buttons and options below that bar, you may have some toolbars installed.
Many of them are legit, such as Yahoo, Google, and others; however some websites install toolbars that are less than legit.
Remove those by using add/remove programs in Windows.
Simply disabling them may not be enough.