Spyware - what is it and how do you get rid of it?

This is simply a page devoted to make other people aware of the risks they take every day they log on the internet.
You never know wether you've been infected with spyware!

What does spyware do?


Well, a spyware is mostly small programs which install themselves on your computer without you knowing it, and they secretly send information out on the internet. Wether you surf or use you homebanking, it will all be stored on a server placed somewhere else, may it be the US, or another country far away.

What can you do about it?

You can obviously get your computer fixed at a dealership, or you can reinstall it once in a while.
But to get the optimal insurance, you would be better off getting an anti-spyware program such as Netcom3!

What is spyware?

Spyware is software that is capable of performing certain operations on your computer without your consent, such as displaying advertisements, collecting your personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer.

Other types of unwanted software can alter to your computer with results ranging from minor annoyances to causing your computer to slow down or crash. These programs have the ability to change your Web browser's home page or search page, or add additional components to your browser you may not need or want.

These programs also make it very difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you originally had them. These types of unwanted programs are often labeled as spyware.

What is adware?

Adware is software that displays advertisements. This does not mean that any software that provides advertisements or tracks your on-line activities is adware. For example, you may install a free ad-supported version of software, and you "pay" for the service by agreeing to receive targeted advertisements.

If you understand the terms and agree to them, you may have decided that it is a fair tradeoff. You may also have agreed to let the company track your online activities to determine which advertisements to show you. To avoid installing adware if you do not wish to "pay" for the service by receiving targeted advertisements, I recommend that you carefully read the software's Terms of Use and End User License Agreement.

What is malware?

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The term is a portmanteau of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

Many normal computer users are however still unfamiliar with the term, and most never use it. Instead, "computer virus" is incorrectly used in common parlance and even in the media to describe all kinds of malware, though not all malware are viruses.

Software is considered malware based on the perceived intent of the creator rather than any particular features. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, and other malicious and unwanted software.



What is a virus?

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission or knowledge of the user. The term "virus" is also commonly used, albeit erroneously, to refer to many different types of malware and adware programs. The original virus may modify the copies, or the copies may modify themselves, as occurs in a metamorphic virus. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or the Internet, or by carrying it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive. Meanwhile viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses. A worm can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a file that appears harmless. Worms and Trojans may cause harm to either a computer system's hosted data, functional performance, or networking throughput, when executed. In general, a worm does not actually harm either the system's hardware or software, while at least in theory, a Trojan's payload may be capable of almost any type of harm if executed. Some can't be seen when the program is not running, but as soon as the infected code is run, the Trojan horse kicks in. That is why it is so hard for people to find viruses and other malware themselves and why they have to use spyware programs and registry processors

What is a dialer?

A dialer (or dialler) is an electronic device that is connected to a telephone line to monitor the dialed numbers and alter them to seamlessly provide services that otherwise require lengthy access codes to be dialed. A dialer automatically inserts and modifies the numbers depending on the time of day, country or area code dialed, allowing the user to subscribe to the service providers who offer the best rates. For example, a dialer could be programmed to use one service provider for international calls and another for cellular calls. This process is known as prefix insertion or least cost routing. A line powered dialer does not need any external power but instead takes the power it needs from the telephone line.

Another type of dialer is a computer program which creates a connection to the Internet or another computer network over the analog telephone or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) network. Many operating systems already contain such a program for connections through the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP).

Many internet service providers offer installation-CDs to simplify the process of setting up a proper Internet connection. They either create an entry in the OS's dialer or install a separate dialer (as the AOL software does).

In recent days, the term "dialer" often refers specifically to dialers that connect without the user's full knowledge as to cost, with the creator of the dialer intending to commit fraud.

What is a page hijacker?

Hijacker is an application that attempts to take control of the user's homepage and replace it with one that the hijacker chooses. It is a low security threat, but is annoying. Most hijackers use stealth techniques or trick dialog boxes to perform installation.

Browser hijackers commonly do one or more of the following:

1. Change your "search" page and passes all searches to a pay-per-search site

2. Change your default home page to the company page. Sometimes the software changes them to a portal featuring porn sites.

3. May transmit URLs viewed toward the company server

What is a worm?

A worm is a virus-like program that spreads automatically to other computers by distributing itself via email or other means. A worm spreads itself by attacking other machines and copying itself to the affected machine. Both worms and viruses are self-replicating codes that travel from machine to machine by various means. Both worms and viruses have, as their first objective, merely propagation. Both can be destructive, depending on what payload, if any, they have been given.

There are some differences in that worms may replace files, but do not insert themselves into files, while viruses insert themselves into files, but do not replace them.

How can I tell that I have spyware on my computer?

You may have spyware installed on your computer if:

1. You see pop-up advertisements even when you're not on a website.

2. Your homepage or your browser search settings have changed without your knowledge.

3. You have a new toolbar in your browser that you didn't want, and find it difficult to get rid of.

4. Your computer takes longer than usual to complete certain tasks.

5. You experience a sudden rise in computer crashes.

How to keep spyware off of my computer?

Here are few useful tips on how to avoid spyware infection:

1. Use anti-spyware programs such as netcom3!

2. Keep your anti-spyware programs current by downloading updates.

3. If using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, turn off its ability to run scripts without your permission.

4. Prevent spyware from transmitting data off the system by using a firewall such as Dynecurb which offers protection from AVG, Trendmicro, panda and Cogen Media. All of them are reknowned as excellent protections

5. Do not click on links within pop-ups. By clicking on a pop-up link you may install spyware on your computer. Close the popup with the "X" on the title bar, do not use the "close" link, if there are any available within the window.

6. Do not download programs from websites you are not familiar with.

7. Be careful of unexpected dialog boxes asking whether you want to perform an action. If you are not sure about the impact of the action, better click "NO" or close the dialog box by clicking the "X" icon in the title bar.

8. Do not follow email links offering anti-spyware software. These links may actually install the spyware they claim to be keeping off your system.

Is there any legal protection against spyware?

Although the Can-Spam law that has been in effect for a year, it hasn't had much success against unsolicited email. Legal experts and business technology professionals remain hopeful that laws aimed at reducing adware and spyware will fare somewhat better.



States are moving forward in crafting anti-spyware legislation. A former Governor of Utah signed into law the Spyware Control Act that bans the installation of spyware without the user's consent. A similar law went into effect in California enforcing a $1,000 penalty per violation. At the 109th Congress recently convened Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif., reintroduced her anti-spyware bill that includes civil fines up to $3 million for violators.

Still, Michael Overly, a technology attorney with the law firm of Foley & Lardner, says that the new laws aren't entirely necessary because the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act already makes it illegal for unauthorized system intrusions. Other legal experts point out that Title 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act enables the FTC to track down anyone conducting deceptive trade practices, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act also could be used against those who send out spyware

To make sure you won't have any leaks on you computer, you should check out Netcom3's homepage - you can scan your computer for free and get help if anything bad is found.

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