| Various studies, such as by Earthlink
| |
| | web page. Even if we have successfully
|
| Webroot and the AOL/National Cyber
| |
| | deleted spyware on our PC, every time the
|
| Security Alliance, have shown that up to
| |
| | Trojan page is accessed, our PC becomes
|
| 90 percent of Internet-connected
| |
| | re-infected.
|
| computers have spyware installed.
| |
| | CoolWebSearch (CWS) is an example of this
|
| These studies also showed that one in
| |
| | type of spyware. Because of the unique
|
| three PCs is infected with the malicious
| |
| | techniques to hide itself from
|
| types of spyware, such as system monitors
| |
| | antispyware, CWS can be one of the most
|
| and Trojan horses.
| |
| | difficult spyware programs to remove from
|
| This spyware is dangerous because it can
| |
| | our computers.
|
| compromise our efforts to guard privacy
| |
| | V. Dialers or Modem Hijacking
|
| and online security by sending any
| |
| | Dialers or modem hijackers can be
|
| information from our computers to a third
| |
| | secretly downloaded to PCs via a virus
|
| party.
| |
| | infection, mp3 download, or adult
|
| Spyware can be split into two broad
| |
| | websites. Their purpose is to connect
|
| categories...
| |
| | infected computers to a premium rate
|
| 1. Surveillance or monitoring spyware...
| |
| | number -- often for adult chat line
|
| the most dangerous type,and,
| |
| | services -- racking up a huge phone bill
|
| 2. Advertising spyware or adware... less
| |
| | for us and a skim of the premium for the
|
| of a threat.
| |
| | perpetrator.
|
| Here, we'll be looking at the different
| |
| | VI. Tracking Cookies
|
| types of surveillance spyware, how we get
| |
| | Simple cookies are issued by a web server
|
| infected, what can happen and the next
| |
| | and contain small amounts of data, such
|
| step for protection...
| |
| | as site passwords and settings for future
|
| Surveillance or Monitoring Spyware
| |
| | access. Their purpose is to make
|
| We are usually exposed to surveillance
| |
| | navigation of the website easier.
|
| spyware when we connect to the Internet.
| |
| | However, some sites issue cookies that
|
| However, this is not the only place where
| |
| | track user behavior across different
|
| we can be under its watchful eye. More
| |
| | websites, so providing marketers with
|
| and more companies are installing spyware
| |
| | private information on surfing habits,
|
| to watch employees at work to check that
| |
| | usernames and passwords, areas of
|
| the company network is not being used for
| |
| | interest, etc. These user profiles can
|
| personal use, breaches of confidentiality
| |
| | then be sold on to other marketing
|
| and abuse, etc.
| |
| | organizations or spammers.
|
| Within this surveillance spyware
| |
| | VII. System Monitors
|
| category, I have listed seven of the most
| |
| | System monitors can monitor all of our
|
| common types that can monitor our
| |
| | computer activity. They may record some
|
| computers. Let's look at each in turn...
| |
| | or all of the following...
|
| I. Trojan Horses
| |
| | Keystrokes, e-mails, chat room
|
| Trojans are one of the sneakiest of all
| |
| | conversations, instant messages, Websites
|
| malware, often downloaded on the back of
| |
| | visited, programs run, time spent, and
|
| freeware, such as a game, software
| |
| | even usernames and passwords.
|
| program or music. Once the computer is
| |
| | The information can be gathered via
|
| infected, a remote user or cracker
| |
| | remote access or sent by e-mail.
|
| (malicious hacker) can access the PC and
| |
| | The most popular system monitor in use is
|
| steal or destroy any personal, family or
| |
| | the keylogger, which records every
|
| business information.
| |
| | keystroke made on the infected PC. The
|
| More sophisticated Trojans are programmed
| |
| | saved information is usually sent
|
| to act automatically and email their data
| |
| | automatically by email to the
|
| haul to its controller.
| |
| | perpetrator.
|
| II. Browser or Home Page Hijackers
| |
| | There are also hardware keyloggers or key
|
| A browser hijacker is downloaded to our
| |
| | catchers which plug into our PCs at the
|
| PCs from web sites we visit and targets
| |
| | keyboard port, recording every keystroke
|
| any security vulnerabilities within our
| |
| | made on our PCs. Suspicious partners and
|
| web browser.
| |
| | bosses can resort to this type of
|
| The most common type is the home or start
| |
| | surveillance software to check what you
|
| page hijacker, which resets the browser's
| |
| | are doing on your computer... so, it does
|
| home page to one that can generate the
| |
| | pay to occasionally check your keyboard
|
| installer money, like ads and sales
| |
| | port for any physical devices that are
|
| links.
| |
| | unfamiliar.
|
| A second type is the toolbar hijacker
| |
| | How can you Protect Yourself from
|
| which operates from within the web
| |
| | Surveillance Spyware?
|
| browser, downloading and displaying ads
| |
| | We've heard that studies show many of us,
|
| and tracking our browsing. Internet
| |
| | unknowingly, have computers infected with
|
| Explorer (IE) is susceptible to these
| |
| | spyware capable of stealing any of our
|
| hijackers because it is plagued by
| |
| | information. Many victims don't have any
|
| security vulnerabilities.
| |
| | protection installed, and those that do
|
| At least ensure your IE patches are
| |
| | rely on an antispyware program.
|
| up-to-date or change to an alternative
| |
| | My independent tests -- and those of
|
| free browser, such as Firefox or Opera.
| |
| | other reviewers -- show that no single
|
| III. Browser Helper Object
| |
| | spyware remover will stop or remove all
|
| A genuine browser helper object (BHO) is
| |
| | spyware. So, my advice is to install two
|
| a program that acts as a plug-in to add a
| |
| | commercial and any number of free spyware
|
| useful function to our browser, such as a
| |
| | removers... aim for four to five programs
|
| password vault. However, a spyware BHO
| |
| | in total, running one each day.
|
| can display ads and monitor which
| |
| | On top of your spyware removers, if you
|
| websites we visit. This personal
| |
| | ensure you have a two-way firewall, an
|
| information is sent back to the
| |
| | antivirus with effective Trojan blocking,
|
| originator, who can target the downloaded
| |
| | plus up-to-date patches for your
|
| ads more specifically to our surfing
| |
| | software, then you're on the way to
|
| habits.
| |
| | having the most effective protection
|
| IV. Trojan Web Pages
| |
| | against spyware.
|
| A technique growing in use is the Trojan
| |
| |
|
