| This week we will be focusing on Spyware. | | | | If you use P2P file sharing programs then the |
| Exactly What Is Spyware? | | | | chances of your system becoming infected are |
| We wanted to go into a little more detail on this | | | | substantially increased, in fact I would say it's |
| whole spyware thing because we talk about it so | | | | inevitable. |
| often. Ninety-nine percent of what goes wrong in an | | | | Prevention |
| internet connected PC is caused by spyware, right? | | | | The obvious answer to free downloads and P2P file |
| Wrong. Spyware gets a bad press. It certainly | | | | sharing problems is not to use these programs or |
| deserves it, but the term has become too | | | | download software that we are not familiar with the |
| generalized, and this can be frustrating for both | | | | source. Will we do this, I would doubt it. So what else |
| technicians and end users alike. | | | | can we do to prevent this from happening and our |
| Spyware often manifests itself in the following ways: | | | | systems becoming infected? |
| Popups appear when you're not even connected to | | | | This is going to be painful, I know. But keeping your |
| the Internet. | | | | system free of spyware takes a little effort coupled |
| Strange toolbars appear on your browser that you | | | | with some helpful tips. |
| did not install. | | | | Use a good firewall, anti-virus solution & spyware |
| Your homepage has changed and you cannot change | | | | scanner. Never open email if you don't recognize the |
| it back. | | | | sender. Install McAfee's free site advisor & |
| You system crashes or takes forever to load. | | | | spoofstick to prevent phising scams. |
| So I have Spyware. Now what? | | | | McAfee's site advisor is an excellent way to be |
| Just about everyone gets spyware on their system | | | | alerted of potentially dangerous sites. Its quick, it's |
| at some time or another. The question is, 'how do | | | | free and it works. More and more sites are being |
| you get rid of it?' Depending on the severity of the | | | | submitted for testing every day. Just type, 'Site |
| infection, reformatting and a clean install of the | | | | advisor,' into Googles search engine to find the |
| operating system may be the only sure way to | | | | download. |
| know it's gone. | | | | Spoof stick will alert you with just a quick glance to |
| We do this for several reasons, but the most | | | | any spoof (fake)websites. It will also work when |
| important is that you know the spyware is gone and | | | | clicking on any links in an email etc. This should help |
| prevention can be used to keep the system clean. | | | | you steer clear of banking scams, identity theft etc. |
| If reformatting and reinstalling isnt a desired option, | | | | Again Google it for the free download. |
| then check out some of the free spyware scanners | | | | Make sure you have your system set to |
| such as adaware or spybot sd. Personally I use | | | | automatically receive updates & patches. Scan |
| Counterspy which is an excellent scanner at a very | | | | your system about once a week & remove any |
| competitive price. | | | | nasties that you may find. I also run Kaspersky's free |
| Free Software etc | | | | online scanner once a month as an extra precaution. |
| Although there are many bonefide distributors of | | | | If you want to take your protection a step further |
| software there are also many unscrupulous sites and | | | | then have a separate hard drive installed in your |
| programmers who attach viruses and or spyware to | | | | system. Its quick, relatively cheap, offers extra |
| their 'free programs.' | | | | protection and gives us more space to store our |
| If you consistently install software from the internet | | | | data etc. |
| without checking it out first then it is only a matter | | | | Once installed then simply make sure that anything |
| of time before your system becomes infected with | | | | you download is stored on the extra hard drive, the |
| spyware and or viruses. | | | | one not containing your operating system. |
| You may have already experienced something along | | | | Once you have it there then run right click your |
| these lines. You come across a free program that | | | | mouse and select scan with, 'the name of your virus |
| promises all sorts of benefits for you and its FREE! | | | | scanner,' and or spyware scanner and scan the file |
| How can you resist? You click on the download | | | | you just downloaded. If the file comes up clean and |
| button and if your lucky and have SP2 installed then | | | | you want to move the program to your system |
| you get the message asking you if you want to | | | | drive, the one containing the operating system then |
| install the,' active x control,' that will allow the | | | | you are as sure as you can be that it doesnt contain |
| software download. | | | | any nasties thus virtually eliminating any threat to the |
| This is where the trouble can begin. Active x controls | | | | drive containing your operating system. |
| without getting too geeky can of course be good or | | | | Of course you should run your spyware & virus |
| bad and basically you are giving permission if you | | | | scanners on this extra drive whilst doing your weekly |
| answer yes to allow this active x control to do | | | | scans. |
| whatever it wants to your system. | | | | |