Recently, I was approached by a number of residents inquiring about: the mysterious appearances of uninstallable icons, offline popup ads, and sudden drops in computer performance. If you or someone you know is experiencing some variations of these problems, there is a good chance that they probably have some sort of spyware on their computers.
Spyware by definition is a program that is installed onto a computer via the Internet unbeknownst to the user. Some spyware are bundled with certain applications and can be inadvertently installed as part of any normal software installation process, so make sure you read the End User Licensing Agreement (EULA) before you install anything! Unlike viruses, the majority of spyware out there are relatively harmless and do not pose any significant threats to users.
There are many kinds of spyware that can exist on your system:
- Adware – can send you a barrage of targeted popup advertisements
- Malware – can change computer system configurations and files which may cause your machine to fail
- Keyloggers – can record every keystroke you make on the keyboard
- Browser Hijackers – can change browser settings (i.e. change your start page), and even make the Internet inaccessible
- Dialers – can secretly disconnect users on a dial-up Internet connection and reconnect them to the phone line to make long distance or 1-900 phone calls, resulting in an enormous phone bill for the user
- Collectors – collect information on surfing habits, personal information and send the information to advertisers and criminals
DETECT & REMOVE
If spyware is present in your computer, you will notice some or all of the following symptoms when you use your computer:
- High-speed Internet connection has become unbearably slow.
- Frequent pop-up ads appearing when you are not on the Internet and Internet Explorer has not been started.
- Homepage has been changed automatically since you last used it.
- Computer performance has decreased.
- New icons appearing on the desktop and in menu toolbars.
- Internet settings may have been altered.
To remove spyware from your computer, there are software packages available for download. You should install and use more than one. The cost of the software ranges between free to $50. Here are some of the ones that I recommend you consider installing onto your machine:
Microsoft Anti-spyware (BETA)
- Detects and rates spyware by risk factor and recommends: quarantine, removal, or ignore
- Provides a detailed definition of spyware detected
- Resets any Internet settings that have been altered
- Automatically updates spyware definitions over the Internet
- Free of charge from Microsoft
This version works quite well, but it is a beta version, meaning that the program may still be “buggy”, so use with caution. The official release version will come out sometime around the middle of the year and will be offered to all authentic Windows users, free of charge.
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.3
- Free of charge to use, donations are welcomed
- Detects and removes adware and collectors
- Supports over 30 different languages
- Updates over the web to ensure that it catches everything
Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.05
- Effective at detecting and removing: hijackers, cookies, collectors, adware, and Malware
- Software updates accessible over the web
- Free for Non-commercial use
- For additional protection and features: Ad-Aware SE Plus ($40) or Ad-Aware SE Professional Edition ($50)
- Free access to support forums and e-mail tech support
Spy Sweeper 3.5
- Scans, detects and removes or quarantines various types of spyware
- Actively monitors and shields the computer from spyware
- Free to try for 30 days, afterwards, costs $35.00 for one year subscription
- Software updates available over the web
PREVENTION
If you have recently purchased a new computer or have already ran a scanner to detect and rid yourself of any spyware, you should, if you run Windows XP (Professional or Home Edition), turn on your built-in firewall. You can get the instructions on how-to do this by clicking here. Guys and gals who have already been using Windows XP should, if they have not already done so, install Service Pack 2 by clicking on Windows Update. This critical update replaces the old Firewall program with a tougher version. Otherwise, you should install one of the following free firewall applications:
- Kerio Personal Firewall 4
Free 30 trial for full version, afterwards reverts to limited free edition. Free of charge for personal and non-commercial use. Limited Free Edition does not provide content filtering (i.e. pop-up ad filtering, etc.). For more comparative information between each product edition, you can click here.
Remember, there is no 100% guarantee that these solutions will catch and solve all of your Internet pests, but at the very least they will definitely help mitigate any problems that you could get. For additional software downloads, check out the Spychecker website by clicking here. To stay abreast on all the lastest spyware news and threats, you can point your browser to: Topix or the aptly named spyware guide.
Got any questions, comments, complaints, suggestions etc. e-mail me by clicking here or at: gb.technobytes@gmail.com, anytime.
See you soon,
~ GeekBoy
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