Research into the spyware infections has tended to focus on the protection of computers as opposed to a proactive approach to dealing with the creators. This is one of the criticisms that have been attached to the model for internet security. You cannot expect to contribute to the management of viruses if you are always at the mercy of some unknown elements that are trying to attack at opportune moments. Behavioral analysis is critical to creating the right safeguards just in case the system is attached. The naming conventions are also confusing because they may not identify the real culprits who are behind the schemes. Families are nevertheless important for the classification of this malware so that similar behavior can be monitored and controlled. One of the examples this confusion is the Gator family which is distributed by a single source known as Claria. It would be better if the source was attacked even before there are opportunities to cause havoc. In any case we consider the recent spyware infection below. Cool Web Search: A group of programs has been designed to take advantage of the problems that are associated with the Internet explorer. This was originally designed as a pilot scheme but has stayed on as an alternative to Mozilla Firefox. Unfortunately the program makers have not yet got round to clearing some of the security issues that have been closely associated with the program. This makes it difficult to create effective protective systems. Traffic will be forcibly redirected to the source page and it then pollutes the browser with pop-up ads. The search engine results are rewritten in such a way as to favor the brands which would otherwise not have made it in the Google algorithm. The host file on the computer that has done the search will be affected such that the DNS lookups end up going to this website. As a commercial menace, this program is as bad as it gets. The Internet Optimizer: Although its name appears to be benign, this is one of the most harmful programs when you are online. In layman terms it is known as the DyFuCa infection and will change IE error pages so that they land on...
Read MoreSpyware is a malware program that utilizes your internet connection, without your knowledge, to collect and send out information to other computers/databases about your recent internet activity (i.e. downloads, most visited sites, home address, phone number, etc.) The software is most often associated with corporate gain and its intention is to advertise to the user without the user actually visiting their personal web site. Spyware first reared its ugly head in the mid nineties and has been exponentially appearing on personal computers ever since. All of your computer usage habits and history are susceptible to the software and is stolen without your knowledge and can be very difficult to detect without the proper software. Spyware varies and operates in several different ways to perform different functions such as: Hi-jacking, which causes your computer to navigate on its own Redirection to different web sites Allows for satellite (off site) users to control your computer Causes your computer to call expensive 900 numbers Respond to personal ads without your knowledge Change the setting of your homepage Record and obtain your banking information Steal any log in Identifications and passwords Download content without your permission Spyware integrates itself onto your personal computer in many different ways. It can attach itself to a downloaded program, or the majority of the time it appears when you activate a “pop up” that claims that you are required to install a file or plug-in. When you are prompted to download such items, always be weary and proceed with caution as this is the most common method of spyware transmission to your personal computer. This particular form of spyware is referred to as “adware” and is associated with software programs that push advertisements and redirect the user to the web site in question. Adware is most often associated with pop-up windows, and often you can’t get rid of them by trying to close the window. When you are tricked into downloading these documents, that particular method of transmission of spyware is referred to as the Trojan horse method and is seen most frequently. There is another form of spyware which is referred to as a “key logger” that is intentionally installed by a shared user, a manager,...
Read MoreThere is one threat in the internet that computer users should guard against. It is the threat of spyware programs that most PC users are not aware of. Spyware is bad for your computer as it can do much harm similar to or more than viruses can. Here’s how, why, and what to do. Unlike viruses, spyware programs can easily invade your system without you knowing it. This is because most computer users think that their anti-virus protection is enough to shield their system from threats. What these people do not know is the fact that spyware programs can pass through one’s anti-virus protection and enter the system to do its harmful business. To understand the threat of spyware programs better, a computer user must realize that spyware can come in multitude of forms. They enter one’s system through the internet. A user may innocently download a program from the internet unconscious that together with the downloaded program is the spyware program that is ready to destroy one’s files or invade one’s privacy. Spyware programs can also dramatically reduce or cripple the performance of a user’s PC. How to Prevent Spyware Programs The best weapon to fight against spyware programs is to prevent them from entering one’s PC. You can do this by installing a comprehensive security program in your PC that has the ability to protect your computer from a multitude of security threats such as virus, spyware, and adware. Once installed, you also need to regularly scan your computer to detect these threats. PC users should also exercise all caution in downloading files from the internet. As innocent as a file or program may look, it can contain the dangerous spyware that is ready to trounce on your system. And unless you have the latest anti-spyware that your computer needs, you are risking the health and security of your computer including your very own private information. What to Do When Your Computer is Already Infected with Spyware But how do you know if your computer is already infected and what to do to remove the spyware? Your computer may be infected already when you experience the following: slow down of your computer, frequent system and program crashes, unauthorized...
Read MoreWhen you browse the internet, spyware programs lurk and you never know when they will invade your system. They will usually silently creep into your system and without you knowing it, they have started to wreak havoc, destroying some applications and intruding into your privacy. They will also bombard you with unwanted pop-ups or redirect you to websites that you don’t want to go to. Worst, spyware may even steal your personal identity and use it maliciously. Computer experts disclose that 90% of computers are infected by spyware programs with the users not knowing that their computers are infected. This happens because one needs a separate uitlity to be able to detect spyware infections. Spyware are hardly detected by anti-virus programs. Here are some of the things that will tell you that your computer has spyware: You see frequent pop-up windows containing advertisements whether you’re online or working offline; Your computer slows down; the performance has been dramatically reduced; Frequent website redirects especially to websites that are considered as affiliates or with marketing content; Frequent unauthorized changes in your home page and searches; Unauthorized and unwanted toolbars like Mirar toolbar that are added to your browser. Don’t fret. You can do something about these spyware and prevent them from attacking your computer. Here are useful tips to prevent and delete spyware from your computer: You need a reliable anti-spyware program that will be able to scan your computer and detect and remove the spyware from your computer. There are many programs to choose from when your browse the internet. It is essential that you choose a reliable program. As much as possible avoid the freeware anti-spyware as they have limited capabilities and some are even used as a disguise by spyware. The moment you download these spyware in disguise, they will bring more harm than good. After you have downloaded the anti-spyware software, you need to run a full system scan of your computer to detect spyware that may have entered your system already. Once detected, these spyware will be removed from your system. For maintenance and prevention, you need to enable the real time protection and run a full system scan from time to time. For more effective...
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