Bits and Bytes: Spyware - Adware - Viruses - Opinion 250 - News for Northern and Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada

Bits and Bytes: Spyware - Adware - Viruses

Sunday, May 13, 2007 03:49 AM

If your children regularly use your computer, they may be visiting sites or downloading files that could be exposing your computer to spyware and other unwanted software.

Types of downloads that may contain spyware :

Free games downloaded from the Internet
Music, movies, and other software file-sharing programs downloaded from the Internet or from other computers
Animated characters for your desktop
Free screen savers downloaded from the Internet
Toolbars for your Internet browser
Free pop-up blockers that appear on your computer when you are online

Not all of the programs listed above will contain unwanted software. The key to helping prevent the installation of spyware is to download programs only from sources you trust and to read all security warnings, license or user agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download or install on your computer.

If your computer starts to behave strangely or displays any of the symptoms listed below, you may have spyware or other unwanted software installed on your computer.

I see pop-up advertisements all the time - Some unwanted software will bombard you with pop-up ads that aren’t related to a particular Web site you’re visiting. These ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable. If you see pop-up ads as soon as you turn on your computer or when you’re not even browsing the Web, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your computer.

My settings have changed and I can’t change them back to the way they were - Some unwanted software has the ability to change your home page or search page settings. This means that the page that opens first when you start your Internet browser or the page that appears when you select "search" may be pages that you do not recognize. Even if you know how to adjust these settings, you may find that they revert back every time you restart your computer.

My Web browser contains additional components that I don’t remember downloading - Spyware and other unwanted software can add additional toolbars to your Web browser that you don’t want or need. Even if you know how to remove these toolbars, they may return each time you restart your computer.

My computer seems sluggish - Spyware and other unwanted software are not necessarily designed to be efficient. The resources these programs use to track your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer and errors in the software can make your computer crash. If you notice a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes, or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks, you may have spyware or other unwanted software on your machine.

There is a lot of confusion regarding the definitions of spyware, adware and viruses – Quite often these terms are used interchangeably but there are distinct differences between them.

SPYWARE
Spyware consists of computer software that gathers information about a computer user, including usernames and passwords for websites such as on-line banking, and then transmits this information to an external entity without the knowledge or informed consent of the user. This is one of the primary methods used to obtain email addresses and then to start spamming the address.

ADWARE
Adware can be classified as any program on your computer that connects to the Internet and uses your computer to host advertisements and maybe even transmit advertisements to other computers. The Adware program may cause endless pop-ups to occur on your computer every time you use it.

VIRUSES
Viruses generally aim to carry a payload of some kind. This may do some damage to the user’s system (such as, for example, deleting certain files), may make the machine vulnerable to further attacks by opening up a "back door", or may put the machine under the control of malicious third parties for the purposes of spamming or denial of service attacks. The virus will in almost every case also seek to replicate itself onto other computers. In other words, it functions not only as a parasite, but as an infection as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

It will take less than 5 seconds to obtain your banking information if you are not properly protected and you use your computer for online banking?
Spyware can be prevented – Not simply removed.

Most “computer” experts will not prevent spyware and adware from returning as they are guaranteed future work. I have a serious ethical and moral objection to this practice.

Steve Staves is the owner of Premier Computer Care Inc. You can reach him at www.pc-care.ca or by phone 250-562-2273 for more information on how to keep your computer free of adware, spyware and virus infections.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Sunday, May 13, 2007 03:49 AM in Technology by Steve Staves

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: Zar on May 13 2007 11:37 AM

Great article, but I thought it might be helpful to add my two bits. Until recently, I've had a Windows machine, which is used when I absolutely required it. I'm now considering selling it, but that's another story.

When using Windows, there are free software products which prevent various Windows' based infections. Adaware, Spybot, Spywareblaster and Trend Micro Housecall are all no-cost programs that can keep a system running free and clean if you must run the Windows OS.

To find most of these just "Google" the particular name and download it. Run www.trendmicro.com "Housecall" (a free web-based program) first to clean up your machine. Then install the aforementioned free malware detection and destruction programs, run them from time to time ~ you should be good to go.

Here's a link to the free scan [url]http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/free_security_tools/housecall_free_scan.php[url]
(Hope that worked.)

Another way to avoid the constant attacks by spyware and adware is to use a new Macintosh Intel based computer. Thus far on the Mac OS I've not had a single instance of infection with this particular OS.

I now have an Intel Mac OS computer, which means I must use prevention and detection when using the Windows OS on it. But, I only need Windows from time to time on it, as most software is now on different OS's. No spyware prevention software needed thus far as none has been detected for the Mac OS.

In the future, when contemplating a new computer, consider the Mac OS, it's incrementally higher cost is not that expensive when compared to the cost of time (inconvenience) by continually running malware prevention programs.

With the Mac OS I am basically free of this chore. As a Mac user, I have installed an free anti-virus detection program, Clamxav. I use it to detect infected files so when I send items to Window based OS associates, I won't infection their computer.

Posted by: bohemian on May 13 2007 2:30 PM

Everything Zar says is excellent, except the "incrementally higher cost" bit.

When hardware specs to hardware specs are compared, the mac wins hands down.

Beyond the time element Zar refers to, there is no need to purchase anti-virus programs, so the true cost of computing is cheaper than a PC.

Add in the iLife suite of programs for stuff people like to do at home and you're getting a MUCH better deal with a Mac.

Need to run windows? Use bootcamp or Parallels, and you can run EVERYTHING (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, etc.).

There is a reason Apple shares have doubled in 6 months, and it's not just iPod. Their sales of Macs has increased 35% while the industry as a whole is at around 8%.

Posted by: Steve Staves on May 13 2007 4:35 PM

It is easy to say "Buy a Mac"! The fact of the matter is a vast majority of people are using PC based computers and need solutions to what they currently use. Not everyone can and will consider a Mac alternative and because of PC's owning a majority of the industry, they are inherently more susceptible to the nefarious working of spyware writers.
As the Mac share grows � So too will the problems associated with Mac�s. They are not immune, no operating system is � Writers are spyware, adware and viruses simply target the operating system where they will get the most bang for their buck.

Posted by: Zar on May 13 2007 8:06 PM

I agree with both Bohemian and Steve . I used a Mac years ago, went to the PC because it was the main OS.

When I got tired of tinkering with my PC (it's fun if one is a tinkerer), I switched to the Mac OS. There is a cost of time in the maintenance of both OS's, but I agree with Bohehmian the time cost for Mac OS is much less.

Tinkering was enjoyable on my own Windows machine, but when I became enough of an expert, I became the one my friends, relatives and neighbours would call to help them.

Switching to a Mac, I use linux too, became necessary for my type of work, which is consulting - because maintaining a Windows machine became too much work.

Ultimately I told my relatives and friends that if they'd switch to the Mac OS, I would help them with any issues that might arise - I refused to help them otherwise. I just got tired of cleaning up the adware and viri circulating on that platform.

As for Steve's comments on the Mac OS catching up with Windows with infections, he's probably right in a sense. It will happen to some extent some day, but clearly it's not susceptible to Windows malware now.

In fact, as I understand it, Symantec and other malware protection solutions on the Mac OS are only for PC malware, not Mac OS ones. Yes, there are no Mac infections that I've heard of.

I wrote a response to the above article not to start a platform war, but to add some help for Windows users faced with a slow computer - the nice thing is there is a choice today, actually numerous choices with linux OS varients as well.

To each his own, I just prefer to spend my time using my machine productively and not battling the barrage of junk that seems to want to infect a computer.

If you can afford an IT department, you probably can afford Windows. If your like me and can't afford IT help try a Mac - you can throw in linux and Windows too when absolutely necessary.

Posted by: Zar on May 13 2007 8:09 PM

Oh yeah, one more freeware I'd recommend is AVG Antivirus. Just Google it, download it and you've got one more layer of protection on Windows.

Posted by: bohemian on May 14 2007 7:24 AM

"As the Mac share grows � So too will the problems associated with Mac�s"

No, because it's not just about share, it's about inherent security.

The web is mostly powered by Linux servers. Where are all the viruses?

Here's more on the "security by obscurity" myth:

http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q2.07/616874CC-35CE-49D3-B859-C2719B6FF352.html

Posted by: Steve Staves on May 14 2007 8:02 AM

Zar - Your input and information is definitely appreciated and does throw a "Nice" light on things so you are most certainly not seen as starting a "Flame" war :)

Discussions on security are necessary to awaken people to the realities of security flaws and bugs. There is, without a doubt, a very serious flaw in Microsoft operating systems - There is no disputing or denying that fact. I guess that is why I support Microsoft based platforms - As long as I do, I am employable :)

I can also say, that the typical home owner can have their PC almost completely protected (I say almost because if a hacker wants in, and they are good, they will get in). What irks me in the computer industry and also why I decided to start my own business is that computers are improperly configured from start up. They are wide open to attack and this sets up users to an unfortunate PC experience. Microsoft says that they opened everything up to allow software writers integration with Windows but ... That attitude has cost them dearly in terms of security.

The "Mac vs. PC" adds are wonderful renditions of the true nature of things at present - Especially the Windows Vista one with the guy standing in the background popping up every few seconds ... No, I have not yet switches to Vista and it will be a while before I do, strictly because of business reasons and far too many peripherals and software that will not work under Vista. I will be doing an article on Vista next ...

Posted by: Zar on May 14 2007 4:35 PM

Steve,
Thanks for taking my comments in the constructive light in which they were intended. I agree, it is unfortunate Microsoft ships its OS in a such a wide open manner. Folks would do much better if it was locked down tighter.

These darned machines ought to be an assistant to our work, rather than a hinderance and pain they too often become.

I understand that Vista is a better product, but requires new hardware to be up to par in terms of performance. It's good you are able to help folks out with issues with computers, heaven knows there are plenty of issues to sort out.

Thanks for your column.