| Do you sometimes notice your computer running | | | | Agreement) not to monitor users without their |
| slower. Is your computer acting strange almost | | | | knowledge and consent. READ - READ - |
| like its possessed? Well, it just may be plagued | | | | READ.Common Terms Used in the Article:Adware |
| with Spyware. Spyware is a common term for | | | | tracking cookies trigger the most common form |
| files that are installed on your system without | | | | of pop-up ads. Cookies that reside on your PC |
| your knowledge. It allows companies to monitor | | | | serve up pop-up ads related to the site you are |
| your Internet activity. Believe it or not, Spyware | | | | visiting and expose your personal information or |
| is now the leading threat to our computers, and | | | | online activities. The more cookies you have on |
| our online privacy. It's ahead of viruses.Spyware | | | | your PC, the more pop-ups you'll see.Spyware |
| programs work behind the scenes, collecting and | | | | applications often install a new search toolbar on a |
| sending information about your browsing habits; | | | | system with the intention of hijacking searches |
| and interfering with the normal operation of your | | | | for search terms. Works behind the scene |
| machine. They can add toolbars that you didn't | | | | collecting personal data.Dialers can initiate outgoing |
| request, run programs, and even alter your | | | | calls from your PC to 900 numbers with the sole |
| system settings.Aware, or advertising-supported | | | | intention of generating large phone bills charged to |
| software, is any software application in which | | | | that phone line. Dialers can also change your |
| advertisements are displayed while a program is | | | | dial-up settings to an international or 900 number, |
| running. It is commonly know as pop ups. System | | | | instead of your local Internet dial-up number Spies |
| Monitors can keep track of every keystroke that | | | | intentionally 'misuse' monitoring software. Here's an |
| you make on your computer. Yep! Credit card | | | | excellent article on Auto- Dialers. Established spy |
| numbers, bank account information, and | | | | software companies usually ask purchasers to |
| everything else that you don't want to share with | | | | agree through a EULA (End User License |
| thieves.Adware is not a virus and may not be | | | | Agreement) not to monitor users without their |
| detected by anti-virus scanning programs. It does | | | | knowledge and consent. You guessed it- most |
| not spread the same way as most viruses | | | | spies have absolutely no intention of letting users |
| spread. Many users do not know they are | | | | know they are under surveillance. Unidentified toll |
| downloading a free program along with adware | | | | charges will appear on your phone bill.Trojan |
| onto their computer. Some spyware is clever | | | | horses are a malicious, security breaking programs |
| enough to hide in your hard drive. For those who | | | | disguised as something benign. Deleting history and |
| haven't yet had an encounter with spyware, | | | | computer use logs does nothing against true |
| count your blessings and hope your time never | | | | spyware. While erasing usage history is useful to |
| comes. Be careful. Don't just download programs | | | | protect your privacy, this type of protection is |
| that are free, or sound too good to be true. We | | | | useless if your activity is being logged or |
| all know that anything that's sounds too good to | | | | snapshots are being taken of your computer use. |
| be true, usually is.!!What is Adware?Adware is any | | | | Deleting history, files, cache and cookies cannot, |
| software application that has the ability to display | | | | and will not, protect you against the prying eyes |
| advertisements on your computer. Some adware | | | | of active spies on your machine.Anti-Spyware |
| may track your surfing habits. These ads may be | | | | Software Programs - Free DownloadsThere are |
| displayed in many forms, including pop-up, | | | | numerous free programs that can be downloaded. |
| pop-under and banner ads. Remember, adware | | | | Get some good anti-spyware software as soon |
| that tracks your movements and generates a | | | | as possible. Run them frequently. Check the list |
| profile of your habits should be regarded as a | | | | below for some Free downloads.Online guide to |
| threat or risk to your online security. Using your | | | | Spy & Anti-Spy Software |
| information without your knowledge is an invasion | | | | an insidious pest that Spybot and Ad-aware can't |
| of privacy.How Does it Work?Adware watches as | | | | stop. |
| you surf the internet and disrupts visits by | | | | Anti-Spyware Beta |
| popping up context-related promotions right on | | | | Web bug elements in email messages without |
| top of the screen, causing you to second guess | | | | having to turn off HTML. |
| your next online move. Stay on one website, or | | | | Ware Doctor |
| click on the pop-up and go to a new site. Adware | | | | resources and downloads |
| is "a form of spyware that collects information | | | | Final NoteBe suspicious if you are offered a free |
| about the user in order to display advertisements | | | | demo version that requires you to pay for the full |
| in the Web browser based on the information it | | | | version before it will remove any spyware it finds |
| collects from the user's browsing patterns."There | | | | on your system. The best anti-spyware software |
| are scores of Antivirus programs readily available | | | | is totally free and you get the full working version. |
| today. They can sometimes catch spyware and | | | | Only use anti-spyware that has been |
| for the most part do a fair job. The best two | | | | recommended by a trusted source. There are |
| products in my opinion for detecting spyware are | | | | many scammers out there doing a convincing job |
| Spybot and Ad-aware and are both available as | | | | of representing themselves as legit.Don't be |
| free download. Both are dedicated anti-spyware | | | | tricked by similar, look a like products. Here is one |
| products.How Spyware Gets Into Your | | | | I ran across some time ago: At first you would |
| SystemSpyware files are often combined | | | | think its Ad-ware, but after a second look it's |
| together with other software downloads so users | | | | Ada-ware instead of the excellent anti-spyware |
| don't even know they're getting these programs. | | | | product Ad-aware. They are every so clever and |
| Or you unwittingly invite them into your systems, | | | | are constantly finding ways to infect are systems. |
| believing you are getting something else. So sad, | | | | The spread of spyware has become much more |
| but oh so true! With just one innocent click of the | | | | than a nuisance. It has now reached the level of |
| mouse you can unleash a vicious program | | | | an epidemic. Some spyware is relatively harmless. |
| masquerading as anti-spyware, but is actually an | | | | However, a good deal of spyware can be very |
| unwanted program. Spyware can make your life | | | | dangerous, leaking your very private and |
| miserable. It can and will make everything you try | | | | confidential information to scammers and other |
| to do possible to prevent its removal. It can block | | | | people. Knowing how spyware works and which |
| the downloading of genuine real anti-spyware | | | | programs to fight spyware with are both |
| software. It can substitute one of its own | | | | important.The safest way to remain free from |
| advertising pop-up pages every time you open | | | | spyware is to use one or more anti-spy |
| your browser. It can prevent the download of | | | | programs that actively scan your system for |
| pop-up blocking software; and the list goes on. | | | | intrusion and utilities that help inoculate your |
| Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users | | | | system from penetration. Good anti-spy |
| unknowingly install the product when they install | | | | programs will use a variety of methods for |
| something else.Spyware applications are typically | | | | detection including registry scanning, signatures, |
| bundled as a hidden component of freeware or | | | | windows titles and other that spyware leaves on |
| shareware programs that can be downloaded | | | | your machine.Even with anti-spy software |
| from the Internet. However, it should be noted | | | | programs active, do not develop a false sense of |
| that the majority of shareware and freeware | | | | security. The battle to contain these programs |
| applications do not come with spyware. Once | | | | rages on a daily basis. One lapse in security can |
| installed, the spyware monitors user activity on | | | | lead to unwanted infection. So above all- use |
| the Internet and transmits that information in the | | | | common sense. Don't download files or open |
| background to someone else. Spyware can also | | | | e-mail attachments from sites you don't know or |
| gather information about e-mail addresses, and | | | | trust. Be sure you have good anti-virus and |
| even passwords and credit card numbers. Aside | | | | firewall software running at all timesAlways make |
| from the questions of ethics and privacy, | | | | sure that any website that you make purchases |
| spyware steals from the user by using the | | | | on uses a secure server. The Web address |
| computer's memory resources and also by eating | | | | should start with https:// rather than just http:// |
| bandwidth as it sends information back to the | | | | and there should be a padlock visible on the |
| spyware's home base via the user's Internet | | | | bottom of your browser window. Spyware may |
| connection. Because spyware is using memory | | | | be sold under legitimate pretenses. Because of |
| and system resources, the applications running in | | | | this legitimacy these programs are often missed |
| the background can lead to system crashes or | | | | by anti-virus software designed to target viruses |
| general system instability.Pop-up AdsPop-up ads | | | | and Trojan horses.Blogs If you are a blogger the |
| turn up when you launch a web site, and as you | | | | information should be of interest to you.Hackers |
| browse the internet. Pop-ups come in different | | | | are using blogs to infect computers with spyware, |
| forms, but they generally want to sell you | | | | exposing serious security flaws in self-publishing |
| something. By clicking anywhere in this type of | | | | tools used by millions of people on the Web. I |
| pop-up window, you may trigger a spyware install | | | | would explain what a blog is.Blogs Carry Spyware |
| off your radar in the background. Illegitimate | | | | Infections This is just too icky."Hackers are using |
| pop-ups can perform programs and are | | | | blogs to infect computers with spyware, exposing |
| downloaded without your knowledge or consent. | | | | serious security flaws in self-publishing tools used |
| A similar pop-up ploy asks you to accept a | | | | by millions of people on the Web.The problem |
| download, and then won't stop popping up until | | | | involves the use of JavaScript and ActiveX, two |
| you do what they want. Many users have low | | | | common methods used to launch programs on a |
| internet security settings and these low settings | | | | Web page. Security experts said malicious |
| allow the operating system to perform various | | | | programmers can use JavaScript and ActiveX to |
| activities on your computer without letting you | | | | automatically deliver spyware from a blog to |
| know beforehand. Don't be fooled. Pop-ups could | | | | people who visit the site with a vulnerable Web |
| install spyware on your PC to capture and | | | | browser.Spyware tools also have been hidden |
| transmit your personal data across the internet. | | | | inside JavaScript programs that are offered freely |
| Or it could be adware, another form of | | | | on the Web for bloggers to enhance their sites |
| spyware.Common sense tips for avoiding | | | | with features such as music. As a result, bloggers |
| spyware:If a program looks too good to be true, | | | | who use infected tools could unwittingly turn their |
| it probably is.Practice safe surfingBeware of | | | | sites into a delivery platform for |
| cookies, be cautiousSecure your browserDelete all | | | | spyware."Reference URL: Is your blog a |
| spamBeware of peer-to-peer file sharing | | | | carrier?References: TO REPUBLISH: This article |
| servicesRun anti-spyware software dailyBe | | | | may be republished in newsletters and on web |
| extremely cautious when considering a download | | | | sites provided attribution is provided to the |
| of any kind. It's hard to tell the good guys from | | | | author, and it appears with the included copyright, |
| the bad guys today. Many legitimate free | | | | resource box and live web site link. Copyright |
| programs include spyware in their | | | | © 2005 - Mike Pulli All rights reserved. E-mail |
| downloads.Important - Read the license | | | | notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not |
| agreement carefully before proceeding. Established | | | | required: mail to: Copyright © 2005 - Mike |
| spy software companies usually ask purchasers | | | | Pulli. All rights reserved. |
| to agree through a EULA (End User License | | | | |