Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet; however, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. (Definition from www.Webopedia.com)
Quick Points about Spyware:
Like a Trojan horse, Spyware has a user unknowingly install it when they install something else.
Spyware will take up your computer's memory resources and bandwidth as it sends information back to its origin via your Internet connection. This can cause your system to crash frequently or become unstable.
Spyware has the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, and change the default home page on the Web browser.
The information retrieved by spyware is sent to the spyware author for advertising or marketing purposes or to be sold to a third-party.
A licensing agreement required for a software download may warn you that a spyware program will be installed during the installation of your desired software. However, most users will not read the licensing agreements completely and will miss the notice of a spyware installation.
Adware is a form of spyware that collects information about the user in order to display advertisements in the Web browser based on the information it collects from the user's browsing patterns. Adware is software that is given to the user with advertisements already embedded in the application. (Definition from www.Webopedia.com)
Malware is short for malicious software. It is software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus or a Trojan horse. (Definition from www.Webopedia.com)
How can you tell if spyware is running on your computer?
Unfortunatly, if you are running a Windows operating system and connecting to the Internet with Internet Explorer, you've got some form of spyware/adware on your computer. Symptoms of spyware/adware are...
...computer begins to run slowly
...ads pop up even when you don't have a web browser open
...you may experience system or program crashes
...anti-virus software may stop functioning properly or not work at all
What is your best defense?
Getting a Mac is your best defense. Although some keyloggers will run on the Mac, they require physical access to the computer for installation. Otherwise, there is currently no known spyware for the Mac.
Most spyware relies on security holes in Windows and Internet Explorer to install and function. Barring the purchase of a Mac, using a browser that has built-in popup blocking (ie. Mozilla, Firefox, Netscape, Opera – basically any browser other than Internet Explorer) is a good way to stop popups. However, this does not stop many forms of spyware/malware.
To further protect your computer, use a detection/removal utility from a reputable company. Ad-Aware by Lavasoft <http://www.lavasoftusa.com> is an excellent tool. It comes in a free version and a pay version. The pay version adds the ability to scan for spyware/adware/malware continuously much the way anti-virus programs scan for viruses. The free version requires the user to launch the program and initiate it each time the user wishes to scan. McAfee offers AntiSpyware which scans for spyware, adware, and malware in realtime.
