Spy-ware and Ad-ware

Is software installed on a computer that can alter browser settings and track everything consumers do online with the express purpose of targeting them with pop-up ads. Consumer frustrations are mounting against the nearly impossible-to-uninstall software. www.mediapost.com/dtls_dsp_news.cfm?newsID=244488

 I think that Spy-ware and Ad-ware constitute the greatest threat and nuisance on a day to day basis as the onslaught of viruses seems to be a periodic threat in the main, that is not to say that there are times when you can’t fall victim to a virus, just that it seems to quieten down for a while although there are always old viruses circulating all the time. Spy-ware is with us all day everyday.

It is a growing threat and is rather understated in its effect. Apart from security issues having large amounts of Spy-ware on your computer will have the effect of slowing it down considerably. If you find that your computer is running much slower than it should and/or the hard disk is churning away all the time you must suspect Spy-ware. The most notorious in this respect is from a company called Gain software using—Date Manager and Precision Time. Both programmes purport to keep your computer clock up to date, perhaps they do, but they seem to use your computers processor most of the time and will both be rejected as Spy-ware by the programmes that I  recommend. They can be uninstalled via Windows Uninstaller in the Control Panel. Bridge is another that you should uninstall, it seems to create pop up Internet Explorer windows when online. If you find any of these applications installed on your computer—Go to Start®Control Panel®if using Windows XP click Switch to Classic View and open Add Remove Programmes. Scroll through and uninstall these programmes.

Ad-ware tracks an individual's surfing habits and sends that information to a third party for analysis and use in marketing campaigns, I think that is something that I am not comfortable about as your name is readily available on your computer. Both make modifications to a system, such as changing Windows registry settings, adding services and installing and executing applications

You should know what programmes should be shown when you open Add/Remove in the Control Panel, also when you press CTRL + ALT + DEL (Running processes) so the if something new appears that should not be there you can uninstall it. (Be careful here, seek advice) Keep a close eye on the Dialup Network folder, making that no new connections that you are not aware about have appeared, if there are delete them.

Along with Spy-ware is the nuisance of Ad-ware, this target you with appropriate or inappropriate advertising in the form of window popping up while online.

There are quite a few programmes that will deal with both these threats and the ones that I recommend are:

See You Must Have These page

AdAware www.lavasoftusa.com

Spybot www.safer-networking.org  

Spywareblaster www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Microsoft's own www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

I suggest that you install all three on your computer for maximum protection and it won’t cost a penny. Say yes to all the protection. Run Adaware and Spybot every couple of days update all three programs twice a week or if your computer seems to be running slowly. (Spyware Blaster doesn't scan your computer it seems to act like a vaccine, preventing  mal-ware from being installed in the first place.

I hope that I haven’t put you off using the internet and email, that is not my intention, if you take the measures that I have suggested you should be reasonably safe. All these measures do have a downside, they will prevent you accessing some content on the internet and programmes like Kazar or Win MX may not function & they will bring Spy-ware into your computer. Some information on

the internet will be blocked as well, the details of which you will have to find out for your selves. The answer to the above disadvantages can be got around by what may not be immediately obvious, use a second computer that is less well protected. You only need a cheap second hand computer for the internet with minimal software on it. If this computer does fall victim to all the mal-ware that I have described and becomes unusable, it is a simple matter to format the hard drive and reload the software, this way your precious state of the art computer that cost a fortune will be safe and you can sleep easy.  In one issue of Computer Active there was an article on Spy-ware and they stated that 95% of computer crashes was due to Spy-ware, it might have been an exaggeration but it it certainly is a major cause so if your computer starts running very slow or keep crashing especially online this may be the cause.

Pop-ups, windows that constantly pop-up when you enter a website. These can be dealt with very effectively by Google’s toolbar, this is the only toolbar you should have, get rid of any other companies.