security

A Beginner’s Guide to Spyware

October 17, 2007 on 12:23 pm | In Adware, Spyware, Malware, Antispyware | No Comments

Most common individuals like me have no idea of the dangers that spyware brings? Well, allow me to warn you. They are on nearly all computers that use

the Internet, especially if you enjoy the free resources of the Internet.

Spyware does not concern itself with etiquette of asking for your permission. It simply just invades with much evil intent with no respect for your privacy, and the Internet is its pathway to your computer.

A favorite trick is to install spyware when you are installing another program. Generally spyware comes from free programs offered on the Internet. These free programs are called freeware, or shareware. Technically, the spyware company has your permission, although the legal issues are not clear.

After you download your much anticipated free program, you click the installation icon. Then there is a license agreement that stands in the way of your enjoyment. So of course, just like me, you quickly select the I Agree button. And this is what makes these spyware programs legal.

White-hat spyware simply annoys you with constant pop up advertisements. But I am sure this is not just white-hat annoyance to you, but more like something you have come to hate. This is how the producers of spyware programs earn a high standard of living. Some of these white-hat spyware programs just collect your browsing behavior for companies to perform scientific online advertising analysis. Yet I agree with you on this one too, that your browsing behavior is your own business.

Then there are the true spyware villains that gather email addresses and passwords off your PC and either use them or sell your personal information to the highest bidder of the underground Internet world.

Help; Tell Me If I Have Spyware.

Here are some signs of spyware:

1) Constant random pop ups

2) Icons and toolbars just magically appear

3) Web browsing seems slower and your PC appears to have inherited a turtle gene

4) Your browser constantly goes aloft with advertising with sites.

5) Settings have changed on your PC even when your kids are not home

6) Advertisement windows are everywhere

If any of these symptoms are visible, do something!

Ok what can I do?

1) Get a reputable firewall program for your PC. If you have a Windows computer that was built within the last five years, then there is already a firewall built-in. Just make sure it is not disabled. Also virus protection software have firewalls integrated into the application.

2) Never click on popup advertisements. If you click, they will know that you are a real person, and you will just get more.

3) Stay away from free downloads. There is no such thing as free! Make sure to do some research first to determine the legitimacy of the software.

4) Keep your Windows and Browser up to date. Microsoft offers free security updates. Make sure that you update regularly.

5) Use anti-spyware software. Most virus checking programs also check for spyware. Numerous other programs are available.

Watch out for antispyware scams. These programs perpetrate themselves as legitimate software, but they are simply spyware programs. Needless to say, research to proactively guard yourself from scams such as this.

Allow the antispyware program to run on a scheduled basis, like every night when you are not usually on the computer.

.About the Author:

We are glad to have Isaiah Henry has our spyware removal software geek at RemoveSpywareandAdware.com. He works hard to give users the necessary info like the review on Spyware Doctor.

Internet Security - How Safe are You?

October 7, 2007 on 2:01 am | In Spyware, Antispyware, Internet, Internet Security, Virus, Security, Anti Spyware, Antivirus, Cybercrime, Anti Virus, Hackers, Cyber Crime, Spy Ware | No Comments

Is Your Internet Security Software

Keeping Up With The Cyber Crime Pandemic?

· Have you heard U.S. businesses lost over $67 billion to cyber crime in 2006 according to the FBI?

· Did you know that 87% of businesses suffered from some sort of cyber crime last year according to the same report?

· Approximately 15 million U.S. citizens will lose their identity this year according to the FTC

I could add that cyber crime out grew the illegal drugs business in 2006 according to the U.S. Department of Treasury, too. Needless to say we are looking at a huge problem. Many are calling the Internet security issue a pandemic.

Over the last couple of years hackers have shifted their focus from large targets to small business and individuals.

I’ll tell you why…

Small business and individuals don’t have the large sums of money needed to pay for the kind of Internet security protection used by large corporations. This makes both easier targets.

What are these two groups using to protect themselves? Generally, you find small business and individuals using over-the-counter and freeware (shareware) to protect their computers.

Over the last year, antivirus companies have attempted to counter the spyware problem, however, the fact is their code and signature files were not built to effectively remove spyware. How does this impact how well your home or business is protected? The rule for viruses is to keep them out. When it comes to spyware much more sophisticated code and scanning mechanisms are required.

Several September 2005 product reviews state that many antivirus applications have obvious deficiencies in antispyware cleaning and blocking routines. This makes it difficult to recommend these software products to individuals and businesses protecting themselves against the spyware problem. At this time, antivirus companies haven’t arrived at a solid solution.

So what are these anitvirus companies doing? Some are including some type of antispyware functionality into their products. Some vendors are selling patching and spyware combined into one. Others have mixed their spyware solution with their antivirus Bundled together, these solutions aren’t cost effective and probably deliver a lower level antispyware.

Several independent tests have shown that stand-alone antispyware products have been proven to be the most effective.

Today’s over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security products protect against specific code or signature files. Each virus has it’s own code. When the anti-virus software identifies the code it kicks it out or alerts the owner of the computer. Many anti-virus companies try to keep up with this, however consider this:

Professional hackers have developed spy ware that, once it enters a computer and steals your email addresses and other information, changes its code or signature file. The spy ware continues to invade new computers stealing information and changing its signature file automatically from computer to computer virtually making traditional over-the-counter anti-virus Internet security protection useless.

To be safe, small business and individuals need to find a proven Internet security solution that can fight against this type of cyber crime. This solution not only needs to aggressively keep up with the changing cyber crime landscape, but also anticipate what might be coming in the future. This is what the major corporations are using and it’s what you should have on your computer(s), too.

You may find it surprising that many vendors have downgraded or “delisted” known spyware and adware. This can jeopardize the security of your personal or business information.

Unfortunately, most Internet security software available to small business and individuals don’t have the ability to keep up with the growing cyber crime pandemic creating Internet insecurity.

.About the Author:

Warren Franklin is engaged in the cause of educating and protecting people who use the Internet about the threats they face and the inadequacy of the solutions they trust, and over a three-year period has become an expert on PC Security and a passionate advocate of Internet safety. Find out more his campaign for personal and Internet security go to his web site at http://www.completeinternetprotection.com or email warrenfranklin@completeinternetprotection.com

Its Halloween! Spooks, Specters and

September 28, 2007 on 5:40 pm | In Adware, Spyware, Malware, Antispyware, Virus, Computer Security, Security, Antivirus, Safe, Online Safety | No Comments

It was late, I had put

off going to the

Software Convention till the last

minute. I just had to watch my favorite

show on TV, “S-Files”. Its that

episode where the Computer Salespeople

all turn into Pod People and ,,,,well

never mind. Its really scary!

So I’m driving down the lonely one lane

road from my house to the Convention.

Its dark and the shadows are creepy,

I’ll never watch S-Files again, I

swear! I pull into the parking lot, the

convention is being held in the old

YMCA. Geez, its dark, only 1 parking lot

light and its flickering on and off. As

I walk up to the entrance, I remember

the old story about how, back in the

Dot.Com days, when they tanked, the

building was used as a makeshift morgue,

to hold all the bodies of the CEO’s

who committed suicide.

I get this really creepy feeling on the

back of my neck as I go in,,,,oh, its

just a Linux software salesman at the

first booth. Is it my imagination or are

his eyes glowing?

I head to the registration desk to get a

program. I see the place is kind of

empty, guess cause its so late. Well,

I’m here to see who is offering the

latest demos and what kind of freebies I

can score.

The front booths are usually the big

sellers and they never give away

freebies or demos. So I head to the

back, hmmm, the lights back here are

terrible!

Here’s a booth, Anti-Spyware 4 U. The

salesman shuffles up to me and says

“Please take a demo of our new

product”. I look at it, it says this is

the latest greatest software to combat

Spyware. I take the CD out of the plain

paper cover and look at the Logo. Its

just a plain shiny cd? Wow I can see

myself in it I remark.

“We spared no expense” a voice says

behind me, making me jump. I didn’t

even know he was behind me. Wait, I

should have seen him behind me in the

reflection off the CD. I I’ve got to be

imagining things I say to myself.

I ask the salesman for a brochure about

their other products and as he hands it

to me, our fingers brush each others.

Jeez! His fingers are as cold as ice!

Well, he is a salesman after all.

I thank him and head off to the other

booths, seeing that I’ve gotten here

too late after all, everybody is

leaving. I decide to swing by the

refreshments table to see if I can at

least get a drink and some cookies.

It sure is dark in here I think again as

I come up to the table. As I scan the

table, a little old lady comes up and

asks me if Id like any milk and cookies.

Yes Mam I reply. She hands me a little

plate with cookies and paper cup of

something white. I assume its milk, but

its so dark in here! And there seems to

be a fog or steam on the surface of the

milk. Well beggars cant be choosers I

think to myself as I thank her. She

gives me a freaky cackling laugh as I

turn away, stunned I turn back around

and to my Horror, there is no-one there!

Where in blazes did she go ?

I’m out of here my mind screams to me

as I head for the door at a ever faster

walk. In a minute I’m in my car with

the doors locked and the engine warming

up.

Whew, That was the strangest Convention

I’ve ever seen. All the way home I’ve

got a death grip on the wheel, just

waiting for something to jump out of the

shadows. Like a IBM salesman, now that

would be scary!

If only I had known the other horrors

that awaited me! I breathe a sigh of

relief as I close and lock the living

room door behind me. Still shaking my

head I head over to my computer to try

out this latest and greatest

Anti-Spyware Software. As it boots, I

get a message to disable my own

Anti-Spyware program. I thing this odd,

but I remember reading somewhere online

that some programs can conflict with

others so I comply.

After a few seconds I get a message that

the new Program is installed and it

needs to connect to get possible

updates. So I get online and let it do

its thing. A reboot is needed it says,

OK so I reboot. The computer comes up

and I get online to check out the latest

results of the Mullet contest. what’s

this ? This isn’t my Homepage, it’s a

site where you can ,,,Holy Hand

Grenades! Its Porn!

I close the Browser and man alive, I’m

beset by about a dozen pop ups offering

me things that, well, no decent person

would want. I’m figuring now that I’ve

been had by this Anti-Spyware CD.

I do a Restore and get back to my Online

Mullet competition site. Then I remember

that I need to transfer some money in my

savings to my checking account. So I

head to the Bank site and take care of

it. I must be tired, the computer seems

slow to me. I check my mail and the wait

to login is frustrating.

I decide to call it a night. I’ll take

care of it tomorrow. After a tossing and

turning night and dreams of my computer

melting, the new day dawns. With a cup

of coffee I head to the computer to see

who won the Mullet Contest. The boot

takes forever and the login freezes the

first time so I have to power off and

back on again.

I’m really mad by now. I’ve been had

by some sleazy software company! I

finally get online but the Mullet

competition site wont load. I cant tell

if it’s the computer or maybe the

online connection.

As it dawns on me that I’m going to

have to take it in for service, I hope

I’ve got some extra in my savings to

cover it. I head to the Bank site but it

wont load either. Then I notice the Hard

Disk light blinking away. I’m not doing

anything at the time so it shouldn’t be

accessing anything. Cursing, I turn the

computer off and pick up the phone to

call the bank.

I get a live person after waiting only 5

minutes so I figure the day may be

improving. I give her my account info

and she comes back saying “I show that

account being closed last night after

all money was withdrawn”! .

There must be a mistake I say, she

checks it again and says its true. The

money in the account was transferred to

a Bank she has never heard of in

,,,,Transylvania of all places. As I

hang up in shock, I could have sworn I

heard her laughing just like the old

lady at the convention did last night.

I figure I better head to the Police

Station to get some help. In a Panic I

head for town. As I make the last turn

into town, I glance towards the location

of the YMCA, where all this started,

only to see its not there! Its burned to

the ground! Stunned, I stop in the

street and get out. Nothing but ashes.

The Man in the car behind me gets out

and asks me if I’m ok. I mumble I’m

lucky to be alive, I could have died in

there last night. Puzzled the man says,

but the YMCA burned down 2 nights ago!

As I get back into the car, I glance at

the spot on the seat where I put the CD

and the Pamphlet. Gone. Just a little

pile of dust. At the Police station, a

sergeant takes down my story and informs

me I’ve been the victim of online

Identity theft. As I’m leaving, A

couple of kids run by, in costumes,

yelling “Happy Halloween”

Are you scared ? You should be!

.About the Author:

About the Author: Doug Woodall writes to

educate about computer security. He also

hopes you visit his website at

http://www.spywarebiz.com the next time

you need a computer securty product.

Anti Spyware Software: Xoftspyse Review

July 11, 2007 on 4:51 pm | In Spyware, Antispyware, Software, Anti-spyware, Anti Spyware Software, Antispyware Software, Anti-spyware Software, Anti Spyware | No Comments

Installation and First Run

As expected, you don’t need to have an IQ over 200 to get this program running, and even if

you have a slower connection, downloading less than 3MB of data shouldn’t be too hard. Once you have the setup package on your hard drive, run it and the program will be installed in an instant.

When run for the first time, XsoftSpySE checks for updates and, if there are any available, starts downloading them. Of course that you can cancel this process and do it another time, but my advice is to keep all your security software up to date without any delays. The updates downloaded another 2MB of data, so after less than 10 minutes, I had this program ready to go. So let’s move on and talk about the interface, shall we? Click here for links

The Interface

Despite the fact that some programs from this category don’t work as they should, most of them look great. XsoftSpySE is not exception to the rule, although I am sure they can make it look even better with a little work. Anyway, there’s nothing that could give you a headache inside this program’s interface, all you have to do is pick a task from the menu to the left of the main window and do what you need.Scan Now

Features and Usage

After starting the program and updating it, the best thing to do is to scan your computer. As I expected, all I found was low threats, and to be more specific, I am talking about harmless cookies, so you don’t have to worry if you see a lot of items found, because usually it’s all cookies.

The General Settings area allows you to start the program with Windows, but since XsoftSpySE can’t protect you against incoming threats, the only serious reason to do that is for scanning the system each time you start it up.

The Scan Settings area can be used to customize the scanning process, so that only browser hijackers, active processes and the registry or various folders are scanned.

Some additional goodies include Scheduling and the ability to create Ignore lists and backups. No need to say more about them, because their names say it all.

During its use, I never had special reliability problems, and the scanning speed is good, so I guess it’s about time to draw the conclusions regarding XsoftSpySE, don’t you think?

The Good

This program is easy to use, fast and looks good, and its database contains over 200,000 threats at this time!

The Bad

Unfortunately, the free trial version can only seek and find spyware, but you’ll have to buy the full version to destroy it.

Conclusion

XsoftSpySE can be a pretty helpful application, even when using the feature limited trial version. After all, if you scan your computer with this and all you can find is cookies, you can relax and start saving some money for the day you’ll need to buy it…

.About the Author:

You can download XoftSpySE from my website at Anti spyware software reviews