How to Remove Spyware
October 21, 2007 on 9:25 pm | In Adware, Spyware, Spyware Removal, Removal, Anti Spyware, Adware Removal, How To Remove Spyware, Antivirus Tips, Antivirus | No CommentsIntroduction to Spyware
Spyware is a software program that stealthily collects information about the user’s activities on
the computer and reports back to the spyware software creator. The most common sources of the spyware are files sharing programs, online gaming, screens savers and downloading software from insecure websites. Once spyware are enters the computer they change the behavior of the computer. A spyware can be installed in a computer by different ways. Sometimes it can be installed with the popular shareware programs. A spyware infected computer may show following changes.
Symptoms of Spyware
• Web browser’s home page is changed automatically.
• New toolbars are installed.
• Antivirus and Anti spyware programs frequently complains that your system is infected with the spyware, malware or Trojan horses.
• It takes a long time to start or resume your computer programs.
• Excessive pop-up ads are installed in the computer automatically.
• Computer becomes very slow to response and internet connectivity also takes time.
• Unwanted search results appear when you search something.
• New desktop shortcuts are created.
• If your system is infected with spyware then you may notice bounced back emails or emails being sent without your knowledge.
• Keyboard loggers can capture the password and user name and send back to the spyware software creator.
How to Remove Spyware
A spyware program is very different in behavior and symptoms from the viruses. Following are some of the programs that help you manage detect, remove and protect your system from the spyware.
Panda Security Suite
Trend Micro Anti spyware program
Zone Alarm Pro
McAfee Antivirus + Anti spyware program
Pest Patrol
Spyblocker
Spycop
Additionally from the following spyware resources you can check if your system is infected with the spyware.
http://www.tom-cat.com/spybase/spylist.html
http://www.infoforce.qc.ca/spyware/
Prevention
With some preventive measures you can protect your system from being infected from the spyware, malware, adware and keyloggers. These safety tips include safe emailing, safe surfing, securing browser’s settings, using spyware detection and prevention software, blocking pop-up ads, blocking files sharing applications and regularly scanning your computer with the anti spyware and antivirus software programs.
.About the Author:
B. Bashir manages Networking Tutorials and regularly writes articles on various topics such as Computer Networking, IP Address NetworkWireless Networking, Computer Hardware, Certifications, How Tos, Network Glossary Overviewand Computer tips.
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.
