| |
| |
|
Security Information |
|
|
|
Adware and Spyware: The Problems and Their Solutions
The Threat 10 years ago you could probably have run no Internet security applications and still have come out after a browse of the Internet with a virus and malware free computer, but this situation is no longer apparent. Several years ago, before I knew of the dangers of the Internet, I had absolutely no spyware or adware protection. After about 3 months of heavy Internet browsing, I decided to install Adaware Personal Edition and Spybot Search & Destroy, and after 1 scan of each, I truly realised the potential of the Internet. After just 3 moths of Internet browsing, I had gathered over 9000 different spyware and adware products. So if I can gather 9000 unwanted products in 3 months with only web browsing, what about all the people who constantly surf, download and install, and havn't scanned their PC for malware in over a year? That's right. Viruses are not restricted to movies and the news anymore. Adware is not only for those who install illegal software. In 2004, adwarereport.com reported that over 70 percent of home PCs are today infected unknowingly by spyware and that over 80 percent are infected by adware. I am willing to garantee you that 9 out of 10 people who read this article have at least 1 form of adware or spyware on their PC. Now if that isn't a threat to your PC than I don't know what is. What will it do? So now you're saying, "So what if I have spyware or adware. How much harm could it do?". That's a reasonable question, considering one of the reasons adware has been ignored for so long is its lack of severe harm. Adware slows your computer, it slows your Internet, it displays a popup every once in a while, but really it does no harm to personal files or hardware. Both adware and spyware breach privacy, but personal data rarely reaches anyone but untargeted advertisers so SPAM and advertising are the only real problems. Therefore, it is logical to say that adware and spyware are not as serious a threat as malicious viruses and trojans, but they are a threat all the same. Scanning and removing adware and spyware With the mass realisation of the threat of adware and spyware in the last couple of years, there is now literally hundreds of spyware and adware removers online. The most respected and thorough scanners for adware and spyware are Lavasoft Ad-aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. Both are free and are known to be much better then most of their costly counterparts. Microsoft Anti-Spyware is quickly increasing in popularity but is currently in Beta stages. Several other notable scanners include Spysweeper, BPS Spyware & Adware Remover and PestPatrol. I personally recommend you scan about once a month with both Spybot Search and Destroy as well with Lavasoft Adaware Personal Edition. Links Lavasoft Ad-aware : http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ Spybot S&D :http://spybot.eon.net.au/en/ References www.adwarereport.com Soroush King is a certified programmer, adept in VB, C++, Delphi, as well as web developer and scripter, having considerable knowledge of both PHP and Perl. He also owns and manages several professional websites. This article was originally published at http://www.articlesandtools.com/adware.php For more information on computer security visit http://www.articlesandtools.com. If you would like to use this article anywhere else, please just notify me by sending an email to kingofkings@gmail.com (you don't have to wait for a response, as this is just a notification, not permission). Please refer on the page that the author of the article was I, Soroush King, and also please note that the article was originally published at http://www.articlesandtools.com/adware.php by providing a link.
MORE RESOURCES: Homeland Security Department to Release New A.I. Guidance The New York Times Officials detail increased D.C. security for certification, inauguration The Washington Post Nuclear power for military bases will increase our national security Breaking Defense U.S. ambassador bashes Mexico’s security efforts. Mexico’s president pushes back - Los Angeles Times Homeland Security Department releases framework for using AI in critical infrastructure The Associated Press New 'spectral fingerprint' atlas of satellites aims to improve space security University of Arizona News Opinion | Trump’s national security wrecking crew The Washington Post ‘Never trust, always verify’: The zero trust approach to network security United States Army Brief altercation between fans mars France-Israel soccer match despite heavy security The Associated Press St. Francis Seraph hires security guards for Christmas, Nativity display visitors as crowds still plague area WCPO 9 Cincinnati Trump’s National Security Team Keeps Getting More Extreme The New Republic Video: How The Fortinet Security Fabric Is Combatting Cybersecurity Threats And Talent Shortage Channel Insider The Fastest Airport Security Line You Don’t Know About The Wall Street Journal The campus will be closed to anyone who is not a student, faculty or staff member. WVTM13 Birmingham Tuskegee president releases security updates following shooting WIAT - CBS42.com Do Titans QB, Coach Have Job Security? Sports Illustrated Inside The 2024 Security Benchmark Report Security Magazine Your favorite security leadership podcasts Security Magazine The UN cybercrime convention threatens security research. The US should do something about it CyberScoop 3rd Annual U.S.-Mexico Defense and Security Roundtable smallwarsjournal France draws with Israel in high-security operation to reach Nations League quarterfinals with Italy The Associated Press Endpoint Security from BlackBerry BlackBerry Tuskegee University Shifts Security, Facilities Leadership Tuskegee University An Interview With the Target & Home Depot Hacker Krebs on Security Akamai: 84% of security professionals experienced an API security incident in the past year SecurityInfoWatch ESA opens registration for 2024 Town Hall Broadcast SecurityInfoWatch ‘We’re just a target’: Pickleball players call for more security Camas Washougal Post Record Trump names Florida’s Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser Nebraska Examiner Mexican Officials Arrest Top Security Official in Mayor’s Beheading The New York Times New infosec products of the week: November 15, 2024 Help Net Security Linn County’s Food for Health pilot program aims to improve food security, support local economy KEZI TV Tom Homan, Trump’s ‘Border Czar,’ on Border Security The New York Times South Florida campus security officer arrested after attempting to meet minor for sex WPBF West Palm Beach Microsoft Patch Tuesday, November 2024 Edition Krebs on Security Silverfort Buys Rezonate to Fortify Identity Security Muscle BankInfoSecurity.com Trump Picks Kristi Noem for Homeland Security Secretary The New York Times Rand Paul Will Continue His COVID-19 Investigations From Atop the Senate Homeland Security Committee Reason NIST report on hardware security risks reveals 98 failure scenarios Help Net Security Lamar CISD invests in safety, security amid rapid growth Community Impact Mexico’s ‘hugs, not bullets’ security strategy has failed, says US Ambassador Ken Salazar Mexico News Daily Who Is Michael Waltz, Trump’s Pick to Be National Security Adviser? The New York Times |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
SPYWARE - Whos Watching Who? I am in the midst of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. "The basis of optimism is sheer terror. A Personal Experience with Identity Theft Some months ago, before there was much publicity regarding phishing and identity theft, I became a victim.My first inkling that I'd been scammed came from a telephone call from my bank asking if I had been to Italy or Roumania. What Every Internet Marketer Should Know About Spyware If you run any type of Internet business, Adware and Spyware can be a very serious issue. These programs hide themselves on your computer and do all sorts of annoying and potentially dangerous things. Ransom Trojan Uses Cryptography for Malicious Purpose Every day millions of people go online to find information, to do business, to have a good time. Alas, some people go there to commit crimes as well. Don't Become An Identity Fraud Statistic! "You've just won a fabulous vacation or prize package! Now, if you'll kindly give me your credit card information and social security number for verification purposes, you will receive this awesome gift!"Now why would they need my credit card or social security number to send me a freebie? Can you say, "identity theft?"Although there are legitimate reasons for people to need that information, such as a purchase or job application, thieves need it to steal your life and money from you!Crime officials are reporting that this kind of theft is becoming quite common. Don't be a victim! Follow a few common-sense suggestions to avoid finding out someone else has taken over your life-along with your bank account!-Do not allow anyone to borrow your credit cards! Your best friend may be trustworthy, but her boyfriend may not be!-Don't provide personal information such as date of birth, credit card numbers, your pin number, mom's maiden name, or social security number over the telephone unless you initiate the call. Behavior to Stay Safer Online 1. Importance of a Virus Scanner: A Antivirus program can help to prevent you from becoming infected with a Virus or Trojan. Internet Scams: Dont be a Victim As the number of people using the Internet as an integral part of their daily life grows, it is inevitable that the number of Internet Scams will grow. Unfortunately there are many forms of scams but in this article we will look at three of the most prominent. Personal Firewalls for Home Users What is a Firewall?The term "firewall" illustrates a system that protects a network and the machines on them from various types of attack. Firewalls are geared towards keeping the server up all the time and protecting the entire network. How to Get Rid of New Sobig.F Virus? As you know, this time the virus under the name Sobig.F has wreaked quite havoc! No doubt, many of us have suffered from this recent virus outbreak. The Move to a New Anti-Virus Model This is the second in a series of articles highlighting reasons why we need a new model for anti-virus and security solutions.Reason #1: the Basic ModelAnti-virus software vendors still rely on yesterday's methods for solving today's problems: they wait for the next virus to wreak havoc and then produce a solution. Instant Messaging - Expressway for Identity Theft, Trojan Horses, Viruses, and Worms Never before with Instant Messaging (IM) has a more vital warning been needed for current and potential IM buddies who chat on line.John Sakoda of IMlogic CTO and Vice President of Products stated that,"IM viruses and worms are growing exponentially. Blogs as Safe Haven for Cybercriminals? To blog or not to blog? Well, why not? Lots of people like either to write or to read blogs -- sometimes both. The much-quoted survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, says 27 percent read blogs. Wells Fargo Report Phishing Scam First off I should explain what phishing is. Phishing is basically the act of tricking a victim into divulging information. DOS Attacks: Instigation and Mitigation During the release of a new software product specialized to track spam, ACME SoftwareInc notice that there was not as much traffic as they hoped to receive. During furtherinvestigation, they found that they could not view their own website. Sarbanes-Oxley: A Cross-Industry Email Compliance Challenge Is your enterprise following the rules?The bulk of financial information in many companies is created, stored and transmitted electronically, maintained by IT and controlled via information integrity procedures and practices. For these reasons, compliance with federal requirements such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) is heavily dependent on IT. Identity Theft - Beware of Phishing Attacks! "Dear Bank of the West customer", the message begins. I've just received an e-mail message, purportedly from the security department at the Bank of the West. If You Steal It, They May Come! Business on the internet is getting down right shameless. This week, my email box was literally filled with hype, overly inflated promises, phish mail, scams, ezines I did not order, and about 14 viagra gimmicks. Three-pronged Trojan Attack Threatens Security on the Internet Glieder (Win32.Glieder. How Can Someone Get Private Information From My Computer? From the "Ask Booster" column in the June 17, 2005 issue of Booster's Auction News, a free ezine for online auction sellers and enthusiasts.Dear Booster,How can someone get private information from my computer?Thank you,Evan S. Watch Out For That Scam The IFCC (Internet Fraud Complaint Center) received over 200,000 complaint submissions for 2004, an increase of 66.6% from 2003.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |