Spyware - As Evil As It Sounds
by Ross R. Lasley
Every once in a while a client asks about an Internet connection that just seems to get slower and slower every day. I run through the usual questions: did they install new anti-virus or filtering software, did they do anything different with their connection or browser settings - no, no, no ... in those cases the culprit is often spyware.
Spyware is software installed on someone's computer without their knowledge that gathers info about that person. Spyware has two basic categories - surveillance and advertising. Surveillance spyware is much less common - it includes key loggers, screen capture devices - but it is becoming a more common tool for law enforcement. Advertising spyware is huge and getting bigger - it simply gathers personal info on web browsing history and online buying habits.
Spyware is usually bundled with 'free' software, especially peer to peer music programs (napster clones). They sell the info about your habits to companies and then pop up ads on your machine while you are on the web. The vast majority of 'Internet accelerator' type programs and downloadable free utilities include spyware.
Deep in the fine print of those user agreements it does usually say something about selling data, but there are a couple of serious issues with the way things are being done now. The loss of privacy is an obvious concern, but beyond that unwanted and unwelcome popups can have serious impacts, especially on a computer used by a family. This is the result of the matching systems of the adware - It works like this:>
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Spyware is running on your computer without your knowledge
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You visit a website and are identified as a particular demographic type
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The next time you use your web browser the spyware pops up ads that have been targeted to you
A decent bit of the time these profiling systems are very stupid, one makes the conclusion that people who visit sports sites love porn. I'd bet that a decent bit of the time this is correct but with spyware on your machine you can check out the latest article about sports and the next time your kid uses the machine a graphic porn ad will pop right up.
The company running the spyware will be able to sell a 'demographically targeted' advertisement to a porn site. They have also done a decent job of clogging up your connection with both the original information and the pop up - back to that original issue of the web just getting slower and slower.
But wait - before you hit the screen with a sledge hammer and give up on the web - there are of course a number of things you can do.
The favorite utility of KISS Computing geeks is Ad- aware. This is a free utility for individual use that will scan your machine for spyware and when it is found (trust me, it is probably there) it will allow you to get rid of the unwanted spyware currently on your computer.
Download AdAware Now to Remove Spyware
Domain Name Scams Increasing
Warning: Domain name transfer scams are on the rise. Some companies are sending what often looks like a bill or 'emergency notice' - pay it and it will change your registrar which can cause lots of headaches.
KISS Computing is now offering Registrar Lock on names, which makes a registrar transfer impossible unless you call KISS and ask to have the name unlocked. Please give us a call to have your names locked.
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