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Spyware Removal
How "Malware" Works.
What is “Spyware”?
Forget spam, viruses, and hacker attacks..."spyware" is now the single largest
problem facing Internet users today. These nasty little malicious programs have
become so widespread, their volume far surpasses spam and virus infections. The
spyware problem has grown to such an immense extent, we cannot even agree on
what to call it.
Most people call these malicious programs "spyware", because the problem
originated in the 1990's with programs that secretly observed and logged your
web surfing habits. The problem, however, has now evolved into dozens of other
malicious forms, including sneakware, adware, keyloggers, browser hijackers,
porn servers, trojans and worms
Today, spyware is being redefined as a much larger category of rogue software
called "malware", or malicious software programs. At its most basic
definition, spyware/malware is when insidious little software programs covertly
install themselves on your computer, and then perform secret operations without
your permission. Once in place, malware programs may do hundreds of nasty things
to your computer. They will log your keystrokes, steal your passwords, observe
your browsing choices, spawn pop-up windows, send you targeted email, redirect
your web browser to phishing pages, report your personal information to distant
servers, and serve up pornography. This malware will operate invisibly, often
without displaying itself in your Task Manager. To top it off, malware usually
refuses to be uninstalled through your control panel, and requires special tools
to delete them from your drive. Yes, this is a direct cousin to viruses, but
with a broader portfolio of wicked intentions.
What does Spyware/Malware specifically do to my computer?
Malware will perform a variety of nasty activities, ranging from simple email
advertising all the way to complex identity-theft and password-stealing. New
nasty functions are created every week by malware programmers, but the most
common malware functions are:
- Malware steals your personal information and address book (identity
theft and keystroke-logging).
- Malware floods your browser with pop-up advertising.
- Malware spams your inbox with advertising email.
- Malware slows down your connection.
- Malware hijacks your browser and redirects you to an advertising or a
phishing-con web page.
- Malware uses your computer as a secret server to broadcast pornography
files.
- Malware slows down or crashes your computer.
Where does Spyware/Malware come from?
Spyware/malware programs are authored by clever programmers, and then delivered
to your computer through covert Internet installs. Usually, malware will
piggyback on innocent-looking web page components and otherwise-benign software
such as game demos, MP3 players, search toolbars, software, free subscriptions,
and other things you download from the web. Subscribing to online services is
especially bad for getting malware. In particular, whenever you sign up for a
so-called "free" service or install new software, you must accept an "end user
license agreement" (EULA). The fine print of the EULA will often include the
phrase "the vendor is allowed to install third-party software on your
computer". Since most users don't bother to read this EULA fine print, they
naively click "accept", and install malware out of sheer ignorance.
What kind of personal information does Spyware/Malware steal?
This varies from the non-confidential to the extremely-personal. The malware may
simply steal a listing of your MP3s or recent website visits. Malware may also
harvest your email address book. At its very worst, malware will steal your
banking PIN, your eBay login, and your Paypal information (aka "keystroke
logging" identity theft). Yes, spyware/malware is a very serious Internet
problem that threatens everyone's personal privacy, and network administrators
everywhere are deeply concerned.
How to Detect and Destroy Spyware!
How Do I Protect Myself from this recent Epidemic of Spyware/Malware?
Answer: Avoiding and destroying spyware is not instant, and it is not a
one-time event like an innoculation. Instead, stopping spyware/malware is a
long-term game that is exactly like cleaning dirt out of your home. You need
constant vigilance, and a regular habit of cleaning malware out of your computer
every week.
Note: Additionally, as an educated user, you must also adopt a "buyer
beware" attitude whenever you install new software from the Net or even from
CD...you need to read every end user license agreement on your screen before you
click "accept".
Here is the checklist for detecting and destroying malware
- Install two or three different
anti-spyware programs ("spyware cleaners") on your computer, and update
their definition lists regularly. Because every anti-spyware cleaner is
imperfect, it is necessary to use combinations of these programs to catch
the greatest breadth of malware. Also, the anti-spyware manufacturers
regularly add new entries to their "definition" lists, just like anti-virus
software. Make sure to keep your spyware cleaners updated with these lists!
Click here for 5 recommended anti-spyware programs.
- Build a weekly habit of "scan and detect". Like cleaning house,
this should be done every few days. At the very least, this should be done
whenever you install new software. Many anti-spyware programs can be set to
automatically perform scan-and-detect nightly.
- Carefully read every EULA (end user license agreement) before
clicking "accept". If you see the phrase "3rd-party software may be
installed", make sure to follow the software install with a spyware
cleaning.
- Educate yourself on the latest strains of malware. In particular,
start visiting these recommended anti-spyware sites, and update yourself on
the latest malicious programs.
Save your data, and backup often! As much as it sounds like
broken-record preaching, backing-up is how an intelligent user prepares for
the worst. Backing up means: keep your original software CDs in a safe
accessible place, constantly save copies of your important work files on CD
or separate drives, and presume you will actually need them one day.
This way, if you ever experience the extreme spyware circumstance of having
to reformat your hard drive, you can at least recover your important work.
One Stop Shopping: Less technical users,
or those who would simply rather not install multiple programs from multiple
companies, are better off going with a shrink-wrapped security suite that
bundles together key protection functions. Norton
Internet Security 2005
costs about $70 and covers the gamut, from antivirus and spam blocking to
cookie management, content filtering, and firewall features. The comparably
priced McAfee
Internet Security Suite offers similar blocking capability.
These bundles are more than just convenient to install. They make it
easier to keep all the blocking software up to date against the latest
threats. The antivirus and anti-spyware modules in the Norton Internet
Security suite, for instance, both gather updates via Norton's automatic
LiveUpdate service.
The goods news: once you build a regular scan-and-detect habit, then
spyware and malware will be reduced to a mere annoyance, and you can get back to
business of enjoying the Internet! Personally, I think of it as having one more
room in my house to dust and vacuum.
Keep the faith, fellow web surfers... the Internet is too important to let these
malware programmers win!
More: Some Related Spyware/Malware Resources For You:
 | free AVG Anti-Virus package from
Grisoft |
| the popular
ZoneAlarm firewall application to prevent intrusions and to keep an eye
on network access by installed applications |
| the Google toolbar
to block pop-up ads in Internet Explorer |
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SpywareBlaster 3.2, an application that prevents cookies from reporting
your movements. It also prevents the installation of all sorts of nefarious
programs, including browser hijacks, modem dialers, and spyware |
Here is some follow-up information for further reading:
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