Protecting your computer from a virus is getting harder and harder each day. While it may border on the paranoid, it goes without saying that you can’t leave your guard down for one second. Even corporate giant Microsoft has found its own systems compromised on more than one occasion.

Remember the “good old days”, before the advent of the Internet and downloadable programs? Life was simple then in terms of computer viruses. With the primary way in which a virus could be transmitted being limited to floppy disks, the ability to catch and eradicate the virus was a lot easier. By today’s standards, it used to take quite a while before a virus was able to infect a computer and slow down the system. The antivirus software of that time was typically able to identify and eradicate viruses before they caused too much damage. Additionally, computer users were pretty savvy on how to protect themselves in terms of scanning all floppy disks before copying them to our desktop.

The Internet helped change all that. The Internet provided a conduit by which viruses could move from host to host with lightening speed. No longer could a computer user just worry about floppy disks as points of entry, but they now had to worry about email, email attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, instant messaging, and software downloads. Today’s viruses can attack through multiple entry points, spread without human intervention, and take full advantage of vulnerabilities within a system or program. With technology advancing everyday, and the convergence of computers with other mobile devices, the potential of new types of threats also increase.

Protecting Your Computer

Luckily, the advancement of antivirus software has kept pace with current virus threats. Antivirus software is essential to a computer’s ability to fend off viruses and other malicious programs. These products are designed to protect against the ability of a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers and desktops. Additionally, these programs offer a centralized control feature that handle deployment, configuration and updating.

A computer user should remain diligent and follow a few simple steps to protect against the threat of a virus:

1. Evaluate your current computer security system.
With the threat of a new generation of viruses able to attack in a multitude of ways, the approach of having just one antivirus software version has become outdated. You need to be confident that you have protected all aspects of your computer system from the desktop to the network, and from the gateway to the server. Consider a more comprehensive security system which includes several features including antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. This type of system will make it more difficult for the virus to penetrate your system.

2. Only install antivirus software created by a well-known, reputable company.
Because new viruses erupt daily, it is important that you regularly update your antivirus software. Become familiar with the software’s real-time scan feature and configure it to start automatically each time you boot your computer. This will protect your system by automatically checking your computer each time it is powered up.

3. Make it a habit to always scan all new programs or files no matter from where they originate.

4. Exercise caution when opening binary, Word, or Excel documents of unknown sources especially if they were received during an online chat or as an attachment to an email.

5. Perform regular backups in case your system is corrupted. It may be the only way to recover your data if infected.

Recommended Antivirus Software

There are numerous applications available to consumers. With a little research, you can pick the program that is right for you. Many programs provide a trial version which allows you to download the program and test its abilities. However, be aware that some anti-virus programs can be difficult to uninstall. As a precaution make sure to set up a System Restore point before installing.

Here are a few programs which typically receive high marks in terms of cost, effectiveness, ease of use, and customer service.

The Shield Pro 2005™ provides virus protection and hacker security through ongoing support and updates. When a virus breaks out, The Shield Pro 2005™ promises to provide a patch within 2-3 hours and a fix for the virus within 5 hours. You can set your computer to update viruses weekly and run a complete virus scan.

BitDefender 9 Standard provides antivirus protection, as well as Peer-2-Peer Applications protection, full email protection, and heuristics in a virtual environment. This provides a new security layer that keeps the operating system safe from unknown viruses by detecting malicious pieces of code for which signatures have not been released yet.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 program is simple to install and use. The user only needs to choose from three levels of protection. It allows updates as frequently as every hour while promising not to disrupt your computer. The program also offers a two-tier email protection feature and round-the-clock technical support.

PC-cillin Internet Security combines antivirus security and a personal firewall—for comprehensive protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and hackers. It also detects and removes spyware and blocks spam. It even guards against identity theft by blocking phishing and pharming attacks.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is a free downloadable antivirus program that has received high marks for its reliability. In the past, free downloadable antivirus programs have been viewed skeptically because of issues relating to its reliability. However, AVG from Grisoft, remains one of the best-known free anti-virus programs available. While AVG can not be installed on a server operating system and there is no technical support, it still makes a good choice for many home computer users. The best part is that since it is free, you can try it with no further obligation necessary. 

Fighting off Viruses: Advancements in Antivirus Software Suites

Protecting your computer from a virus is getting harder and harder each day. While it may border on the paranoid, it goes without saying that you can’t leave your guard down for one second. Even corporate giant Microsoft has found its own systems compromised on more than one occasion.

Remember the “good old days”, before the advent of the Internet and downloadable programs? Life was simple then in terms of computer viruses. With the primary way in which a virus could be transmitted being limited to floppy disks, the ability to catch and eradicate the virus was a lot easier. By today’s standards, it used to take quite a while before a virus was able to infect a computer and slow down the system. The antivirus software of that time was typically able to identify and eradicate viruses before they caused too much damage. Additionally, computer users were pretty savvy on how to protect themselves in terms of scanning all floppy disks before copying them to our desktop.

The Internet helped change all that. The Internet provided a conduit by which viruses could move from host to host with lightening speed. No longer could a computer user just worry about floppy disks as points of entry, but they now had to worry about email, email attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, instant messaging, and software downloads. Today’s viruses can attack through multiple entry points, spread without human intervention, and take full advantage of vulnerabilities within a system or program. With technology advancing everyday, and the convergence of computers with other mobile devices, the potential of new types of threats also increase.

Protecting Your Computer

Luckily, the advancement of antivirus software has kept pace with current virus threats. Antivirus software is essential to a computer’s ability to fend off viruses and other malicious programs. These products are designed to protect against the ability of a virus to enter a computer through email, web browsers, file servers and desktops. Additionally, these programs offer a centralized control feature that handle deployment, configuration and updating.

A computer user should remain diligent and follow a few simple steps to protect against the threat of a virus:

1. Evaluate your current computer security system.
With the threat of a new generation of viruses able to attack in a multitude of ways, the approach of having just one antivirus software version has become outdated. You need to be confident that you have protected all aspects of your computer system from the desktop to the network, and from the gateway to the server. Consider a more comprehensive security system which includes several features including antivirus, firewall, content filtering, and intrusion detection. This type of system will make it more difficult for the virus to penetrate your system.

2. Only install antivirus software created by a well-known, reputable company.
Because new viruses erupt daily, it is important that you regularly update your antivirus software. Become familiar with the software’s real-time scan feature and configure it to start automatically each time you boot your computer. This will protect your system by automatically checking your computer each time it is powered up.

3. Make it a habit to always scan all new programs or files no matter from where they originate.

4. Exercise caution when opening binary, Word, or Excel documents of unknown sources especially if they were received during an online chat or as an attachment to an email.

5. Perform regular backups in case your system is corrupted. It may be the only way to recover your data if infected.

Recommended Antivirus Software

There are numerous applications available to consumers. With a little research, you can pick the program that is right for you. Many programs provide a trial version which allows you to download the program and test its abilities. However, be aware that some anti-virus programs can be difficult to uninstall. As a precaution make sure to set up a System Restore point before installing.

Here are a few programs which typically receive high marks in terms of cost, effectiveness, ease of use, and customer service.

The Shield Pro 2005™ provides virus protection and hacker security through ongoing support and updates. When a virus breaks out, The Shield Pro 2005™ promises to provide a patch within 2-3 hours and a fix for the virus within 5 hours. You can set your computer to update viruses weekly and run a complete virus scan.

BitDefender 9 Standard provides antivirus protection, as well as Peer-2-Peer Applications protection, full email protection, and heuristics in a virtual environment. This provides a new security layer that keeps the operating system safe from unknown viruses by detecting malicious pieces of code for which signatures have not been released yet.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal 5.0 program is simple to install and use. The user only needs to choose from three levels of protection. It allows updates as frequently as every hour while promising not to disrupt your computer. The program also offers a two-tier email protection feature and round-the-clock technical support.

PC-cillin Internet Security combines antivirus security and a personal firewall—for comprehensive protection against viruses, worms, Trojans, and hackers. It also detects and removes spyware and blocks spam. It even guards against identity theft by blocking phishing and pharming attacks.

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition is a free downloadable antivirus program that has received high marks for its reliability. In the past, free downloadable antivirus programs have been viewed skeptically because of issues relating to its reliability. However, AVG from Grisoft, remains one of the best-known free anti-virus programs available. While AVG can not be installed on a server operating system and there is no technical support, it still makes a good choice for many home computer users. The best part is that since it is free, you can try it with no further obligation necessary.

We are almost to an end for our series on Spyware. In this series we covered:

1. An overview of spyware

2. What it does

3. How you can get infected

4. How to fix it

5. How to tell if you have been infected

Before we get on with the final article in this series I would like to let everyone know that in keeping with our current theme of computer and network security, we have the below available for Small Business Advantage members. If you are not already a member, feel free to JOIN HERE.

Available now for members is a collection of videos, software, graphics and more, that we have spent lots of time collecting from around the Internet. Here is a sample of what we currently have available with more to come.

-Free Videos related to Windows Vista and Apple security basics

-Free E-books related to computer security and operating systems

-Free anti-spyware tools and anti-virus tools

-Free Security seals and graphics for your website

-Our featured and highly recommended Small business IT security products

Hope you enjoy, but before you can take advantage, you will need to become a member of the Small Business Advantage.

Now back to the final article on Spyware: How Do We Prevent Spyware?

Spyware is software that infects computer systems and monitors all Internet and browsing activities of the user. Be keeping a record of the same, the software collects a plethora of personal information regarding the user of the PC and relays it back to the individual/ organization that has released the Spyware on to the PC. By doing so, the sender of the spy virus is able to keep a track on the person’s activities and is able to garner a wide range of information about the person which can be used in a number of ways. Apart from the obvious threat that is caused to the identity and the associated security of the person, the Spyware programs are also known to tamper the functioning of the computer by attracting viruses, slowing down the performance speeds and meddling with the computer settings.

As the rise of the treat posed by Spyware has augmented vastly in this last decade, methods to take action against it too have come up. While fixing Spyware infiltrations and removing the program from an infected computer with the help of ant-Spyware programs has become possible, the best way of protecting your computer is by preventing an attack in the first place.

As the adage goes, prevention is indeed better than cure, and in this article we shall discuss some tips and techniques the users can inculcate into their routines in order to be able to avoid any Spyware attacks.

The first common principle is to be aware of the links and pop-ups that you are pursuing. Mindlessly clicking on all that is offered to you on the World Wide Web is the worst possible course of action to follow. A majority of the offers for “free stuff” on the Internet can be revealed to be large scale scams that actually carry Spyware programs that once installed onto the computer track and record your every move. One should only accept download offers from trusted and reputed sources that are known for ethical conduct and have strict policies. This rule should also be applied to the process of opening attachments in e-mails.

The next tip is to regularly update your Browser and Server to keep all the entry holes into your system tightly shut.

The next step is to install a reputed and effective firewall on to your computer system. Some of the firewall programs available are the Spybot Search and Destroy which is available free of charge and also the ZoneAlarm, which too is free of cost. These programs can be used to scan the computer and record all the activity taking place on the system. If the presence of some objectionable program is detected the programs can be used for eliminating them. It is advised to use the services of there programs on a regular basis.

The most important tip and perhaps the most helpful one is to maintain caution at all times while using the Internet and its many services. It is important to be wary of all the products and services being offered on the World Wide Web as many of them are merely fronts for elaborate scams that could damage your computer system irreparably. Hence, whenever you encounter a program or a pop-up that seeks permission to store files on your PC or to download material, it is important to ensure that it is from a trustworthy source. Being alert and aware about the material you are transferring onto your computer can make all the difference in the world when it comes to safeguarding your computer.

The next tip is to ensure that all the aforementioned safety practices are put into practice by all the people using the computer. If it is a personal system, you can take the responsibility of being careful about the various threats and dangers. However if you are sharing the computer with a colleague or it is a family computer, make sure that everyone involved is informed about these principles and follows them effectively.

There are several ways of detecting a Spyware virus in the computer system. Some of these are described as follows:

When pop up advertisements that are unrelated to the websites that the user is visiting, appear every time the user surfs the web, his computer system may be infected with Spyware or any other unwanted software. These advertisements are usually promoting adult material or other objectionable matter.

The user may notice that his homepage as well as his search page settings are changed every time he restarts his computer. This means that a third party is tampering with the system and changing these settings. Even if the user changes them every time he logs on, they ultimately revert back every time the computer restarts.

The user’s web browser may contain additional toolbars that have not been downloaded by the user himself. Again, even if the user removes these toolbars, there are no changes when he restarts the computer.

When a Spyware virus is placed onto a computer system, it tracks the web activities of the user. The resources used by the creator of the virus slow down the computer and hampers the basic functioning of the system. Therefore, indications of an infection may be that a certain program crashes continuously at an increasing rate or if the system is slower than usual.

In order to detect Spyware at an early stage, the user must check the computer’s cookies on a regular basis. Every computer system builds up cookies which make the internet run much slower than normal. Cookies also allow advertising companies to identify which pop up ads must be sent towards the user. These cookies must be deleted on a regular basis in order to avoid Spyware.

Every website will prompt the user to download something or the other. However, the user should not click on any dialog box that looks suspicious. Every user must know exactly what he is installing onto his computer system. Here, the user must be sensible enough to realize that dialog boxes which announce that he has won a million dollars, is a Spyware which will ultimately destroy the computer system. The user must know what to click on and what to avoid, in order to prevent a Spyware infection. Therefore, the user can detect a Spyware even if he opens an email that is sent by an unknown email address.

In today’s day and age, it is recommended to run a personal firewall in order to detect a Spyware infection. Firewalls have the ability to sound alerts for both inbound as well as outbound activities. Every user must be on a look out for those unfamiliar programs that try to send out data from his computer system.

Currently on the market are software programs that will log every installation that occurs on your machine. It is best to leave these hidden on the system. It is possible to catch the installation of many spies in this way.
Anti-spy programs are those software that search for specific traces that are related to particular Spyware. Text string scanning is an effective way to detect Spyware. X-Cleaner is another software which not only detects the virus but also attempts to remove it.
Ironically, users can detect Spyware infections in their computer system by installing a spy software onto the system first. Since spy software is capable of screening all keystrokes, it can detect the existence of another spy software as well.
Running virus scans are secondary. If a computer system is infected by Spyware, the user must look for the above mentioned subtle warnings before the virus irreversibly harms the system of the computer permanently.

This week continues with the series about spyware. With the recent Conflikr scare, I think it is more important than ever for small business owners to take their security and protection of IT assets seriously. Having a customer database stolen because of some bad spyware can destroy a business in several ways to inlcude opening them up for legal action by government authorities and their clients as well for civil actions.

Thus far we have provided an overview of spyware and we talked about what spyware does. This week we continue with how you get infected with spyware

Spyware as the name itself suggests is software that spies on the computer system it is attached to by following and recording all the Web Browser activity taking place and relaying it back to individuals or organizations that make use of the personal and classified information for meeting a variety of purposes.

While many people remain oblivious to the threats and dangers posed by the Spyware program, the harsh reality is that the program can infest and attack your computer at any given time and from almost any part of the web, making it almost impossible to completely safeguard yourself against it.

Pursuing practically any and every of the popular activities on the World Wide Web leave your computer open to an attack from a Spyware program. It is imperative to have safeguarding software installed in your PC that detect the presence of Spyware programs and block it. If one is working online without the aid of these programs, the chances of being infested with a Spyware program are as high as 80%. It has been observed that all common activities taking place on the Web can leave your computer vulnerable to Spyware attacks and threats. These activities include using popular mailing services for dispatching, forwarding and receiving e-mails, using Instant Messengers and Chat Rooms for communicating online, using Download portals for transferring any form of data onto the computer: be it games, music, movies or E-books etc. the Spyware software most commonly creeps into the system when users employ the services of file sharing programs such as Kaaza and Aeres which involve downloading and uploading information on the Internet.

Another trick used by people to lure innocent individuals into the Spyware is to offer data and services for free on the Internet. As these programs, downloads, music, services and the such like are advertised to be free of charge, many people are understandably attracted to the offer and follow the download links further. The reality is that a majority of all these offers are basically Spyware programs camouflaged, riding on the disguise of legit offers.

Spyware program infects computers in mainly three ways. In the first way, the user believes he or she is downloading some safe material onto the PC while a software program piggybacking on the same too gets transferred onto the computer. In the second method, the user follows links in order to restore the computer to a good condition by finding a solution to some technical error. However, the “repair program” might actually be a scam that is disguised as helping software but is actually a Spyware program. In the third way, users are often duped into giving their consent to downloading seemingly legit programs that actually turn out to be a Spyware program.

An extremely common means of infiltrating computer systems is by fooling innocent users with the allure of Pop-ups. Many Pop-ups are a front for large scale scams that dupe users into accepting software into their systems. Most Pop-up software catches the attention of people by offering to repair problems in the computer. The question to ask at such times is as to how the makers of the Pop-up are aware of your computer and its structuring. In other words, it’s probably a scam and the wisest course of action would be to ignore these offers.

It is important to ensure that the highest security settings of your Browser are set. If there is negligence in this aspect, the chances of being attacked by Spyware increase manifold.

Many sites store cookies on your PC while you visit them. These cookies can help to track your activities on the website and store the information. Even though disabling the cookies is an option, it is bound to affect the working of some important, legit sites. For this reason, the best course of action is to regularly delete the temporary cookies stored on your PC.

Last week we started our series on Spyware. We have a few more articles on this topic for the future before we move to discussing the other little nasties out there that can threaten your business IT assets as well as home computers. This week we talk about what Spyware does, but before we begin, I want to let everyone know that the Small Business Advantage membership is no longer free, but almost free. Don’t worry if you joined free, you are grandfathered in and it will remain free. So for those who have yet to join, come check it out. Currently we have over 300 website templates, Project management software, e-book on PC security, free virus scan software and anti-spyware software, security seals for your websites and much more…all for free to our members. Follow the link below:

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Ok let’s talk Spyware…

For all computer owners and internet users, the mention of the Spyware software is undoubtedly a familiar one. Not only is a large population aware of the existence of the software, but are also at a risk of having their computers infected by it.

In order to be able to understand what the software does, it is important to first have a brief understanding about the software. In a nutshell, Spyware can be understood to be a kind of spy software program that infects the computer and monitors the usage of the internet, and thus accumulates a plethora of information regarding the Internet- related activities of the user.

The software works stealthily and most users are unable to detect its presence on the computer as the Spyware virus latches onto the computer via the means of concealed elements loaded within a number of shareware as well as freeware programs that the user might be downloading from the Internet. The greatest danger posed by Spyware lies in the fact that the user might take a long time to realize of its presence and in the time being the software can cause considerable damage to the computer system.

Thus, defining what the software actually does can be understood from the purpose it serves itself. The Spyware software once nested into a personal computer commences to watch the internet activity of the user of the computer. Details regarding any and every minute spent online are gathered and this collected information is then returned back to the individual who leased the Spyware software onto the computer to begin with. The Spyware software is used by a number of marketers and advertisers in a bid to gain personal information and information regarding habits and preferences of potential customers to gain an edge in their businesses.

The danger from Spyware stems from the fact that the virus can record almost any detail regarding activity over the internet, ranging from websites visited to transactions made, from recording keystrokes to memorizing passwords etc. In some extreme cases, Spyware software has been known to make copies of classified and personal information regarding the user.

There are a number of other things that Spyware software can accomplish, all of which weaken the user of the PC as the information regarded or disclosed is often personal in nature.

The software can cause damage to the main computer system. This can be noticed in two different ways. In many cases the performance of the computer is seen to get retarded and the computer works at a very slow pace. In the extreme cases, the software has been known to cause a lockdown of the whole system.

Some mischief making individuals often release a Spyware virus that attaches to a PC and affects it by capturing the home browser page and adjusting it to a different website, usually one with pornographic content.

Many times the presence of the Spyware software on a PC leads to the building of a toolbar full of viruses and other Spyware related programs in the Internet Explorer, thus causing further intrusion into the personal life of the user.

The various viruses released onto the computer very often cause the Internet Explorer and the Windows Explorer to disintegrate and crash,

The Spyware software can steal confidential information from the PC using keyboard monitoring software. Credit Card related information as well as other ID data is often taken from the PC by this software with the mal intention of identity theft related crimes.

The Spyware software can also monitor the Internet usage of an individual and make records of details about websites visited, time spent, content pursues and so and so forth, and the information and data collected by the software is often relayed to owners and administrators of other related and even unrelated websites.

Protecting oneself against Spyware software becomes imperative in the light of the intensity of personalized information that may be leaked out to undesirable sources.

Last week we provided you with an introduction to viruses, spyware, adware and malware. Our future articles will address each of those subjects. The next few articles we post will be related to Spyware. Please enjoy and apply where necessary.

Spyware is software that places itself onto the computer system without the user’s knowledge. It takes control over interaction of the user with the computer.
Spyware programs are usually designed with the purpose of tracking the user’s activities. The information thus collected, is transmitted to an unknown source.

Usually Spyware is used to keep a close watch on the Internet surfing habits of a user which is then, often used with Adware which is a virus that aims at marketing products by observing the nature of the advertisements the user pays attention to.

Based on the aim of the creator of the Spyware program, it can observe and collect data about email addresses, passwords, keystrokes, web pages visited, cookies, word processor documents as well as anything on the hard drive of the system.

Clearly, Spyware is a serious security and privacy threat as it allows the creator of the software to collect all kinds of information without the user having even the slightest idea that he is being monitored by a third party. Spyware can effectively be used to extract personal information for the purpose of identity theft or fraud. This information can also be sold by the creator to another source. This software is dangerous in the context that it makes the computer system completely vulnerable to being monitored by a third party, and therefore, makes the users Internet activities very transparent which is undoubtedly a serious violation of privacy.

The most common way by which Spyware is transmitted onto the computer system is when the user downloads other software- mainly free software (known as freeware) which is often for trial purposes. This is known as bundling which arises when the creator of the Spyware program pays the freeware producer to attach the virus onto the product.
While downloading the desired freeware, the attached Spyware virus that the user ultimately downloads as well may be mentioned in the licensing agreement. The Spyware creator expects the user to click “Ok” without going through the licensing agreement. However, even if the user glances through it, the inclusion of the virus will be mentioned in a very technical jargon, making its recognition very difficult.

Spyware is also transmitted to the computer system by regular visits of certain sites. The user may be asked to install a particular application which will enable him to view the site ‘properly’, to open a greeting card or to watch a video or listen to a song on a website. Once the user clicks on it, it may turn out to be a Spyware instead.

Another common way by which Spyware is extended onto a computer is through ActiveX controls. Once these start to load, the browser asks the user if he wants to install it. Every time the user loads a new page, he will be presented with the same prompter, until he gives up and just clicks ‘Yes’. However, they end up installing Spyware onto the system.

However, Spyware can also be used to benefit users by allowing parents to use it as a surveillance tool to monitor the websites visited by their children. It can also be used to track the web surfing activities of employees by employers to observe what goes on when they’re absent. This ‘wanted’ Spyware can be bought and installed in the same manner as any other software and helps to track activities such as websites visited; programs used, keyboard strokes, etc. When used in this positive manner, the data collected is not sent out to an unknown source but is referenced from the same computer by the concerned parent or employer.

Over the years, due to worsening of Spyware threats, various techniques have been created to combat the problem. Products such as Steve Gibson’s OptOut, Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware SE and Patrick Kolla’s Spybot- Search & Destroy- are dedicated towards eradicating or blocking Spyware.
Anti-virus firms too, (Symantec, Sophos, McAfee) have also added anti-Spyware features to their anti-virus software. Zone Labs, too which created Zone Alarm firewalls, have released anti-Spyware programs.

This week begins a series of posts on the little nasties that can hinder your computer systems at home and in your small business computer netowrking environment.

Virus:

A computer virus is a program that replicates itself and infects a computer without the user’s permission. A virus extends to another computer system when the host is transferred to it, for instance, if the user sends it through a portable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD or USB. Most computer systems are connected through local area networks which increases the chances of the spread of a virus. Some recent viruses are known to affect a personal computer over networks such as Instant Messaging, Websites or even through a simple email. Viruses generally affect the computer system in a number of ways, depending on the nature of the virus and its degree of destruction. It can severely hamper the basic functioning of a computer or it may remain dormant in the system, without the user ever experiencing any serious connectivity problems.
Anti- virus software is capable of identifying and removing viruses
but is only effective when they are updated regularly.

Spyware

Spyware is a software that not only has the ability to collect all kinds of personal information picked up from the user’s activity with Internet surfing, but can also create obstacles in the functioning of the computer by installing new software and redirecting activity concerned with Web browsing. It changes settings of the computer system which leads to a slower Internet speed, special home pages and loss of proper functioning of other programs. Spyware usually tricks the user into installing it onto the system by presenting it in such a way that makes it seem like a useful and desirable service. Other ways in which Spyware is transmitted is through the installation of shareware, in which the virus is attached to the desired software. Spyware is also transmitted onto computer systems through a manipulation of the security features which are designed to curb unwanted installations on websites.
Over the years, due to worsening of Spyware threats, various products such as Steve Gibson’s OptOut, Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware SE and Patrick Kolla’s Spybot- Search & Destroy- have been created which are dedicated towards eradicating or blocking Spyware.

Adware:

Adware is software which intrudes on the user’s privacy. However, while Spyware is designed to hamper with confidential information, Adware usually aims at marketing. Adware tracks the user’s web browsing habits, the nature of advertisements he clicks on, the bookmarks he makes and other routine online functions. A more serious form of Adware forces the user to look at certain websites or adverts. This kind of Adware is designed with the purpose of directing us towards the installation of Spyware. Some programs which effectively remove this virus are Ad-aware and Spybot- Search & Destroy. However, sometimes Adware may have to be removed manually. For this, the user must first disconnect the Internet connection. Surprisingly, most Adware applications have a fully functioning de-installation option which can effectively remove the virus. Next the user must run a complete scan of the computer- which allows the user to clean quarantine or delete as required.

Malware:

Malware is a virus which tampers with the browser, redirects searches and leads to undesirable pop-up ads. Malware usually leads to a slowing down of the speed of the computer. Even after removal of the virus, it has the ability to reinstall itself- making it very difficult to permanently remove it. Like Spyware, Malware is usually attached to preferred software such as Kazaa and iMesh. The virus also presents itself to be a useful feature which will benefit the computer system, in order to deceive the user into installing it. Anti-virus firms hardly pay any heed to Malware. Regular anti-virus programs are used to remove Malware. However this is not entirely useful and a dedicated anti-Malware remover is required. The only precautions that users may take in this context include running regular virus scans and avoiding the virus altogether by being careful while surfing the Internet 

Please enjoy this brief 5 minute video on detecting virus, spyware, malware, and adware.

To our subscribers, I apologize for being absent for so long from this website. However, we have been adding some things in the background and have much more on its way. So please check out the new design, the new additions like the Small Biz Advantage Membership and more.

Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing articles realted to PC security. Specifically spyware, adware, malware, viruses and other little nasties.

So we ask you stay with us, enjoy the read when we post, enjoy the free tools and downloads along with much more.

Please, share us with your friends and any small business you think may benefit from us.

by Stephen J. Carmichael

Contrary to popular belief there actually is little difference between adware and spyware.

According to wikipedia.org, spyware is:

…computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to intercept or take partial control over the user’s interaction with the computer, without the user’s informed consent.

In contrast adware, also called advertising-supported software, is described as:

…any software package which plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer automatically, either after the software is installed, or while it is being used.

The confusion arises in that many adware applications in fact include spyware within. It makes it far more difficult to discern whether the adware program you installed is doing more than just popping up advertisements.

Adware

Supporters of adware say that though consumers may find the advertising bothersome, it is the price they pay for receiving “free” software. The ad revenue enables the developers to be financially rewarded for their work, the advertisers get their message in front of thousands (or more) of eyes, and the users get software with no monetary cost.

Many shareware software programs that incorporate adware have the option of removing the ads, upon payment of the licensing fee. This provides users the opportunity to trial the software, but eliminate the ads if desired.

Spyware

For those programs that include spyware (and they aren’t always adware programs), there is a far more incidious problem. Spyware, not suprisingly, allows a third party to “spy” on your computer. The spyware is a software that places a tracking device within the computer system.

This tracking software, depending on how it’s programmed, can look into your web surfing logs, your chat history, etc. It can even discover things like how often you check your email.

Because the spyware runs in the background, behind the scenes, it is invisible to most users, and there is no way to restrict the information being sent to the originator of the spyware.

Origins of Spyware

Some forms of spyware evolved out of programs used by parents, or suspicious employers, to track what children or wayward employees were doing on their computers. Programs were developed to record information like that mentioned above, or to record keystrokes. Now, with spyware, the keystrokes that are recorded might be your online banking password!

Risks vs. Benefits

Because it is very difficult to know whether the advertising supported shareware you just downloaded is legitimate, or contains spyware that will cause you much grief, it is important to take precautions. Make sure you are downloading from a trusted source. Use software on your computer designed to protect you from attack. And make educated decisions.

Not sure if your computer is infected with Spyware? Can’t get rid of that Adware program, no matter what you try? The Ultimate Guide to Defending Yourself from Deadly Spyware can educate you on how to disinfect and protect yourself, your computer and your private information. Visit Spyware.2Byt.com for more information.

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by Etienne A. Gibbs

Back in October of 2005, Microsoft, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Action, a public watchdog and education group, joined together to launch a campaign aimed at helping consumers prevent their computers from getting turned into zombies.

Hacking was real then as it is real today. Hackers always manage to stay one step ahead of authorities. Today they have managed to come up with a whole new way to hack into your home and business computers. Because wireless Internet access points have become popular for homes and businesses, hackers have now become a major target for hackers. In this new phenomenon, called “dive-by hacking”, hackers simply take their laptop computers in their cars and drive through business parks or residential neighborhoods remotely scanning for open wireless networks. (This is similar to the old version of the drive-by garage door remote theft where criminal would use universal remote controls to open garage doors without arousing the suspicions of neighbors, police, or home security companies.)

Today millions of businesses and homes have implemented wireless networks for their convenience, and, sadly, for the convenience of the cybercriminals. And hackers don’t even have to open your garage door to enter your home or business. Now hackers can simply pull up outside, up to 600 feet away, and gain access to the network, the Internet, and every computer on the network. This kind of hacking has become so popular that you can even find public websites around the globe that sell maps to all the known “open” wireless networks.

According to Tim Cranton, director of Microsoft’s Internet Safety Enforcement programs, “The only way to slow the spread of zombies and other online threats is by going after them as resolutely and in as many ways as possible.”

People who use the Internet but don’t properly protect their PCs from cybercriminals may never know that their computers have been compromised – even after their infected machines begin causing problems for other people and, potentially, themselves.

As government agencies and email providers have cracked down on ways of exploiting consumer and business PCs, many computer criminals have turned their attention to creating zombies. They do so by tricking people into loading malicious code by hiding it in e-mail attachments or in music, video or other files that people download online – or even within data transferred when clicking on an infected Web site.

As more people sign up for high-speed Internet connections at home, computer criminals have set their sights on a growing population of potential zombies that never sleep. “High-speed connections are an extremely convenient and powerful way to access the Internet, but people need to realize that their connections don’t turn off when they walk away from their computers,” says Aaron Kornblum, Microsoft’s Internet-safety enforcement attorney.

Because the potential threat is so great, the anti-zombie campaign stresses prevention as the best defense against spam and zombie attacks. All three partners, Microsoft, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Consumer Action, continue to urge consumers to ensure their computers have the latest software for detecting and preventing computer viruses and spyware. The partners also stressed the importance of installing a software firewall, programs on a computer or network of computers that examine e-mails and other incoming information to determine if they pose a threat before they are delivered within the computer. (Download the PowerPoint presentation from Microsoft, How Zombie PCs Operate: A Graphical Presentation, to get a better understanding.)

So, what can you do to protect yourself? Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

* Use a firewall to protect computers from hacking attacks while connected to the Internet.

* Get computer security updates or use the automatic updating features to shield computers from viruses, worms and other threats.

* Use up-to-date anti-virus software to help protect against the latest threats.

* Get anti-spyware software and beware of tricks designed to get people to download and install unwanted and sometimes destructive software. This software is sometimes distributed in non-commercial music downloads, file-sharing programs and free games

* Be cautious about opening any attachment or downloading any files in emails from unknown senders.

To protect yourself, you need an Internet security team of experts making sure that you, your family, and your business computer are always safe and secure. The best protection you can have in today’s rapidly changing world of cyber-attacks is to have expert support for all your Internet security needs that will provide technical support without any hassles and without charging you extra fees. It will become even more critical than it is today as time goes on. You need to find your own personal team of experts to rely on. If you ever have a security problem, you will want to have a trusted expert you can call for professional help, without any hassles and extra costs!

Because cybercriminals are becoming smarter and more sophisticated in their operations, they are real threats to your personal security and privacy. Your money, your computer, your family, and your business are all at risk.

These cybercriminals leave you with three choices :

1. Do nothing and hope their attacks, risks, and threats don’t occur on your computer.

2. Do research and get training to protect yourself, your family, and your business.

3. Get professional help to lockdown your system from all their attacks, risks, and threats.

Remember: When you say “No!” to hackers and spyware, everyone wins! When you don’t, we all lose!

© MMVII, Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, The Internet Safety Advocate

About The Author: Etienne A. Gibbs, Independent Internet Security Advocate, consults with individuals, small business owners, and home-business entrepreneurs regarding online protection against spyware, viruses, malware, hackers, and other pc-disabling cybercrimes. For more information, visit www.SayNotoHackersandSpyware.com/.

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