Spyware Infects 80% of Home Computers!!      ARE YOU INFECTED?

SPYWARE: Are You Infected?

Spyware has risen to the top of many computer users' lists as one of the worst problems they face today. Did you know that when a PC is infected with spyware every keystroke, every website and every e-mail could possibly be recorded or monitored by the people or companies that may have secretly installed software on your PC. The potential consequences of spyware and adware infections can include banking and identity theft, unusual computer problems, slow Internet access, hijacked browser homepage,  search pages or favorites, and excessive numbers of advertisement pop-ups.

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A study by America Online Inc. and the National Cyber Security Alliance found that most computer users believe they're safe from viruses, spyware and adware, when in fact their machines are infected with some form of malicious code. ( To read a full article describing this study click here ) The numbers from the study are grim. More than 3 in 4 computer users believe they are safe from online threats, yet researchers found that 80 percent of computers analyzed were infected with spyware, which is any software that secretly gathers user information through their Internet connection. The effects of spyware on the individual computer user range from minor annoyances to serious impacts on computer performance, security, and privacy. More often than not, spyware-related issues reported by users come in the form of one or more of these common symptoms: 

·    Unwanted pop-up advertisements, even when not browsing the Web

·    A change to the browser home page or default search engine without user consent, which often resists attempts to change it back

·    A new and unwanted toolbar on the browser, which often resists attempts to remove it

·    Sudden and dramatic slowdown in computer performance

·    Increase in crashes or “freezes” of Windows, your Web browser or common applications

·    You enter a search term in Internet Explorer's address bar and press Enter to start the search. Instead of your usual search site, an unfamiliar site handles the search.

·    And the final sign is: Everything appears to be normal. The most devious spyware doesn't leave traces you'd notice. 

Many kinds of unwanted software, including spyware, are designed to be difficult to remove. If you try to uninstall this software like any other program, you might find that the program reappears as soon as you restart your computer. If you're having trouble uninstalling unwanted software, you may need to download a tool to do the job for you. Several companies offer free and low-cost software that will check your computer for spyware and other unwanted software and help you remove it. Many of the newer, malicious forms of spyware require modifying the Windows registry or removing files in DOS mode. These actions are best left to a professional computer consulting company. 

SPYWARE: How to Remove 

Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements (called adware) or software that tracks personal or sensitive information. That does not mean all software which provides ads or tracks your online activities is bad. For example, you might sign up for a free music service, but "pay" for the service by agreeing to receive targeted ads. If you understand the terms and agree to them, you may have decided that it is a fair tradeoff. You might also agree to let the company track your online activities to determine which ads to show you. The key in all cases is whether or not you (or someone who uses your computer) understand what the software will do and have agreed to install the software on your computer. Whenever you are installing something on your computer, make sure you carefully read all disclosures, including the license agreement and privacy statement. Sometimes the inclusion of unwanted software in a given software installation is documented, but it may appear at the end of a license agreement or privacy statement. Keep in mind that removing unwanted software with these tools may mean you will no longer be able to use a free program that came with the spyware. It is a must to have a current anti-virus program with up to date virus definitions and to run a full virus scan of your computer before scanning for spyware!  If you do not have a current anti-virus you can download a great program that is free for home use at free.grisoft.com . You may also scan you system for viruses and spyware from the web at housecall.trendmicro.com. If you are not seriously infected the following actions can often clean your system: 

·    Download one of the free removal tools listed below and install it.

·    Run the tool to scan your computer for spyware and other unwanted software.

·    Review the files discovered by the tool for spyware and other unwanted software.

·    Select suspicious files for removal by following the tool's instructions. 

Here are a few well-known free tools that can help you detect and remove unwanted software from your computer: 

·    Lavasoft Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com)

·    Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) 

·    Microsoft Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)

Step 1: Update your software

If you use Windows 98, ME or XP, one way to help prevent spyware and other unwanted software is to make sure all your Windows software has the latest updates. First, visit the Windows Update website located at windowsupdate.microsoft.com to confirm that you have Automatic Updates turned on and that you've downloaded all the latest critical and security updates. Internet Explorer in Windows XP SP2 also includes a number of features to help protect against spyware and many other kinds of deceptive or unwanted software.

Step 2: Use a firewall 

While most spyware and other unwanted software come bundled with other programs or originate from unscrupulous Web sites, a small amount of spyware can actually be placed on your computer remotely by hackers. On the Internet, hackers use malicious code—such as viruses, worms, and Trojan horses—to try to find unprotected computers. A firewall is critical if you have an always on internet connection such as DSL or cable. A firewall can help protect your computer against these and other security attacks. Software firewalls are a good choice for single computers, and they work well with Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows 2000. (Windows XP has a built-in firewall, so an additional firewall is not necessary.)

Here is a great firewall programs available free for home users: 

·    Zone-Alarm (www.zonelabs.com)

Step 4: Surf and download more safely 

The best defense against spyware and other unwanted software is not to download it in the first place. Here are some common types of downloads that may contain spyware: 

·    Music, movies, and other software file-sharing programs downloaded from the Internet or from other computers

·    Free games downloaded from the Internet

·    Free screen savers downloaded from the Internet

·    Toolbars for your Internet browser

·    Free pop-up blockers that appear on your computer when you are online

·    Animated characters for your desktop 

Not all of the programs listed above will contain unwanted software. The key to helping prevent the installation of spyware is to download programs only from sources you trust and to read all security warnings, license or user agreements, and privacy statements associated with any software you download or install on your computer.

Enforce a rule that your kids always ask your permission before they download anything from the Internet. If you're not sure if the program they ( or you ) want to download contains spyware or other unwanted software, ask a knowledgeable friend or enter the name of the program into your favorite search engine and see if anyone else has reported that it contains spyware.  

"Mom, Dad—I promise I didn't download anything" 

Sometimes your children may accidentally infect your computer with spyware or other unwanted software without even knowing they've downloaded anything. Some popular sites for kids may try to download programs without your kids even asking for them. Your children may see a warning notifying them that a Web site wants to download a program. They may click random buttons on the window just to get it to disappear. What they click on might just be "I agree."

If you don't think your kids understand what it means to download programs only from trusted sources or if you think they probably won't read all the warnings and agreements that appear while they're surfing the Web, you may have to take a few extra precautionary measures with your home computer.

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