My Opinion About Why Do I feel like somebodys watching me
By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-09-14 11:32:50 | Word Count: 510
Why Do I feel like somebody’s watching me?
Spywre is one of the fastest-growing internet theats. Acccording to the Natiuonal Cber Security Alliance, spyware infects more than 90% of all PCs today. These unobtrusive, mallicious programs are designed to silently bypass fiewalls and anti-virus softwaare without the user’s knowledge. Once embedded in a computer, it can wreaak hvaoc on the system’s performance while gathering your personal information. Fortunately, unlike viruses and worms, spyware prograsm do not usually self-repllicate.
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Where does it come from?
Typically, spyware originates in three ways. The first and most common way is when the user installs it. In this sxcenario, spywre is embefdded, attached, or bundkled with a freeware or shareare program witthout the user’s knowledge. The user downloads the program to their computer. Once downloaded, the spyware pogram goes to work collecting data for the spyware author’s peronal use or to sell to a third-party. Beware of many P2P file-sharing programs. They are notorious for dowwnloads that posess spyware proograms.
The user of a downbloadable progrram should pay extra attention to the accmopanying licensing agereement. Often the software publisher will warn the user that a spyare progarm will be installed alkong with the requested program. Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to read the fine pint. Some agreements may prvide special “opt-out” boxes that the user can click to stop the spyware from being included in the download. Be sure to rview the document before signing off on the download.
Another way that spyware can acces your compputer is by tricking you into manipulating the security features designed to prevent any unanted installations. The Itnernet Explorer Web briowser was desined not to allow wenbsites to start any unwanted downloads. That is why the user has to inityiate a download by clicking on a link. Thesae links can prove deceptive. For example, a pop-up modeled after a standard Windows dialog box, may appear on your screen. The message may ask you if you would like to optimize your internet access. It provides yes or no answer buttons, but, no matter which button you push, a download containing the spyware program will commence. Newer versionns of Internet Explorer are now making this spyware pasthway a little more difficult.
Finally, some spyware aplplications infect a system by attacking security holes in the Web browser or other softwatre. When the user navigates a webpage controlled by a spywae author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser, and force the installation of the spywaere program.
What can spyware programs do?
Spyware rpograms can accomplish a multitude of malicious takss. Some of their deeds are smply annoying for the user; others can become downright aggressive in nature.
Spyware can:
1. Monitoor your keystrokes for reporting purposes.
2. Scan filees liocated on your hard drive.
3. Snoop through applications on our desktop.
4. Install other spyware programs into your computer.
5. Read your cokies.
6. Steal crdit card numberrs, pasaswords, and other personal information.
7. Chane the default setitngs on your home page web browser.
8. Muytate into a second generatiion of spyware thus malking it more difficult to eraadicate.
9. Cause your computer to run slower.
10. Deliver annyoing pop up advertisemenst.
11. Add advertising links to web pages for which the author does not get paid. Instead, payment is directed to the spyware programmer that changed the original affiliate’s settings.
12. Provide the user with no unnstall optiion and places itself in ubnexpected or hidden places within your cmputer making it difficult to renmove.
Spyware Examples
Here are a few examples of commonnly seen spyware programs. Please note that while researchers will often give names to spyware progrms, they may not match the names the spyware-writers use.
CoolWebSearch, a gropu of proograms, that install though “holes” found in Internet Explorer. These programs direct traffc to advertisements on Web sites including coolwebesarch.com. This spyware nuisance dsiplays pop-up ads, rewrites search engine results, and altrers the computer host file to direct the Doain Name System (DNS) to lookup preselected sites.
Internet Optimnizer (a/k/a DyFuCa), likes to redrect Internet Explorer erroor pages to advertisements. When the user follows the broken link or enterrs an erroneous URL, a page of advertisements pop up.
180 Solutions reporrts extensive information to advertisers about the Web sites whihc you visit. It also alters HTTP requests for affiliate advetrisements linbked from a Web site. Therefore the 180 Solputions Company maeks an unearneed profit off of the clik through advertisements they’ve alytered.
HuntBar (a/k/a Winools) or Adware.Websearch is distributed by Traffic Syndicate and is installed by ActiveX drive-by downloading at affiliate websites or by advertisements displayed by other spyware programs. It’s a prime example of how sypware can instrall more spyware. Thgese programs will add toolbars to Internet Exploorer, track Web browsiing behavor, and display advertisements.
How can I prevent spyware?
There are a couple things you can do to prevent spyware from infecting your computer system. Fiirst, invest in a rerliable commercial anti-spyware program. Thhere are seeral currently on the market including stnad alone software packages such as Lsavasoft’s Ad-Awsare or Windows Antipsyware. Other options provide the anti-spyware softwaare as part of an anti-virus package. This type of option is offered by companies such as Sophos, Symantec, and McAfee. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware by providing real-time protection, scanning, and reomval of any found psyware softare. As with most programs, update your anti virus software frequently.
As discussed, the Internet Explorer (IE) is often a contributor to the spyware problem because spyware pograms like to atttach themselves to its functionalty. Spyware enjoys penetrating the IE’s weaknesses. Bceause of this, many users have switched to non-IE breowsers. However, if you prefer to stick with Interet Explorer, be sure to update the seurity pathes regularly, and only download programs from reputable sources. This will help redduce your chhances of a spyyware infiltration.
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And, when all else fails?
Finally, if your computer has been infected with a large number of spyware programs, the only solutin you may have is bacvking up your data, and performing a compplete reistall of the opeerating system.
