How many spyware items are infecting your computer?
I just had, by mistake, a plug-in called Intelligent Explorer attach to my browser. What a nightmare! I have another article on this topic, but this brings home a point. Spyware or adware items are continually infecting computers. Most computers have no protection from them. Most frightening is the frequency of them. From the Infosec Writers web site, "According to a survey by America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 91% of users questioned were familiar with the term spyware. Only 53% believed their computers were infected, but a scan found that 80% of their PCs had some type of spyware installed on them." It goes on to say, "...The average number of spyware components per computer was 93 with one computer having well over a thousand."
What is Spyware?
Butte College (www.bctv.butte.edu/support/spyware.html) offers this definition:
“The term ‘spyware’ is broadly defined as any program that gets into your computer without permission and hides in the background while it makes unwanted changes to your user experience.
Spyware is generally not designed to damage your computer. The damage it does is more a by-product of its main mission, which is to serve you targeted advertisements or make your browser display certain sites or search results.
At present, most spyware targets only the Windows operating system (Internet Explorer).”
To be fair, spyware can be harmless, for example tracking cookies don’t do much. While such things infringe on your privacy, they don't really harm anything. Others, however, are extremely dangerous.
So what do you do about it?
No spyware program seems to do everything, but there are a lot of goods solutions out there that can help. Here is a list of some of the top Spyware tools to look at:
1) Try Ad-Aware 6.0 Professional from LavaSoft (there is also a free version with less functionality)
2) Spybot Search & Destroy from PepiMK Software
3) Xoftspy form Pareto Logic
5) Spyware Guard from Javacool Software is a free program
4) Pest Patrol (now part of Computer Associates by acquisition)
5) McAfee Anti-Spyware
One thing is for certain: you do need to take spyware seriously. For some reason, too many people out there think anti-virus solutions are the end-all solution. They are not.
And, when all else fails?
Finally, as drastic as it seems, if your computer has been infected with a large number of spyware programs, the only solution you may have is backing up your data, and performing a complete reinstall of the operating system.
Showing posts with label spybot. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spybot. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Free Spyware Adware Remover
Computers need routine maintenance as well as systems checks in order to be in good condition at all times. This can be done by getting the proper software or sending the unit to the shop.
If the individual notices that the computer is not performing as well as before, proper action must be done immediately before everything shuts down. Aside from the potential threat of a virus that can destroy the operating system and the hard drive, another concern should be the spyware and the adware that comes when a website is visited.
Spyware and adware programs can be purchased in the store. With the development of e-commerce, software companies have made it possible to get these things online and have it downloaded in an instant into the computer.
Is there one software program better than the other? Some will say this brand while others will say another depending on how user-friendly and effective it has performed in the past. Here are the top 5 that are free for the person to use so the user should be the judge.
1. McAfee has been in the business of providing security solutions since 1987. The software programs it offers can take care of viruses, spyware, adware and any other threats all in just one package.
Among the different software companies in the industry, this firm does not allow free trials but those who have used it and are still doing so today are satisfied with its products and services.
2. Another leader in the industry is Symantec. This company started 5 years earlier than McAfee and offers customers various versions of its products. Those who are skeptic about the adware and spyware software it has can download the software and try it for 30 days. Those who amazed can then buy the program to continue enjoying its services.
3. Microsoft is one of the biggest software companies in the world. Aside from offering to customer’s operating systems, it also has adware spyware remover, which can be downloaded for free into the computer.
4. The fourth company on the list is not as big as the other three players but is still able to hold its head up high in the market. The program is called Spybot Search and Destroy. From the name itself, the individual can already tell what it can do as well as prevent new threats from ever popping up in the future.
5. Lastly, is Adaware, which also has various versions for personal and commercial use. Those who will just use it to keep the computer safe at home can download the adware spyware remover program for free. If this will be used by a company to protect its assets, a fee will be charged to keep the system running.
The person does not have to be a computer expert to be able to protect everything inside the computer because there are adware spyware remover programs available.
Once it is downloaded and installed, the individual does not have to worry because the software will check the computer carefully as well as receive updates so new threats can be caught before it can do any damage making one sleep peacefully at night. It is up to the customer whether to pay for the system or simply get one that is free.
If the individual notices that the computer is not performing as well as before, proper action must be done immediately before everything shuts down. Aside from the potential threat of a virus that can destroy the operating system and the hard drive, another concern should be the spyware and the adware that comes when a website is visited.
Spyware and adware programs can be purchased in the store. With the development of e-commerce, software companies have made it possible to get these things online and have it downloaded in an instant into the computer.
Is there one software program better than the other? Some will say this brand while others will say another depending on how user-friendly and effective it has performed in the past. Here are the top 5 that are free for the person to use so the user should be the judge.
1. McAfee has been in the business of providing security solutions since 1987. The software programs it offers can take care of viruses, spyware, adware and any other threats all in just one package.
Among the different software companies in the industry, this firm does not allow free trials but those who have used it and are still doing so today are satisfied with its products and services.
2. Another leader in the industry is Symantec. This company started 5 years earlier than McAfee and offers customers various versions of its products. Those who are skeptic about the adware and spyware software it has can download the software and try it for 30 days. Those who amazed can then buy the program to continue enjoying its services.
3. Microsoft is one of the biggest software companies in the world. Aside from offering to customer’s operating systems, it also has adware spyware remover, which can be downloaded for free into the computer.
4. The fourth company on the list is not as big as the other three players but is still able to hold its head up high in the market. The program is called Spybot Search and Destroy. From the name itself, the individual can already tell what it can do as well as prevent new threats from ever popping up in the future.
5. Lastly, is Adaware, which also has various versions for personal and commercial use. Those who will just use it to keep the computer safe at home can download the adware spyware remover program for free. If this will be used by a company to protect its assets, a fee will be charged to keep the system running.
The person does not have to be a computer expert to be able to protect everything inside the computer because there are adware spyware remover programs available.
Once it is downloaded and installed, the individual does not have to worry because the software will check the computer carefully as well as receive updates so new threats can be caught before it can do any damage making one sleep peacefully at night. It is up to the customer whether to pay for the system or simply get one that is free.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Beware Internet Explorer Plug-Ins
Just what is Intelligent Explorer? For your safety, you really need to know
I recently hit, by mistake, what I thought was an Explorer upgrade option. It turned out to be a pop-up appearing legitimate but really was not. It uploaded a product called Intelligent Explorer on my machine. What a nightmare!
I did some research on the web and found messages like this one from a BullGuard Antivirus Forum,
"PLEASE HELP!!! I HAVE A SPYWARE, TROJAN AND HIJACKER ON MY COMPUTER. I HAVE RUN BULLGUARD, CWSHREDDER AND AD-AWARE. ALL HAVE PICKED UP THE VIRUSES AND SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN MOVED/REMOVED BUT WHEN I LOG ONTO THE INTERNET THAT DAMN INTELLIGENT EXPLORER TOOLBAR IS SHOWING"
Another message from spywareinfo Forum goes something like this:
"Hey I'm having issues with something called Internet explorer toolbar - Intelligent explorer. I can’t find a way to remove it from my comp and I really don’t want to reinstall windows. I've used spybot, ad-ware, and cw shredder but nothing seems to work."
It appears that Intelligent Explorer allows other software to be downloaded to your machine and this is where the problem occurs. What is even more remarkable is that by downloading Intelligent Explorer, their license grants them the right to install software add-ins on your computer at their will. Take a look at what the software license for Intelligent Explore says (go to http://www.ieplugin.com/terms.html to read it all):
"You grant to us the right, exercisable by us until you uninstall the Software or this agreement is otherwise terminated, to provide to you the Service of downloading and causing to be displayed advertising material on your computer, through ‘pop-up’ or other display while you use your browser. You acknowledge and agree that installation of the Software may automatically modify toolbars and other settings of your browser. By installing the Software you agree to such modifications."
The company, IBC incorporated, is incorporated in Belize. I really can't believe this license!
One end user found highly objectionable pop-up advertisements generated by this software bundled with Intelligent Explorer in the form of extreme pornography.
I have yet to break this.
Intelligent Explorer is a plug-in, which can create a new home page, as well as start up and endless loop of pop-ups. You can remove the view bar, but then starting up Internet Explorer will cause it to reappear. I asked some friends to help, and no one could tell me what to do.
This is what I did:
I bought a copy of a program called XoftSpy and it removed the software. It took two scans and a reboot to do it. This is not an advertisement for this product. They advertised it was free, which it was to run, but then I had to buy it to actually fix anything. It cost me $40 and I am sure that there are freeware products out there as well, but that is what ended the nightmare for me. Other spyware products I have seen out there include spybot, NoAdware, Spyware Eliminator, Pal Spyware Remover, and Spyware C.O.P.
Let the buyer beware!
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