Removing Stubborn Spyware from your Hardrive.

Internet Explorer is the browser used by most computer user and because the browser was designed to have third party functionality spyware distributors have taken advantage of the opportunity to spread their surveillance software. Creators of spyware are very aware that many users now have spyware removers up and running on their computers. To counter this, spyware producers have designed...

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Spyware versus Adware; the Difference Impacts Your Privacy

Sharron Senter



Many people use the terms Spyware and Adware interchangeably. You shouldn't! There are important differences between the two. True, both terms refer to the act of tracking your computer activity, such as how long you visited a particular Web site.

However, the key difference is the intent behind how and why a business collects your information. Adware is commonly associated with pop-up advertisements used by businesses trying to sell you something. However, Spyware, the more malicious of the two, isn't trying to sell you, instead, it's trying to take something from you -- your credit card and social security numbers and bank account information. Some Spyware collects information about you and, if placed in the wrong hands, could be detrimental to your financial wellbeing and used to steal your identity. Adware is usually something you can see. Whereas Spyware often can't be seen, in fact, businesses behind Spyware don't want you to know they're lurking. Therefore, you may have a Spyware infection and not know it. One vicious Spyware is keylogging, a tool that hangs about in the background, logging your keystrokes, including account numbers and passwords you type on your keyboard, and then sends the information to the originating source.

Future of Spyware Spyware will only become more invasive with no concern for your privacy, regardless of what you want or think. Worse, no one piece of software will protect you from the above. Why? One belief is that there are far more research dollars being spent on developing Spyware than combating it, since the information derived from the former is more lucrative.

Protecting Yourself There are two methods to protect yourself, both are equally important.

1. Manage your computer usage behavior. If you download most anything for free - movies, software, music, etc., then you can anticipate being exposed to highly aggressive forms of Spyware.

2. Utilize anti-spyware software programs and a hardware firewall. Both help to fend off Spyware. Lavasoft's Ad-Aware se and Microsoft's AntiSpyware (Beta) programs are reputable.



About the author: Sharron Senter is co-founder of http://www.VisitingGeeks.com - an on site computer repair, security and networking company serving north of Boston, Southern NH and Maine. Visiting Geeks' technicians are crackerjacks at squashing viruses, popups and securing and making computers perform faster. Learn more about Sharron at http://www.SharronSenter.com None


Safely Surfing the Internet and staying free from Spyware.

The internet has quickly become a dangerous place to take your computer without first having sufficient security equipment installed and running. Intruders using viruses were the first threat and spyware has become the most prevalent threat against user's privacy and computer functioning. Having only anti-virus and firewall protection will no longer fully protected your computer from the many internet threats. Signing online without first having good anti-spyware protection will now invite in privacy intruders you would not normally allow in. With spyware in you computer there is seemingly...

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The latest information and news on Spywaredude:

Google
'WSJ' calls Microsoft antivirus tool 'spyware' (CNET)
In what appears to be just a bad headline, the business publication says that Microsoft plans to introduce spyware. (It's actually planning free antivirus software)
Court Slams Door On Sale of Spyware (Slashdot)
coondoggie writes "The Federal Trade Commission yesterday had a US District Court issue a temporary restraining order halting the sale of RemoteSpy keylogger spyware. According to the FTC's complaint, RemoteSpy spyware was sold to clients who would then secretly monitor unsuspecting consumers' computers. The defendants provided RemoteSpy clients with detailed instructions explaining how to ...
WOT Releases Extended Protection for Web-Based Email Users (PRWeb)
WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking. (PRWeb Nov 21, 2008) Read ...
Phisher-besieged PayPal sends users faux log-in page (The Register)
Error.com's missed opportunity PayPal, the online payment service that is a major target of phishers, has been caught sending customer emails that confuse its own login page with a third-party landing site that offers spyware protection and a bevy of other products.?
WOT Releases Extended Protection for Web-Based Email Users (PRWeb via Yahoo! ...
WOT, Web of Trust, extends the security protection of its popular browser add-on to the top three Internet-based email services -- Google Gmail, Windows Live Hotmail and Yahoo! Mail. WOT checks links embedded in email and warns users of dangerous websites to help them avoid spyware, spam, phishing, identity theft and other Internet fraud, before they risk clicking.
FTC get CyberSpy?s RemoteSpy banned in the U.S. (Geek.com)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been successful in its bid to get the RemoteSpy spyware application released by CyberSpy Software banned in the U.S. For now the ban is temporary, but the FTC are pushing to make it permanent. The ban stems from a complaint (PDF) lodged by the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) back [...]
Microsoft to offer free anti-virus software (The Manila Times)
Microsoft has announced plans to offer free anti-virus software to PC users starting next year. The Redmond, Washington-based software giant said the software, code-named "Morro," will "provide comprehensive protection from malware including viruses, spyware, rootkits and trojans."
Commercial vendor of spyware under legal fire (ZDNet)
Just like every decent marketer out there, vendors of commercial malware tools are very good at positioning their tools. However, their pitches often contradict with themselves in a way that what's promoted as a Remote Administration Tool, has in fact built-in antivirus software evading capabilities, rootkit functionality and tutorials on...
Microsoft Will Replace OneCare with Security Software (NewsFactor via Yahoo! ...
Microsoft plans to stop accepting paid subscriptions to Windows Live OneCare in mid-2009. The security software is slated to be replaced by a free offering code-named Morro, which will focus on providing consumer PCs with core protection from viruses, spyware, rootkits, trojans and other forms of malware.
Microsoft to offer free security software (MSNBC)
Microsoft Corp said Wednesday it will discontinue sales of its subscription PC security service and instead offer free software to help protect computers from viruses, spyware and other threats.

10 Simple Reasons To Remove Spyware From Your Computer

Is your computer been running slower than normal? Are you worried someone may be able to access your computer and steal your private information and use it against you? If so, these are feelings I have shared with you in the past. Some time back, my 3-year old computer was running so slow that I had to buy a new computer. Or at least I thought I needed a new computer. Then within a matter of weeks of surfing on the Internet, my new computer was also running so slowly. In addition, some programs did not run well on my computer, and I did not recognize some of the programs that were running...

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