Help for computer, imaging and technology users
Protect Yourself Against Spyware
Useful info and tips for all PC users
Businesses have long known about the need to protect themselves from viruses and hackers but many are now waking up to the pressing need to specifically protect themselves from spyware.
As its name suggests, spyware, which covertly plants itself onto a user's machine and has the potential to steal data and relay information to its creator, often goes unnoticed, but according to a number of industry sources it is fast becoming a priority concern for businesses.
Even businesses who think they run a tight ship are shocked when shown how much spyware has found its way onto their systems — often through employee use of peer-to-peer applications or by simply visiting websites where such code lies in wait.
Users will go to a website and unknown to them they may be downloading lots of spyware. It happens on peer-to-peer networks such as Kazaa as well and whilst some of it is fairly benign adware there are some real nasty malicious things out there.
Spyware can gradually build up on an infected PC, and if it's left unchecked users' computers will just start grinding to a halt. Spyware can only be removed through user's own actions to deal with it. It does not go away by itself. Users and businesses simply cannot continue to ignore the problem. They will have to deal with it eventually in order to get anything done. All computers connected to the Internet or a network are vulnerable, but especially those running any version of Windows. Threats are not limited to Windows XP, although problems with XP tend to get the most media coverage (as it is the newest and supposedly the best OS), older versions of Windows are often far more at risk, including the still popular Windows 98.
A number of small businesses and home users still use Windows 98 and earlier versions, in part because they cannot afford to upgrade. These users are especially at risk from spyware, hackers, trojans and viruses, as Microsoft no longer fully supports their operating systems prior to Windows 2000.
Many spyware applications, such as "ad-herding" tool bars and pop-up launchers are very obvious to the user but there is also a plague of more covert tools which are finding their way onto users' machines.
Among the methods identified are lines of code which sit on websites waiting to commit "drive-by" downloading, dropping onto users' computers as they surf the Internet. Many are left on websites which have been created solely for that purpose, using content users might be looking for as a lure. Traditionally this has been associated with pornographic websites and those in the darker corners of the internet, but now even seemingly innocuous sites could be infecting users, and fake sites that try to emulate real sites.
Also there are several websites which offer spyware removal tools, but are actually loading the very things they claim to remove onto unsuspecting users' computers.
What can you do to protect your PC?
Here is a list of things you can do to protect your computer from spyware:
- Install a firewall
This can be either a hardware firewall, software, or both. Examples of software firewalls: Sygate Personal Firewall, Zone Alarm, Outpost Agnitum. They also offer paid-for "Pro" versions which may offer more features. Another solution is Panda Anti-virus which includes a built-in firewall, but which has to be purchased, but can be downloaded first on a free trial.
- Install anti-spyware software:
Programs to search for and kill spyware:
Regularly scan your PC using the above software to eliminate spyware before it can do any more harm.
Programs to protect the PC and prevent installation of spyware:
All of this software is free and is worth downloading and installing.
- Avoid dodgy websites, such as porn sites, and anything that appears to
be too good to be true, or which you feel unsure about. Any website which
insists on installing software on your PC as soon as you visit it, without
any request from yourself to download something, should be avoided. Do
NOT install any unsolicited software downloads from websites.
- Avoid Peer-to-peer software such as Kazaa, Morpheus, and
other programs that allow you to share files with other online users. Use
of such programs
may be illegal in your country, or sharing certain files may be illegal,
and they are the number one way to distribute and receive spyware on your
PC, without you even knowing about it.
- Use a browser that is less prone to spyware attacks, such as Mozilla Firefox. Internet Explorer is well-known for having lots of security holes; if you use Internet Explorer be sure to download and install all security updates to protect your PC. However, can you be sure that it is fully up-to-date and protected? At present the most secure and well-protected browser to use while surfing the Net is Mozilla Firefox, which is free to download and use.
If you are serious about protecting your PC and want to keep on using the computer for years to come, please consider the threat of spyware seriously and take precautions. A safe and well-guarded PC is a usable PC; a PC infected with spyware is unsafe and eventually unusable.
Next we shall consider the threats caused by trojans. Click here to continue.
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