Spyware is utilized to gather information about a person with or without their consent and it intercept or record personal/financial information. Some spyware are capable of sending information back to another computer (originator of the spyware).
Characteristic of Spyware
• Compromise user machine without their knowledge
• Use vulnerabilities in the software to push a spyware code on the machine
• Install Trojans to gather data
• Gather personal and financial information to send it to attackers
Spyware are used to gather different kind of information which includes but not limited to advertising, corporate monitoring, child monitoring, governmental monitoring. Besides their legal use which is based on company policy or regulations monitoring spywares can be used for spying on a person without their consent. More common types of spywares are adware (serve advertising) and key-loggers (record keystrokes)
How you can get spyware on your machine: Spyware can be installed on your machine in many ways.
Below are some of the common ways to deliver spyware.
• Spyware can be installed on a computer via a virus or an email Trojan.
• Spyware can be installed on a computer by taking advantage of security flaws in Internet Explorer.
• Spyware sometime are included in the shareware program. User agreement for the shareware may make a reference to grant permission to allow the recording of your internet use
• Pop-up downloads are becoming a preferred method of installing spyware and adware. Pop-up download windows ask the users to download a program to their computers.
• Another popular way to distribute spyware is a drive-by download. It installs itself on the computer without user knowledge. It can be installed by simply visiting a website.
Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software by detecting and removing known spyware from your computer. Most popular antivirus products now include adware and spyware scanning. You can find more adware and spyware removal tools at the Spyware Protection and Removal guide. This Web page includes links to popular spyware removal programs, as well as a number of useful articles. Also in Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) you can turn on/off the pop-up blocker. IE7 -> Tools -> Pop-Up Blocker. There is a pop-up blocker setting where you can allow exceptions for some sites and setup pop-up filter to high, medium and low.
Anti-Spyware, Registry Cleaner & PC Optimizer
Computer users particularly need to watch out for bogus spyware removal programs. They are dangerous because they punish the user for doing something right. Victims think that this will remove the spyware, instead in some cases computer users are paying to install a spyware.
Checkout the Rouge Anti-Spyware Products table
How to Protect from Spyware
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w-DZNbq66I&feature=PlayList&p=18F23434175F964D&playnext=1&index=26
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November 22nd, 2008 9:27 pm
Great website, very readable clean content. You may want to try adding more pictures, but either way nice site.
December 26th, 2008 6:53 pm
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January 2nd, 2009 1:14 pm
Useful related article on malware
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May 26th, 2009 6:09 am
Thanks for the useful article and the video on protecting from spyware. I specialise in spyware removal and would be adding this to my pool of resources.
June 22nd, 2009 6:16 pm
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January 17th, 2011 4:20 am
Windows Defender is software that helps protect your computer against pop-ups.
March 30th, 2011 11:51 am
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