With the Internet so polluted by spam, viruses, and porno, it's hard to believe there could be another emerging threat out there. However, the Internet has spawned another nasty little problem child, this one just as annoying, and possibly more dangerous, than its older siblings. The new kid is spyware, and if you don't know what it is, your computer is probably already infested with it.
Spyware and its slightly less-annoying cousin, adware, were created with good intentions: to watch online consumers and find out what they're doing, where they're going, and what they're buying. Spyware runs invisibly on your computer, monitoring and reporting your online movements and purchases. The resulting data are used in online marketing. Spyware and adware can also evoke advertising or content based on a consumer's likes or prior purchases.
Spyware may seem like a dirty trick, but it's a legitimate business practice. Credit card companies, retailers, and other commercial entities keep meticulous track of consumer behavior and feed shoppers what they seem to be asking for. Spyware is the online extension of these practices, and in the beginning, it wasn't so bad.
Consider the humble Internet cookie, an early form of adware. Like its real-life counterpart, the Internet cookie is supposed to make you feel warm and comfy. When you go to a secure website, an Internet cookie politely fills in your username so you can sign in faster. Some Internet cookies remember what you last searched for and automatically evoke content that might interest you. And Internet cookies are as tiny as they are helpful — what could be less threatening?
Unfortunately, spyware has grown more complex and dangerous than cute little cookies and well-intentioned monitoring. Spyware is now an enormous problem. Today's Internet cookies may “remember" too much about you, and online monitoring can go way beyond reporting that you prefer Sony over Panasonic.
Not only has spyware's intrusiveness grown intolerable, but there is now so much of it on the Internet that it can devastate a computer's performance. One or two small pieces of adware wouldn't be a problem. Thirty of the little devils can bring your poor computer to virtual standstill.
It gets worse. Shady, illegal spyware can capture credit card numbers, passwords, and other information that can be used to rob you blind. It can hammer you with pop-ups from the seamier side of the Internet, and there is spyware that hijacks your browser to whisk you (or your kids) away to websites that you can't mention in polite company.
Who would ever agree to install this stuff? Online marketers know that even the dumbest websurfers would never knowingly sign up for something called “spyware,” which is why spyware is usually installed without the user's full knowledge or consent.
Spyware is often disguised as useful software, like programs that change your wallpaper or screen saver every day. Spyware can come in a program you're required to download to access a website. Streaming audio and video software is often crammed with spyware that reports your favorite songs or video clips. Hardcore spyware, the kind that can steal information or take control of your computer, is usually forced in through browser vulnerabilities, like those found in Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook.
Five years ago spyware was, at worst, a nuisance. However, the proliferation of this technology has escaped the notice of average computer users, placing spyware next to viruses and spam as a serious threat. There is no “good” spyware anymore — even mild spyware is bad when there are ten there is only one copy of it on your computer. there is only one copy of it on your computer.
Not sure if you've got a spyware problem? Unfortunately, that means you almost certainly do. Does your computer seem to run much slower than it used to, even though it's not very old? Does your browser crash a lot? Do you get uninvited, sometimes shocking pop-up ads? Does your browser load the wrong start-up website no matter how many times you try to fix it? These are just a few symptoms of spyware infestation. If in doubt, get some spyware protection. Luckily, programs to combat spyware have proliferated almost as fast as spyware itself.
At Iodynamics, our favorite solution is Spybot Search & Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html. This critically acclaimed software is free to download, easy to install and use, and is often refreshed with updates. Spybot-S&D conducts system scans, similar to a virus scan program, and it can “vaccinate” a system from known spyware threats. For those of you who are required to surf the web using Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Spybot-S&D can also help you manage the security holes inherent in Microsoft software. Once you've got spyware protection, follow these guidelines to avoid spyware in the future:
Finally, spyware protection software is best when used in conjunction with overlapping layers of virus protection, spam blocking, and overall network security. Leaving a computer or network open to any one threat can make a system vulnerable to all threats. For help with security or for a security assessment of your system, call Iodynamics.