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spyware story
Internet Spying
A recent survey found more than ninety percent of home computers connected to the internet had spyware, an average of twenty-eight spying programs watching what you do on the internet. Yet fewer than half of home users actually use anti-spyware programs. In fact I tried out a free version of the programs and it was a real eye-opener. Repair shops are plenty busy these days fixing computers overrun by spyware. Repair shop owner Steve Diloreto says, "I would say it is probably the number one issue right now, spyware." Consumer Reports says just about anyone who goes online has spyware on his computer. "Spyware is parasite software that sneaks onto your computer when you click onto a pop-up ad or download free software. It can track where you go online and even highjack your browser," explains Kim Kleman of Consumer Reports. A computer loaded with spyware can be inundated with pop-up ads. They just keep coming. And if you try to do a search, the computer slows to a crawl or freezes up. "Spyware is a cheap way for online advertisers to target their ads or have people click onto their web site," says Kim. Consumer Reports' Dean Gallea just tested six programs designed to protect your computer against spyware. Ad-Aware's free program is a good choice. Whenever you run it, ad-aware scans your computer and eliminates any spyware it finds. Another free choice is Spybot Search and Destroy, www.safer-networking.org But some people need even more protection. "If you do a lot of downloading you should run a program that continuously scans for spyware and prevents it from ever getting on your computer," suggests Dean. The $27 US version of ad-aware does provide continuous scanning. So does PestPatrol, which costs $40 US. Consumer Reports says don't put off installing a spyware program, otherwise your computer could wind up in the shop like so many others. "I've seen entire networks taken down by Spyware," says Steve. Spyware burrows right into the deepest part of your operating system- right into the Windows registry where it is hard to detect. "And when it puts itself in the registry it doesn't have to follow any typical software rules, like it doesn't have to show up in your Add/Remove Programs list. It doesn't have to put itself in your Start menu it can essentially be there without your knowledge," warns Eric Candelaria of CompuSmart. Fortunately there are signs you have Spyware. "If you are going to a corporate website like Microsoft and you are still getting pop-ups, then you've probably got spyware. Or if you are opening your website and it's not going to your typical home page and it's going somewhere else, your browser has likely been hijacked by spyware," advises Eric. Spyware comes into your computer through music file sharing programs, movie programs, even free games. Be careful downloading those. And here's another caution. "If you install one of these on line games and you do a spyware check and you remove the spyware and then you reboot and try to play the game, then it will simply install itself again and you're back to square one," warns Eric. Consumer Reports says the spyware programs it recommends are available online. The Ad-Aware software is available at www.lavasoftusa.com. You can find Pest Patrol at www.pestpatrol.com. |
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#2
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spyware story
Thank you for this post. Everyone should be made aware of
the kinds of problems spyware causes. I find it particularly annoying that no single anti- spyware program takes care of the problem. Until today I used 4 programs, but found one of them causing conflicts with other software, so it had to go. I also have some concerns over Microsoft's SP2 upgrade. After I downloaded and installed the software I found my self with 3 spyware registry entries associated with the Windows Media Player. I don't use the media player so I took the anti-spyware program's advice and deleted the entries, but I am curious how they wound up there to begin with. |
#3
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spyware story
danny wrote:
Internet Spying A recent survey found more than ninety percent of home computers connected to the internet had spyware, an average of twenty-eight spying programs watching what you do on the internet. Yet fewer than half of home users actually use anti-spyware programs. In fact I tried out a free version of the programs and it was a real eye-opener. Repair shops are plenty busy these days fixing computers overrun by spyware. Repair shop owner Steve Diloreto says, "I would say it is probably the number one issue right now, spyware." Consumer Reports says just about anyone who goes online has spyware on his computer. "Spyware is parasite software that sneaks onto your computer when you click onto a pop-up ad or download free software. It can track where you go online and even highjack your browser," explains Kim Kleman of Consumer Reports. A computer loaded with spyware can be inundated with pop-up ads. They just keep coming. And if you try to do a search, the computer slows to a crawl or freezes up. "Spyware is a cheap way for online advertisers to target their ads or have people click onto their web site," says Kim. Consumer Reports' Dean Gallea just tested six programs designed to protect your computer against spyware. Ad-Aware's free program is a good choice. Whenever you run it, ad-aware scans your computer and eliminates any spyware it finds. Another free choice is Spybot Search and Destroy, www.safer-networking.org But some people need even more protection. "If you do a lot of downloading you should run a program that continuously scans for spyware and prevents it from ever getting on your computer," suggests Dean. The $27 US version of ad-aware does provide continuous scanning. So does PestPatrol, which costs $40 US. Consumer Reports says don't put off installing a spyware program, otherwise your computer could wind up in the shop like so many others. "I've seen entire networks taken down by Spyware," says Steve. Spyware burrows right into the deepest part of your operating system- right into the Windows registry where it is hard to detect. "And when it puts itself in the registry it doesn't have to follow any typical software rules, like it doesn't have to show up in your Add/Remove Programs list. It doesn't have to put itself in your Start menu it can essentially be there without your knowledge," warns Eric Candelaria of CompuSmart. Fortunately there are signs you have Spyware. "If you are going to a corporate website like Microsoft and you are still getting pop-ups, then you've probably got spyware. Or if you are opening your website and it's not going to your typical home page and it's going somewhere else, your browser has likely been hijacked by spyware," advises Eric. Spyware comes into your computer through music file sharing programs, movie programs, even free games. Be careful downloading those. And here's another caution. "If you install one of these on line games and you do a spyware check and you remove the spyware and then you reboot and try to play the game, then it will simply install itself again and you're back to square one," warns Eric. Consumer Reports says the spyware programs it recommends are available online. The Ad-Aware software is available at www.lavasoftusa.com. You can find Pest Patrol at www.pestpatrol.com. And spyware is a major cause of failed SP2 upgrades. |
#4
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spyware story
confused wrote:
Thank you for this post. Everyone should be made aware of the kinds of problems spyware causes. I find it particularly annoying that no single anti- spyware program takes care of the problem. Until today I used 4 programs, but found one of them causing conflicts with other software, so it had to go. I also have some concerns over Microsoft's SP2 upgrade. After I downloaded and installed the software I found my self with 3 spyware registry entries associated with the Windows Media Player. I don't use the media player so I took the anti-spyware program's advice and deleted the entries, but I am curious how they wound up there to begin with. No one AV program catches all the viruses either. |
#5
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spyware story
I recently purchased Spyware Doctor from PCtool.com. Have you heard any
good stories on this one?? I do have the free versions of Adaware & Spybot S & D and I also have Spyblaster installed on my computer. I set my paid version of Spyware Doctor to "On Guard" so it is suppose to be running in the background continuously. Would love to hear any feedback from users who have Spyware Doctor installed. Patty "danny" wrote in message ... Internet Spying A recent survey found more than ninety percent of home computers connected to the internet had spyware, an average of twenty-eight spying programs watching what you do on the internet. Yet fewer than half of home users actually use anti-spyware programs. In fact I tried out a free version of the programs and it was a real eye-opener. Repair shops are plenty busy these days fixing computers overrun by spyware. Repair shop owner Steve Diloreto says, "I would say it is probably the number one issue right now, spyware." Consumer Reports says just about anyone who goes online has spyware on his computer. "Spyware is parasite software that sneaks onto your computer when you click onto a pop-up ad or download free software. It can track where you go online and even highjack your browser," explains Kim Kleman of Consumer Reports. A computer loaded with spyware can be inundated with pop-up ads. They just keep coming. And if you try to do a search, the computer slows to a crawl or freezes up. "Spyware is a cheap way for online advertisers to target their ads or have people click onto their web site," says Kim. Consumer Reports' Dean Gallea just tested six programs designed to protect your computer against spyware. Ad-Aware's free program is a good choice. Whenever you run it, ad-aware scans your computer and eliminates any spyware it finds. Another free choice is Spybot Search and Destroy, www.safer-networking.org But some people need even more protection. "If you do a lot of downloading you should run a program that continuously scans for spyware and prevents it from ever getting on your computer," suggests Dean. The $27 US version of ad-aware does provide continuous scanning. So does PestPatrol, which costs $40 US. Consumer Reports says don't put off installing a spyware program, otherwise your computer could wind up in the shop like so many others. "I've seen entire networks taken down by Spyware," says Steve. Spyware burrows right into the deepest part of your operating system- right into the Windows registry where it is hard to detect. "And when it puts itself in the registry it doesn't have to follow any typical software rules, like it doesn't have to show up in your Add/Remove Programs list. It doesn't have to put itself in your Start menu it can essentially be there without your knowledge," warns Eric Candelaria of CompuSmart. Fortunately there are signs you have Spyware. "If you are going to a corporate website like Microsoft and you are still getting pop-ups, then you've probably got spyware. Or if you are opening your website and it's not going to your typical home page and it's going somewhere else, your browser has likely been hijacked by spyware," advises Eric. Spyware comes into your computer through music file sharing programs, movie programs, even free games. Be careful downloading those. And here's another caution. "If you install one of these on line games and you do a spyware check and you remove the spyware and then you reboot and try to play the game, then it will simply install itself again and you're back to square one," warns Eric. Consumer Reports says the spyware programs it recommends are available online. The Ad-Aware software is available at www.lavasoftusa.com. You can find Pest Patrol at www.pestpatrol.com. |
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