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.

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.

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.

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.

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.