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- Aug 31 2008
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We are constantly bombarded with advertisements everywhere we go. Billboards, magazine ads, cereal boxes, and television commercials are just a few of those sources. With the Internet age came a new way for companies to advertise. Not only is online advertising easy for companies to create, it is also dirt-cheap compared to many other forms or marketing.
Adware has established themselves as one of the most prevalent types of advertising on the Internet. In its purest form, an adware download is advertising-supported software that automatically downloads advertisements to your computer.
Adware is what allows many online downloads to be offered for free. If the creator of the download wants to make it free to the public, but obtain some compensation, they attach adware from the companies who piggyback their advertisements onto that download.
Adware Removal TIps
Adware downloads can prove to be minor annoyances in certain cases. It can mean that you have to make a couple extra clicks to reject the ads that pop up when you put in new software. In more severe cases, however, it can make your computer almost unusable and make your personal information available to hackers.
In many cases, an adware becomes spyware. When it tracks and gathers information through Internet usage without consent, it is considered spyware. This type of adware download can make your personal information public without your knowledge. As this information is collected, it can be sent to companies that then turn around and customize advertisements which are sent right back to you. If you’ve ever found yourself surfing for a specific product online and then getting a pop-up ad for that particular product, you may have spyware on your computer.
Adware downloads can also create so many pop-up advertisements that you feel like you’re spending more time closing unwanted advertisements than anything else. It can make a computer virtually unusable. This is not only frustrating, it is an invasion of privacy.
Taking Steps to Remove Adware
There are several ways in which you can protect your computer from adware downloads. First and foremost, avoid downloading adware through other downloads. Always read the fine print and know what you are putting on your computer. If you are meticulous about what you download, you will be far less likely to end up with an adware download on your computer.
You should also use an Internet browser, such as Firefox, that stops advertisements on its own. It will alert you in a non-intrusive manner every time it blocks an adware download. Web browsers like this also warn you when you may be at a site that contains unsecured and potentially harmful materials that could hurt your computer.
Being mindful of security updates to specific computer programs can also help you cut down on the possibility of ending up with an adware download. Many programs update their security features depending on the different types of viruses that have been developed. To fight against those new types of adware downloads, always keep your computer up to date.
Last but not least, it is smart to install ad-blocking software to your computer. This keeps the adware downloads to a minimum by alerting you of their presence and protecting your computer. This is perhaps the most effective way in which you can ensure the safety of your computer from adware downloads.
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- Aug 30 2008
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Spyware has been defined as “any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes.” These programs are sometimes also referred to as “data miners.”
Spyware can be installed in numerous ways. However, these applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. Typically, a unique tracking number is assigned to each installation of the spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the internet and transmits that information, via a backdoor, to the company responsible for creating the spyware. This monitoring allows the company to maintain a database of the activities of the users whose computers are infected by their spyware.
Spyware is one of the most typical Internet intruders that can imbed itself in your hard drive. In a recent survey by Consumer Reports, it was found that US consumers lost $7 billion over the last two years to viruses, spyware, and phishing schemes. Out of a random sample of 2,000 US homes with internet access, the survey suggests that consumers face a 25% chance of being victimized. Thirty-four percent of respondents’ computers had succumbed to spyware in the past six months alone.
Because of these sneaky attacks, spyware has been called a “crafty and insidious” threat that you need good tools to combat. Some antispyware programs can stop most attacks, but none stop every single one. In fact, you should always use more than one antispyware program to combat your spyware problems as no one program can catch all threats.
Although freely compared to antivirus programs, software to remove spyware is definitely statistically less effective. Because antispyware applications have not been able to keep up with the demand that spyware places on them, the current trend is to deem those that stop only about a third of the threats, as acceptable. The ones that capture three out of four are praised as excellent. But as time goes on, those that have chosen to fight back against spyware are getting more keen to what they are up against; the expectation for what spyware can and will catch has skyrocketed.
There is a funny thing about this dilemma though; in an odd twist of fate, all this spyware is turning out to be big business for computer manufacturers. According to the Consumers Report study, virus infections drove about 1.8 million households to replace their computers over the past two years. And over the past six months, spyware infestations prompted about 850,000 households to replace their computers.
So how does the average computer user stop spyware? Beyond the obvious tips like activating firewalls, shutting computers down when not in use, and exercising caution when downloading software or using public computers, invest is a good spyware detector and removal program. It will be more than worth the cost when it keeps you running problem-free.
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- Aug 29 2008
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“Firewall” is a term that most computer users have heard at some point. Many are still unaware of exactly what a firewall does, however. Most widely used by private computer networks, firewalls serve a vital role in protecting computers.
A firewall works as a security guard for your computer by accepting or turning away information. Firewalls help to establish a computer’s (or a computer network’s) levels of trust. In a private computer network, such as the kind maintained by large companies, firewalls help keep outside information from permeating the security of the network.
Put simply, the main function of a firewall is to keep online threats away from the PC or network of computers. Such threats can include viruses, worms, spyware, and other harmful programs. A firewall works as a filter to protect computers from hackers who seek to wreak havoc on any computer system they are able to breach.
The types of malicious programs that firewalls block vary greatly. Here are some of the problems an unprotected computer can experience if it becomes infected:
* A hijacked system. Some types of malware can actually gain complete control of your computer through remote access. Signs that your computer has been hijacked include a change in your homepage or an alteration in your desktop icons.
* A slow system. If you notice a considerable change in your computer’s performance, you may be infected with a virus or spyware. Sometimes such programs clog up so much of you bandwidth that the computer becomes unusable.
* Incessant pop-ups. Pop-up advertisements appear to be simple annoyances in small numbers. However, a bombardment of pop-ups can cause a computer to become paralyzed by the number of advertisements.
* A stolen identity. Some types of malware has the ability to slip into your system through a backdoor. These programs can then come and go as they please, logging personal information and sending it back to the hacker. Sometimes such malware can include a keylogger, which records everything you type, including usernames and passwords to secure websites.
There are several types of firewalls including:
* Application-layers
* Proxy
* Packet filter
* Stateful inspection
Regardless of the type of firewall, most can be customized to keep users away from certain types of content or specific websites; This kind of customization is often utilized by large companies that seek to block employees from visiting certain types of websites. Firewalls are customized by blocking things such as:
* Specific IP addresses. All sites are assigned a numerical IP address.
* Individual domain names. A company can create a list of domain names for which they would like to block their employees from visiting.
* Specifically identified words or groups of words. Like the domain names, a company can identify words. This way the firewall can block websites associated with such words.
While firewall protection tends to be associated with larger networks of computers, it is smart for PC users to also set up firewalls. You are just as vulnerable at home as you are in the office. The Internet is a virtual Wild West, full of hackers looking to cause problems for your computer and steal your personal information. Don’t overlook the necessity of a firewall for the computer that you and your family depend on. With all of the important information that is transferred and accessed through it, a firewall is certainly a necessity.
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- Aug 28 2008
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XPAntivirus is not only a rip-off, but it is also dangerous. XPAntivirus is a software program that claims to find spyware and viruses on your computer and for a fee it will remove them. This is a false claim. XPAntivirus is a counterfeit knock-off of a Microsoft program that will actually load spyware onto your computer and hijack your browser. It will also load information stealing viruses to your hard drive that captures your info and sends it back to them to use however they want.
XPAntivirus gains your trust by looking and feeling like a Microsoft application. When you download the free spyware scan, it actually loads nine files onto your computer that looks like spyware and trojan viruses, and then finds them for you to convince you that you need to purchase their software in order to clean them out. This is all very convincing, even frightening to see that you have three trojan viruses on your computer, and you are moved to purchase XPAntivirus to get rid of them quickly.
When you purchase XPAntivirus with your credit card, the company actually bundles other bogus software into the purchase and your card is charged for 50% more than you intended to pay. Of course your first step is to call the XPAntivirus people and find out what is going on, but the contact number that is given to your credit card (there is no contact information on the website) is bogus as well. It simply puts you on hold for nearly a half an hour, then tells you that the mailbox is full and disconnects. Your credit card company won’t initially do anything until you have tried to resolve the problem with XPAntivirus. You’re essentially stuck between a rock and a hard place. You’ve been ripped off.
Don’t be a victim of XPAntivirus or other counterfeit anti-spyware programs. They are out there to get you and can do irreparable damage to your computer, steal your money, steal your identity – basically they have the power to ruin you. Trust me; I know how an identity theft can ruin your life. My identity was stolen by means of an online identity thief and my life savings was gone before I knew what hit me. That was ten years ago and I’m still struggling paycheck to paycheck. Don’t let this happen to you.
Before you download anything onto your computer or even click on a link or advertisement, research it. Get out there on the web and check in articles, forums, rip-off reports, the Better Business Bureau. There are vast resources out there that will tell you if the product you are about to buy is legitimate or even works.
SpyZooka will get rid of all your spyware guaranteed and make your computer a top performer. And we guarantee to keep it up because we scan the web daily for new threats and automatically update you to prevent them. Don’t take my word for it. Take the time to do your own research. You’ll fall in love with SpyZooka, too.
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- Aug 25 2008
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If you happen to run across the SpyMaxx website, it will look much like most other anti-spyware sites on the net. It tells you that it is an award winning software that will “remove spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, homepage hijackers, and malware threats.” The problem is that SpyMaxx is not going to remove any of these things. SpyMaxx is going to add these things to your computer! You see, SpyMaxx is a rogue anti-spyware software, meaning the SpyMaxx people are liars.
SpyMaxx will tell you that they are going to remove spyware from your computer, it even finds the spyware for you with their free scan. The spyware it finds, however, does not exist. The software makes it up in order to frighten you into purchasing their software. Even if you don’t purchase the software, allowing the free scan is enough for SpyMaxx to infect your computer with all of the things it claims to remove, including trojan viruses.
Once you have allowed SpyMaxx onto your computer it is very difficult to remove. Computer experts warn that trying to do it yourself could seriously damage your computer beyond repair with one wrong click of the mouse. You need a good, real anti-spyware software that is capable of removing SpyMaxx for you. I say capable because not all legitimate anti-spyware programs are strong enough to find and remove SpyMaxx and all of its files and components. If even one file is left behind, SpyMaxx will rebuild itself.
One more thing you should know. You don’t have to go looking for SpyMaxx. It is already looking for you. Computer users have reported SpyMaxx just magically appearing on their computers and taking over their desktop with fatal errors that tell them they need SpyMaxx – “Click Here”. They have probably picked up SpyMaxx from an e-mail or website pop-up or banner. This nasty malware is lurking in the depths of the World Wide Web looking for you. You’d better protect yourself from it.
Spyzooka is the best protection against SpyMaxx, and others like it. This software is the one and only anti-spyware that guarantees to remove 100% of the bad guys from your computer within 24 hours. If they don’t get it all with the first sweep, you send them your spyware report and they send you the update that gets the rest. We are so confident in our product that we offer a 60 day money back guarantee. 60 days is unheard of! We also promise to keep protecting your computer for the entire year (longer if you decide to renew) because we use a spider to run a daily sweep of the entire internet looking for new spyware, so they can get it before it gets you.
You can download the scan for free to see what’s on your computer, but to remove it you have to purchase the software license, which is a mere $29.95, with a discount for multiple computers. This is pennies compared to what you will spend on the Geeksters you call to fix your computer.
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- Aug 22 2008
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In the early days of spyware, certain shady companies thought they could convince PC users that their programs weren’t threats. For example, spyware “tool bars” included cartoon animals or catchy names, or else pretended to offer some valuable service, while simultaneously stealing information off of the infected PC. It wasn’t long before individuals began to see through this ruse, and soon, antispyware programs became widely available to detect and eradicate these nuisances before they lead to computer repair issues.
The unfortunate result of this is that spyware makers, in order to survive, soon found ways to go covert and underground. They found ways to install their programs on our computers entirely without our knowledge, and designed them to work in our computers undetected. In this sense, spyware, which was originally closely related to spam, is now much more within the realm of viruses — a much more sinister category.
What’s more, when you allow spyware to infect your computer, it can be very damaging to the hard drive and to the programs that you use daily. First, spyware takes up a portion of an infected computer’s CPU usage. Even though most spyware programs are relatively small, they are always active, which means that they can substantially slow down a PC. Having spyware on your computer is like running with your legs tied. It makes everything much more difficult.
Plus, spyware often interacts strangely with the legitimate programs on your computer, which may require computer repairs. If you’ve noticed that a program you use every day has been behaving in unusual ways — running slowly, freezing, crashing, or otherwise not functioning as it’s supposed to — it may be because there is spyware program impeding its functioning.
You may have noticed that when you run certain programs at the same time — Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, for example — your computer becomes substantially slower. Spyware can have a similar effect. It can slow things down very dramatically. And, to make things worse, when you persist in trying to run impeded programs at full blast, hard drive degeneration can occur. If spyware is allowed to continue on your computer, you could soon be facing complete hard drive failure. Any computer repair person will tell you that this is a major source of catastrophic PC problems.
Stopping spyware starts with prevention. The biggest sources of spyware infection are Web downloads, email attachments, and file sharing networks. The latter, in particular, is a huge threat, as people who use file-sharing networks basically have no clue what they’re downloading or who they’re downloading from. Spyware can come attached to seemingly legitimate mp3s, for instance.
A good rule of thumb is to only download from legitimate, trusted sources, and to only open email attachments from people you know. After all, it’s not as if we can bill spyware companies for our computer repairs.
After prevention, the next necessary step is to have high-quality, up-to-date antispyware software on our computers. Antispyware software is becoming better and better with each passing year, and PC users who use the Internet frequently should have the most cutting-edge program available. Such programs are made by a wide variety of companies, and are available for download — although the best programs are usually going to cost a little bit of money.
And let’s not forget, spyware can hugely compromise the security of the information sent to and from your PC. Computer repairs may seem like a relatively small problem compared to identity theft, but they are all essentially one, unified threat. In short, spyware is not to be taken lightly.
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- Aug 21 2008
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We are constantly bombarded with advertisements everywhere we go. Billboards, magazine ads, cereal boxes, and television commercials are just a few of those sources. With the Internet age came a new way for companies to advertise. Not only is online advertising easy for companies to create, it is also dirt-cheap compared to many other forms or marketing.
Adware downloads have established themselves as one of the most prevalent types of advertising on the Internet. In its purest form, an adware download is advertising-supported software that automatically downloads advertisements to your computer.
Adware is what allows many online downloads to be offered for free. If the creator of the download wants to make it free to the public, but obtain some compensation, they attach adware from the companies who piggyback their advertisements onto that download.
When an Adware Download Becomes a Problem
Adware downloads can prove to be minor annoyances in certain cases. It can mean that you have to make a couple extra clicks to reject the ads that pop up when you put in new software. In more severe cases, however, it can make your computer almost unusable and make your personal information available to hackers.
In many cases, an adware download becomes spyware. When it tracks and gathers information through Internet usage without consent, it is considered spyware. This type of adware download can make your personal information public without your knowledge. As this information is collected, it can be sent to companies that then turn around and customize advertisements which are sent right back to you. If you’ve ever found yourself surfing for a specific product online and then getting a pop-up ad for that particular product, you may have spyware on your computer.
Adware downloads can also create so many pop-up advertisements that you feel like you’re spending more time closing unwanted advertisements than anything else. It can make a computer virtually unusable. This is not only frustrating, it is an invasion of privacy.
Taking Steps to Eliminate Adware Downloads
There are several ways in which you can protect your computer from adware downloads. First and foremost, avoid downloading adware through other downloads. Always read the fine print and know what you are putting on your computer. If you are meticulous about what you download, you will be far less likely to end up with an adware download on your computer.
You should also use an Internet browser, such as Firefox, that stops advertisements on its own. It will alert you in a non-intrusive manner every time it blocks an adware download. Web browsers like this also warn you when you may be at a site that contains unsecured and potentially harmful materials that could hurt your computer.
Being mindful of security updates to specific computer programs can also help you cut down on the possibility of ending up with an adware download. Many programs update their security features depending on the different types of viruses that have been developed. To fight against those new types of adware downloads, always keep your computer up to date.
Last but not least, it is smart to install antispyware software to your computer. This keeps the adware downloads to a minimum by alerting you of their presence and protecting your computer. This is perhaps the most effective way in which you can ensure the safety of your computer from adware downloads.
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- Aug 21 2008
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Every computer user should at some point make sure to ask, what is spyware? Spyware has become an ever-growing problem for computers, in some cases far worse than regular viruses. While many viruses cause more damage to a computer, they are less prevalent and tend to wreak havoc on the operating system. Spyware cannot only damage the computer, but it can also gather very private information from you as you surf the net.
What is Spyware’s Main Mechanism of Defense?
Spyware uses several defense mechanisms to either remain undetected or to combat a user’s attempts to eliminate the programs. The worst spyware programs, known as keyloggers, hide in your system, recording your every keystroke. Keyloggers use stealthy methods to secretly steal your personal information without your knowledge. In most cases, you won’t even notice a slow down in your system or an increase in pop-ups.
Another type of spyware, often called adware, is a bit more obvious. For those who wonder “what is spyware?” there are some blatant things you can look for. Annoying and constant pop-up ads are among the most common. If you feel like you spend more time closing pop-up ads than you do reading your email, you may very well have spyware.
Unexplained error messages are another sign that you may have spyware. Sometimes these messages will say that you have spyware and will offer a free scan of your operating system. In reality, some of these are actually spyware. Always avoid clicking on pop-ups from unknown sources.
What is Spyware’s Role in Identity Theft?
There are two basic levels for which spyware spies on your Internet usage and steals your personal information. The less harmful, but still disturbing, method is through scanning your cookies to see what types of websites you’ve been going to. Once the information is compiled, the spyware sends it back to advertising companies, which can then tailor pop-up ads to directly apply to you. If you’ve ever been surfing the net for a new bank and then a few days later been bombarded with pop-up ads offering different investment opportunities, you may have spyware.
Keyloggers are far more worrisome. This type of spyware logs your every keystroke, recording everything from bank account numbers, social security information, credit card numbers, and more. Hackers who use keyloggers can compile a comprehensive profile of you, including important financial information. This is the most common way people get their identities stolen via the Internet.
What is Spyware’s Lifespan?
Depending on how long you go without anti-spyware software, spyware can live in your system indefinitely. Some people will assume there is nothing they can do for the incessant pop-ups or excruciatingly slow system, so they just buy a new computer. Anti-spyware software is a far cheaper solution, however.
Anti-spyware software can be found for free online, but your safest bet is to buy a trusted program to clean out your computer. Make sure you are purchasing the software from a legitimate source that will provide you good customer service and support.You should also look for software that does more than one single scan for spyware. Most programs won’t get 100% of the spyware the first time through. You want a program that continues to scan until the computer is totally clean.
The anti-spyware software company should provide updates to you as well. New spyware is constantly being created. Your software should not only clean out your current spyware, it should protect you from getting any new spyware on your system.
If you have begun to ask the question, “what is spyware?” you are well on your way to protecting your computer and your identity. Anyone and everyone is at risk. If you own a computer, you should also own anti-spyware software.
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- Aug 19 2008
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We take dozens of preventative measures to insure our health and safety. We immunize for diseases, get regular tune-ups for our cars, and install smoke detectors in our homes. In all of these instances, an action is taken before negative circumstances occur.
Unfortunately, antispyware software is one of those preventative measures many of us overlook. Ironically, it can be just as important, especially when it comes to your personal information. Spyware is one of the newest tools being used for identity theft. It is a real issue that demands serious attention.
In addition to potential identity theft, spyware offers a long list of other harmful problems for your computer. One of those is pop-ups. Pop-ups are more than a minor annoyance. They can slow down your computer, rendering it useless. They can also carry viruses and worms that install themselves onto your computer when you click on one of the advertisements.
The detrimental programs that are installed by pop-ups are oftentimes disguised as useful tools. For instance, a pop-up may claim to have detected a virus on your computer, as well as an offer to scan for more viruses. This is only a trick to get you to click on the pop-up. It is actually just the opposite of what it claims to be. It won’t get rid of viruses - it will install them.
You may notice that the pop-ups on your computer tend to relate to recent searches you have done on a web browser as well. This is because spyware has the ability to track your Internet usage and customize the ads that are sent to you. Advertisers hope this will increase the likelihood of you clicking on the popup.
Help! I’m Being Attacked by Pop-ups!
While there are certain steps you can take to avoid spyware, many computer users still end up with it, even those who are doing all the right things. Antispyware software rises above all other measures to fight against pop-ups.Since there are dozens of antispyware programs on the market, it pays to do your research before committing to one. It may mean the difference between a well-tuned machine and a useless piece of electronic junk.
There are several key features to look for when choosing a program to erase and prevent popups. First, be sure to choose one that guarantees 100% protection against spyware. This includes adware and all other types of malware. Some programs only offer partial protection, which is better than nothing but certainly not as good as 100%.
You should also be sure to choose a program that not only detects and erases current pop-ups but prevents any future pop-ups from attacking your system. Prevention includes the availability of daily updates to deter newly created spyware from latching onto your system.
Good customer service is another feature to look for when choosing antispyware software. A generalized computer recording is not helpful when it comes to pop-up problems. Good customer service goes hand in hand with a good program.
Lastly, unless you are a computer wizard, you’ll want to make sure the program you choose is user friendly. A quality program won’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get it running. Easy-to-follow instructions and automated scans are always a part of a good program.
The installation of antispyware software will provide you with peace of mind when it comes to your system’s performance. A pop-up-free computer offers a far more positive web-surfing experience.
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- Aug 15 2008
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After the advent of the Internet, it didn’t take long for spam to come about, even if its name wasn’t coined until some years later. Of course, there have always been plenty of companies utilizing completely legitimate Internet advertising practices, but at the same time, there have always been lots of people and companies trying to find ways to advertise without having to pay for it. This desire for free, no-strings marketing has led to many of the invasive and annoying Web threats that we now face.
Because of computers and the Web, free advertising is easier than ever. On the Internet, free advertising can be achieved through the use of relatively simply tactics, and thousands are taking advantage of this. Along with these tactics comes a high degree of anonymity and unaccountability, which allows spammers to do as they please almost completely unchecked. Even worse, because many spammers are from foreign countries, their actions are difficult or impossible to regulate.
This is where free enterprise comes in. Fortunately for the average Web user, email services have become quite good at blocking spam, and antispam software has gone even further in keeping email annoyances out of sight. However, even as we began to enjoy these developments, the spammers took their enterprise a step further, creating spyware.
The term “spyware” includes a countless number of computer software programs that install themselves on home and business PC’s without the knowledge of the computer’s user. Spyware comes from Web sites, emails, software, and many other sources, and its makers are constantly finding new ways to put it on our computers.
Once entrenched on a hard-drive, the average spyware program monitors the actions and behaviors of the computer’s user or users, and sends this information to a third party, who uses it for clandestine and often illegal purposes. Among the information gathered by spyware programs are our Web browsing habits, our names, addresses, phone numbers, and even our financial information. Essentially, there is nothing about what we do on our computers that spyware can’t monitor, and there is no information that it can’t collect.
And, in a disheartening twist, spyware has more recently facilitated a strong resurgence of the spam of old. Once installed on your computer, a spyware program can read all of the security measures you may or may not have in place, and it can look at the emails and information you allow on your PC. Obviously, this information can be used to subvert your antispam measures, finding loopholes in your set-up and pushing things through those holes.
Have your recently noticed a lot of annoying advertisements over the course of your daily Web browsing? Have more spam emails been making it to your inbox lately? Have you been experiencing a lot of noisy and annoying pop-up browser windows? All of this could be due to spyware that you don’t know you have on your computer.
To stop this invasion, there is a burgeoning world of antispyware software now available for purchase or for download. Of course, these programs are not meant to replace former security measures, but instead are meant to enhance and expand upon the computer security tactics you already have in place. Many of the same companies who have long produced antivirus and antispam software are now releasing these antispyware programs.
Of course, considering the ever-changing landscape of the Web, spammers and spyware-makers are sure to find new ways to invade our computers. The best we can do is try to keep up with these developments, and to continue to use the most-up-date software to defend our computers.
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