Category: Top » Computer » Software

Spyware, this time it’s personal

Tags: spyware, antispyware, virus, antivirus, computer security

First the basic definition of Spyware: It is a type of
software which is installed onto your computer without your
permission... It can log your keystrokes, which websites you
visit, read you email, and even prowl your hard drives. At
some point in time, it transmits its harvested information
to the owner. Transmitting this data can slow your computers
resources which can result in programs taking longer to
load, make for longer waits for WebPages to load, and even
complete system failures can occur.

As you may or may not know, a new computer is extremely
vulnerable when you first get online with it. There are ways
to insure security though. You can get the Windows Update CD
from Microsoft and install that before you get online. You
can also get most Antivirus Definitions dnloaded and save em
to disk and then install those before you go online. Of
course you have to be using that Product in the first place.
And you can get AntiSpyware on a disk and do the same. But
how many people do that in their excitement to take it out
of the box and hook it and see what She'll do.

A different type of Spyware called Adware can be included in
a download. You didn’t notice it was included in the
download when you read the user agreement since you might
have given up on reading the user agreement after 2000 or
3000 words into it. That’s what they wanted you to do! Or
maybe, shame shame, you didn’t even read it!

Webroot recently finished a survey that concluded the
average home computer has 28 pieces of Spyware on it. I
recently stumbled across an admiringly clever piece of
Spyware that recorded both sides of Instant Messaging
Programs!

Just the other night I read that some unsuspecting Stock
Investors found their accounts empty one morning.... they
had downloaded a Beta Stock Tweaking Tool that had a
keylogger on it.

Oh, let’s not forget the Website you are at when a 'Pop Up'
states you need a 'Plug In' to view something special there.
If you don’t have your Java or your Virtual Basic updates,
you could be providing all the information on your computer
to a very interested third party. Pop Ups can be very
deceiving. Do you quickly close out a Pop Up or click the No
button? What if the code that runs it is set up to run no
matter what option you pick?

So there you are, a victim of Spyware. You’ve been used! You
want revenge! You shout, "If only I could invent the perfect
Anti-Spyware Tool!" Well maybe you shout something else, I
know I have.

Would this perfect Anti-Spyware Tool tell you when visit a
Website that has Spyware? Would it prevent Spyware from
transmitting your information that it has collected? Would
it even prevent Spyware form becoming active? Would it make
Coffee too?

Ah if only it could be.

You have to safeguard your personal information when you are
online.

It’s been said by a few that one way to curb the spread of
Spyware is to allow it to collect certain types on
information from you. Information you agree to. In turn, for
collecting this information, you are compensated in some
way. There are Websites and programs out there that do this
in some way or form. You accrue points or whatever that you
redeem for cash or a blender or whatever. Regardless of how
its done, it might be a way to reduce the anxiety of
wondering if your personal information is being harvested
and even worse, what they are using it for.

Seed Newsvine

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<h1>Spyware, this time it’s personal</h1><br />by douchrti<br />First the basic definition of Spyware: It is a type of <br />software which is installed onto your computer without your <br />permission... It can log your keystrokes, which websites you <br />visit, read you email, and even prowl your hard drives. At <br />some point in time, it transmits its harvested information <br />to the owner. Transmitting this data can slow your computers <br />resources which can result in programs taking longer to <br />load, make for longer waits for WebPages to load, and even <br />complete system failures can occur. <br /><br />As you may or may not know, a new computer is extremely <br />vulnerable when you first get online with it. There are ways <br />to insure security though. You can get the Windows Update CD <br />from Microsoft and install that before you get online. You <br />can also get most Antivirus Definitions dnloaded and save em <br />to disk and then install those before you go online. Of <br />course you have to be using that Product in the first place. <br />And you can get AntiSpyware on a disk and do the same. But <br />how many people do that in their excitement to take it out <br />of the box and hook it and see what She'll do.<br /><br />A different type of Spyware called Adware can be included in <br />a download. You didn’t notice it was included in the <br />download when you read the user agreement since you might <br />have given up on reading the user agreement after 2000 or <br />3000 words into it. That’s what they wanted you to do! Or <br />maybe, shame shame, you didn’t even read it! <br /><br />Webroot recently finished a survey that concluded the <br />average home computer has 28 pieces of Spyware on it. I <br />recently stumbled across an admiringly clever piece of <br />Spyware that recorded both sides of Instant Messaging <br />Programs! <br /><br />Just the other night I read that some unsuspecting Stock <br />Investors found their accounts empty one morning.... they <br />had downloaded a Beta Stock Tweaking Tool that had a <br />keylogger on it. <br /><br />Oh, let’s not forget the Website you are at when a 'Pop Up' <br />states you need a 'Plug In' to view something special there. <br />If you don’t have your Java or your Virtual Basic updates, <br />you could be providing all the information on your computer <br />to a very interested third party. Pop Ups can be very <br />deceiving. Do you quickly close out a Pop Up or click the No <br />button? What if the code that runs it is set up to run no <br />matter what option you pick? <br /><br />So there you are, a victim of Spyware. You’ve been used! You <br />want revenge! You shout, "If only I could invent the perfect <br />Anti-Spyware Tool!" Well maybe you shout something else, I <br />know I have. <br /><br />Would this perfect Anti-Spyware Tool tell you when visit a <br />Website that has Spyware? Would it prevent Spyware from <br />transmitting your information that it has collected? Would <br />it even prevent Spyware form becoming active? Would it make <br />Coffee too? <br /><br />Ah if only it could be.<br /><br />You have to safeguard your personal information when you are <br />online. <br /><br />It’s been said by a few that one way to curb the spread of <br />Spyware is to allow it to collect certain types on <br />information from you. Information you agree to. In turn, for <br />collecting this information, you are compensated in some <br />way. There are Websites and programs out there that do this <br />in some way or form. You accrue points or whatever that you <br />redeem for cash or a blender or whatever. Regardless of how <br />its done, it might be a way to reduce the anxiety of <br />wondering if your personal information is being harvested <br />and even worse, what they are using it for. <br /><h2>About the Author</h2><p>About the Author: Doug Woodall has a website at<br /> <a href="http://www.spywarebiz.com" title="www.spywarebiz.com">http://www.spywarebiz.com</a> There he provides free<br /> information and recommended products to combat<br /> Spyware,Viruses and other Online Nasties. </p> <br /><h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/computer/software/spyware-this-time-its-personal.htm" title="Spyware, this time it’s personal">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3>