Spyware: The Problem Grows

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

by Demir Barlas, Line56
Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Thirty-four percent of companies are having significant problems with spyware, according to a recent survey from Osterman Research. The question was framed on a sliding scale, with 1 being "not a problem" and 5 being a "huge problem." Thirty-four percent was the segment that responded with 4 or 5.

The data went on to show that spyware (which isn't robustly defined, but is commonly understood to include key logging and adware programs) was the biggest messaging issue for companies; by comparison, only 21.9 percent cited viruses and worms as being as deleterious as spyware. Spam, which was the bane of every e-mail user's existence, came in at 26.9 percent.

Today, anyone whose computer has been infected with, say, BetterInternet adware, can look on spam as merely a quaint nuisance. As a productivity and resource drain, spam can be compared to an incursion of mosquitoes whereas adware is the equivalent of a zombie invasion, slowing down computer performance, sucking morale out of line-of-business and IT employees, and in some cases (particularly in small and home offices) prompting the wiping of hard drives.

Spyware enters the business via ill-considered Web browsing and downloading habits, although it is true that purveyors have become more aggressive (for example, by creating Web pages that lauch and install such files in the background, without the browser's acknowledgement or even awareness).

What companies must do is govern browsing as far as possible without imposing a lockdown, and to support
legitimate alternatives to some of the weak gates through why spyware enters the enterprises.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware: How Thieves Use it to Steal Your Identity

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By Darla Sitton
CBN News Producer

(CBN News) - It is estimated that close to one-third of home computers in the U.S. are infected with spyware. Spyware allows criminals to record every tap of the keyboard and obtain personal information on millions of computer users.

Whenever someone clicks onto a Web site or download an attachment to his/her e-mail, the door opens for a potential spy.

"You won't know it's there; you won't see your machines slow down; you won't see anything unusual," remarked Vincent Weafer, a senior director at Symantec.

Identity thieves use a computer software program called Keylogger to silently track every move a person makes.

"It can just silently watch every keystroke you type in, as if it's watching over your shoulder," Weafer said.

This means that a credit card number, bank account password - whatever someone logs in - can be recorded and used by someone else.

Joseph de Marco of the Cybercrime division of the U.S. Attorney's office explained, "It's a problem that's growing exponentially. And it's growing exponentially because more and more people are keeping larger and larger amounts of data on their computers."

Investigators say that about one third of all Internet crimes can be traced back to keylogging software. Criminals buy it, then sort through the legal data to obtain the information they will steal.

Earlier this year, a single hacker installed keylogger programs in every Kinko's store in Manhattan. He confiscated the bank account numbers of at least 450 of Kinko's customers.

"One can only imagine the mayhem he could have done if he hadn't been caught," de Marco said.

Another large heist involved a retailer with keylogging software - 20,000 credit card numbers and millions of dollars were taken by an organized crime ring in Russia before the company discovered it.

Computer security experts say keylogging crimes have doubled every year, so any time a person goes online, he/she should proceed with caution - a cyber-predator may be nearby, waiting to snatch personal data.

Computer security experts say there are many free software programs that can block keyloggers and other spyware from being installed on a computer - or detect and remove them, if they are already there.

One is called Spybot Search and Destroy. Keylogger Hunter is another. Experts also say it is important to keep up to date with security patches and anti-virus programs.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

The growing threat of spyware

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation -- the New Deal-era government agency designed to restore confidence in the Great Depression-shattered banking system of the United States -- is now providing guidance to banks to protect themselves and their customers from spyware, the latest threat to the integrity of the banks, experts told UPI's The Web.

Millions of Americans, banking at institutions such as Wachovia and Bank of America, have had their private financial information stolen by hackers through spy software, downloaded unknowingly from the Internet.

"The information collected through spyware can be used to compromise a bank's systems or conduct identity theft," said Michael J.Zamorski, director of the FDIC's division of supervision and consumer protection in Washington. "So it is critical that banks stay vigilant about the risks involved with this malicious software, and take appropriate action so that they and their customers do not fall victim to it."

The FDIC recommends that banks consider threats from spyware as part of their risk-assessment process. They should bolster Internet security and enhance employee training to understand the machinations of hackers. Experts had a mixed reaction to the FDIC's plans. Terry Brown, chief executive officer of Caymas Systems in Petaluma, Calif., a network-security firm, said the government's recommendations do not go far enough and will not "significantly alter" the risks that consumers face.That is because a May 2005 study by the software lab at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh -- financed by the science and technology directorate of the Department of Homeland Security -- found that the greatest risk to banks comes from insiders, and 49 percent of all network security breaches can be linked to employees, former employees, contractors and temporary workers. Still, the risk from spyware itself is significant, because 90 percent of spyware traversing the Internet is written for criminal purposes, according to Kaspersky Lab, an international anti-virus developer with an office in Woburn, Mass. "An entire industry exploded in 2004 as virus writers and hackers became increasingly involved with criminals to create malicious code," said Steve Orenberg, Kaspersky Lab's president.

The FDIC's guidance to banks may just be the first step by the government to protect consumers against hackers from Russia and China. Orenberg said some forms of e-mail advertising -- the lure that hackers use to plant spyware in PCs -- may be banned in the United States. Similar legislation may be introduced in Europe and other industrialized countries, he added.Another step may be mandating multi-layered authentication -- passwords -- for online banking accounts. "We believe the guidance regarding the bank's own infrastructure makes sense, since the bank can enforce it, but the guidance regarding consumers is naïve," said Naftali Bennett, chief executive officer of Cyota Inc.in New York City, an anti-fraud software developer for banks. "Banks cannot expect or enforce customers to keep spyware out of their computers, but banks can take steps to minimize or eliminate the damage that spyware causes."

Banking from public terminals, such as at colleges, libraries and Internet coffee shops, are a major problem, as most of those computers may be already infested with spyware, said Robert Siciliano, an ID-theft expert in Boston. Bennett suggested that banks begin to track and monitor all of the online transactions of their customers, from login to logout, to discern suspicious patterns. "Only by analyzing all transactions, invisibly and in real-time, and invoking stronger authentication at the first sign of potential fraud, will banks be able to reduce the damage of spyware and Trojans," Bennett said.

Another potential solution is "smart cards," which can be created to contain a number of one-time-use passwords. Once employed, they are not usable again.Unless banks implement such solutions, they might have to give up e-mail marketing altogether and, like eBay, reduce or eliminate the use of e-mail ads, experts said.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All rights reserved.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware illegally withdraws Y9.4 mil from 3 banks

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 at 04:00 JST
TOKYO — A total of 9.4 million yen has been withdrawn from nine accounts at three banks due to illegal access by the "spyware" bug, the head of the Japanese Bankers Association said Tuesday. The three banks are Mizuho Bank, eBank Corp and Japan Net Bank, Terunobu Maeda said.

Each bank will deal separately with the question of compensating the affected depositors for losses, he said. As an anti-spyware measure, the association will provide information to member banks that will work together with police when necessary, according to Maeda, who is also president of Mizuho Financial Group Inc. (Kyodo News)

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Money Making schemes and a rise in BOTS and spyware on rise

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

by Mark Cox

McAfee has announced the most commonly reported malicious threats and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) affecting enterprises and consumers in the second quarter of 2005, identified by McAfee AVERT, the company's Anti-virus and Vulnerability Emergency Response Team. McAfee AVERT saw a 12% increase in the number of new PUPs created in Q2 2005 from Q1 2005.

BOTS in particular continue to plague enterprise companies and home users because of their ability to inconspicuously take over a user's computer and remain hidden while they launch their malicious attacks. McAfee AVERT has seen an obvious increase in attempted machine hijackings.

"In just the first and second quarters of 2005, the number of exploited machines using backdoor techniques has increased over 63% from the total at the end of 2004," stated Vincent Gullotto, vice president of McAfee AVERT. "This often resulted in spyware and adware being downloaded onto affected systems. Thus spyware has continued to be a major problem. There are four anti-spyware bills working their way through Congress to help tackle this growing problem, but we believe the problem is only going to get worse. Consumers and enterprises are becoming more and more aware of the need for various security technologies to protect their machines and networks."

In addition to new emerging and more harmful threats, McAfee also noticed an increase in money making cyber crime schemes. According to a recent Gartner report, threats are moving toward databases, allowing hackers to gain complete control over a network or a personal computer. In turn, this allows the hacker to hijack confidential and personal information for ransom. The McAfee Virtual Criminology Report: North American Study into Organized Crime and the Internet report released June 5 of this year suggests that there is a new hierarchy of cybercriminals, and that each level, from amateur to professional, has different tactics and motives.

The most interesting development in recent years is cyber gangs, who sit at the top of this cybercrime chain. These advanced groups of career criminals and hackers agree to cooperate, plan and execute long term attack strategies that are of little interest to the socially-motivated hacker or script kiddy. With the increasing sophistication of cybercrime, from phishing to social engineering and internet scams, the report raises awareness of how organized crime and cybercrime are developing and how businesses and individuals can protect themselves against criminal activity.

Researchers also discovered a technique for compromising Bluetooth authentication protocol and potentially gaining control of Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, even when the handsets have security features switched on. The technique allows an attacker with specialized equipment to connect to a Bluetooth handset without authorization. Once the connection is established, the attacker could potentially gain access to resources of the handset to make calls on the target's handset, siphon off data, or access data services via compromised handset.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Money Making schemes and a rise in BOTS and spyware on rise

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

McAfee has announced the most commonly reported malicious threats and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) affecting enterprises and consumers in the second quarter of 2005, identified by McAfee AVERT, the company's Anti-virus and Vulnerability Emergency Response Team. McAfee AVERT saw a 12% increase in the number of new PUPs created in Q2 2005 from Q1 2005.

BOTS in particular continue to plague enterprise companies and home users because of their ability to inconspicuously take over a user's computer and remain hidden while they launch their malicious attacks. McAfee AVERT has seen an obvious increase in attempted machine hijackings.

"In just the first and second quarters of 2005, the number of exploited machines using backdoor techniques has increased over 63% from the total at the end of 2004," stated Vincent Gullotto, vice president of McAfee AVERT. "This often resulted in spyware and adware being downloaded onto affected systems. Thus spyware has continued to be a major problem. There are four anti-spyware bills working their way through Congress to help tackle this growing problem, but we believe the problem is only going to get worse. Consumers and enterprises are becoming more and more aware of the need for various security technologies to protect their machines and networks."

In addition to new emerging and more harmful threats, McAfee also noticed an increase in money making cyber crime schemes. According to a recent Gartner report, threats are moving toward databases, allowing hackers to gain complete control over a network or a personal computer. In turn, this allows the hacker to hijack confidential and personal information for ransom. The McAfee Virtual Criminology Report: North American Study into Organized Crime and the Internet report released June 5 of this year suggests that there is a new hierarchy of cybercriminals, and that each level, from amateur to professional, has different tactics and motives.

The most interesting development in recent years is cyber gangs, who sit at the top of this cybercrime chain. These advanced groups of career criminals and hackers agree to cooperate, plan and execute long term attack strategies that are of little interest to the socially-motivated hacker or script kiddy. With the increasing sophistication of cybercrime, from phishing to social engineering and internet scams, the report raises awareness of how organized crime and cybercrime are developing and how businesses and individuals can protect themselves against criminal activity.

Researchers also discovered a technique for compromising Bluetooth authentication protocol and potentially gaining control of Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, even when the handsets have security features switched on. The technique allows an attacker with specialized equipment to connect to a Bluetooth handset without authorization. Once the connection is established, the attacker could potentially gain access to resources of the handset to make calls on the target's handset, siphon off data, or access data services via compromised handset.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Zone Labs Cracks Spyware Prevention Barrier -- New OSFirewall Thwarts Cybercriminals With Behavior-Based PC Protection

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2005--

ZoneAlarm 6.0 to Debut a Radical New OSFirewall and Anti-Spyware Solution to Block the Most Dangerous Internet Threats Including Spyware, Rootkits, Viruses, and More From Invading PCs

Zone Labs(R), a Check Point(R) company (Nasdaq:CHKP), today announced ZoneAlarm(R) 6.0, the much-anticipated update to its award-winning Internet security product family. ZoneAlarm 6.0 will offer consumers the most effective multi-layered protection against spyware, viruses and other insidious Internet security threats.

ZoneAlarm 6.0 utilizes a unique new behavior-based strategy to block malware and spyware from ever gaining a foothold on a PC. Rather than intermittently scanning for spyware infections after the damage has been done, ZoneAlarm 6.0 offers the first new defense mechanism, called the OSFirewall(TM), to guard the health of a PC at the core. This kernel-level firewall monitors suspicious activity affecting the operating system, programs and files, and disables destructive programs. To complement the prevention technology, ZoneAlarm 6.0 also employs a new intelligent anti-spyware removal solution as well as DefenseNet(TM), a dynamic zero-hour system leveraging the community of millions of ZoneAlarm users to proactively protect against emerging attacks.

"Unlike the adolescent pranksters of the past, today's cybercriminals are motivated by financial gain and are often highly-organized. They want to steal your identity, track what you do on the Internet, or even hijack your bandwidth to create zombie botnets," said Gregor Freund, chief technology officer of Check Point Software. "And they are using the trust of an unassuming public to dupe people into inviting malware through traditional firewalls and antivirus programs. Current anti-spyware solutions can clean up the mess after the fact, but people now must deploy preventative, proactive measures to protect themselves from these criminals."

Protection at the PC's Core

ZoneAlarm 6.0 continues Zone Lab's legacy of innovation by creating the industry's first OSFirewall, adding a completely new layer of protection to complement the company's powerful network and program firewalls.

The ground-breaking OSFirewall is specifically designed to guard against kernel-level threats such as spyware, hackers, Trojans, keyloggers, and rootkits by closely monitoring internal computing resources like vital files, registry keys and start-up processes at the core of the PC. It goes beyond the user level to inspect activity between computer applications and prevent the reading of memory and loading of malicious drivers and services.

The OSFirewall also achieves a new level of granularity by shielding legitimate programs and preventing program sabotage or hijacking. It not only blocks traditional attacks, the OSFirewall guards against devious programs that may hide within a legitimate download from performing damaging actions that steal personal information or slow computer performance.

The new OSFirewall combined with the existing award-winning firewall technologies create the Zone Labs "Triple Defense Firewall(TM)," a multi-faceted protection system with inbound, outbound and now internal filtering for zero-hour defense and seamless integration -- making ZoneAlarm 6.0 the most effective Internet security solution for everyday consumers.

"The spyware threat is a recent phenomenon that the security market is still struggling with. Much of the focus has been on the development of spyware signature databases, but signatures only treat spyware once it has infected a computer," said Charles Kolodgy, research director at IDC. "The ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite has taken a proactive approach that addresses the spyware threat using several layers of protection through its new OS firewall and outbound traffic blocking capability packaged with antivirus and antispam protection. With Zone Labs monitoring how programs are using the operating system, the rest of the industry will need to evaluate how they are addressing this problem."

New Anti-Spyware Security

Building on the foundation of the Triple Defense Firewall, the new ZoneAlarm 6.0 Anti-Spyware solution is tightly integrated into the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite and ZoneAlarm Pro products to remove existing malware on a PC. It boasts a targeted database of signatures to delete the most pervasive spyware applications on the Internet today. ZoneAlarm's anti-spyware technology also targets particularly invasive adware programs that sap computer performance, interfere with legitimate programs, create new security holes, hijack homepages, deluge users with pop-up ads, and track personal Web usage and private information.

ZoneAlarm 6.0 Anti-Spyware and the OSFirewall together provide automatic prevention, detection and treatment capabilities making it the most effective integrated solution on the market -- right out of the box.

SmartDefense

The SmartDefense service utilizes the expertise of Check Point and Zone Labs' security research departments and leverages DefenseNet -- a community of front-line users -- to provide real-time alerts and actionable information on the latest threats. At work for over a year, DefenseNet enables millions of active users to share security knowledge and provide instant feedback to help Zone Labs' security experts discover new malware programs.

Through the SmartDefense process, over 95% of policy decisions are automated -- significantly reducing the amount of "noise" and sparing the end user from having to constantly manually accept or deny application activities.

Once a threat has been identified and validated, Zone Labs in turn sends customized policies back to the users through a SmartDefense Advisor service for proactive protection. In addition, SmartDefense Advisor provides ZoneAlarm users with periodic distribution of anti-virus, anti-spyware and product updates. The SmartDefense service is included with all licenses of ZoneAlarm.

Building on the Basics

Over 35 million Internet users have downloaded the original ZoneAlarm firewall and its premium versions since the company's launch in 1998. Now, the ZoneAlarm family includes the ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite (for all-in-one protection including anti-spyware, antivirus, antispam, IM protection and more), ZoneAlarm Pro (a firewall for users seeking advanced functionality), ZoneAlarm Antivirus, and ZoneAlarm Wireless. ZoneAlarm Internet security solutions have received the industry's highest accolades, and with the added security features in ZoneAlarm 6.0, the company has extended its commitment to delivering the most advanced Internet security available to consumers.

Pricing and Availability

ZoneAlarm Security Suite, ZoneAlarm Pro 6.0, ZoneAlarm with Antivirus and ZoneAlarm will be available on Monday, July 25th, on the Zone Labs web site at www.zonelabs.com. ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite costs $69.95 for a single user, ZoneAlarm Pro 6.0 costs $49.95 for a single user and ZoneAlarm with Antivirus costs $29.95 for a single user. Existing customers can update to version 6.0 for free if their subscription is current, and will receive a notification within two weeks of availability. ZoneAlarm continues to be free for personal and non-profit use.

The ZoneAlarm family of products supports Windows(R) 98SE, ME, 2000 Pro and XP.

About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.

Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is the worldwide leader in securing the Internet. It is the market leader in the worldwide enterprise firewall, personal firewall and VPN markets. Through its NGX platform, the company delivers a unified security architecture for a broad range of perimeter, internal and Web security solutions that protect business communications and resources for corporate networks and applications, remote employees, branch offices and partner extranets. The company's ZoneAlarm product line is one of the most trusted brands in Internet security, creating award-winning endpoint security solutions that protect millions of PCs from hackers, spyware and data theft. Extending the power of the Check Point solution is its Open Platform for Security (OPSEC), the industry's framework and alliance for integration and interoperability with "best-of-breed" solutions from over 350 leading companies. Check Point solutions are sold, integrated and serviced by a network of more than 2,200 Check Point partners in 88 countries.

(C)2003-2005 Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.

Check Point, Application Intelligence, Check Point Express, the Check Point logo, AlertAdvisor, ClusterXL, Cooperative Enforcement, ConnectControl, Connectra, CoSa, Cooperative Security Alliance, DefenseNet, Eventia, Eventia Analyzer, Eventia Reporter, FireWall-1, FireWall-1 GX, FireWall-1 SecureServer, FloodGate-1, Hacker ID, IMsecure, INSPECT, INSPECT XL, Integrity, InterSpect, IQ Engine, Open Security Extension, OPSEC, OSFirewall, Policy Lifecycle Management, Provider-1, Safe@Home, Safe@Office, SecureClient, SecureKnowledge, SecurePlatform, SecuRemote, SecureXL Turbocard, SecureServer, SecureUpdate, SecureXL, SiteManager-1, SmartCenter, SmartCenter Pro, Smarter Security, SmartDashboard, SmartDefense, SmartDefense Advisor, SmartLSM, SmartMap, SmartUpdate, SmartView, SmartView Monitor, SmartView Status, SmartViewTracker, SofaWare, SSL Network Extender, Stateful Clustering, Triple Defense Firewall, TrueVector, Turbocard, UAM, User-to-Address Mapping, UserAuthority, VPN-1, VPN-1 Accelerator Card, VPN-1 Edge, VPN-1 Pro, VPN-1 SecureClient, VPN-1 SecuRemote, VPN-1 SecureServer, VPN-1 VSX, VPN-1 XL, Web Intelligence, ZoneAlarm, ZoneAlarm Pro, Zone Labs, and the Zone Labs logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. or its affiliates. All other product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The products described in this document are protected by U.S. Patent No. 5,606,668, 5,835,726, 6,496,935, 6,873,988 and 6,850,943 and may be protected by other U.S. Patents, foreign patents, or pending applications.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware fears put chill on browsing

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By Anick Jesdanun, Associated Press Inside Bay Area

NEW YORK — Internet users worried about spyware and adware are shunning specific Web sites, avoiding file-sharing networks, even switching browsers. Many have also stopped opening e-mail attachments without first making sure they are safe, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said in a study issued Wednesday. "People are scaling back on some Internet activities," said Susannah Fox, the study's main author. "People are feeling less adventurous, less free to do whatever they want to do online." Like no other Internet threat before it, spyware is getting people's attention, she said. "It maybe will bring more awareness of all kinds of security issues." Linda Parra, a technology usability consultant at an insurance firm in Madison, Wis., is typical of the once-burned, now-vigilant crowd. Hit twice by spyware, after which all her Internet searches went to a rogue search engine rather than Google, she bought the safer Mac computer, installed two layers of firewalls and began switching off her broadband-connected machine when she's out. "I've become a lot more security conscious," she said, adding that she had to learn much more about how computers and the Internet work. Parra also banned her daughters, ages 12 and 14, from game sites. "All it takes is one click ... and you can end up going somewhere you don't want to go and getting a little bonus pack (spyware) with your freebie," she said. "I believe that's what happened." Spyware generally refers to unwanted programs that often sneak onto computers without their owners' full knowledge. A subset called adware covers software designed to display targeted ads to subsidize another program's development. While some computer users knowingly install spyware and adware, they often hitch rides with games, screensavers and other freebies, or exploit security flaws in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems and Internet Explorer browsers. According to Pew, 48 percent of adult Internet users in the United States have stopped visiting specific Web sites that they fear might be harboring unwanted programs. Twenty-five percent stopped using file-sharing software, which often comes bundled with adware. Rogue programs can also disguise themselves as songs or movie files awaiting download on file-sharing networks. Eighteen percent of U.S. adult Internet users have started using Mozilla Firefox or another alternative to Internet Explorer. In addition, 81 percent have become more cautious about e-mail attachments, a common way for spreading viruses, though rare for spyware or adware. All told, 91 percent have made at least one behavioral change. Users hit by spyware or adware were more likely than others to change their habits. Avi Naider, president of adware company WhenU.com Inc., said he's not surprised. Although in theory, adware is about exchanging value for value — free software for ads — in practice, some in the industry engage in deceptive practices and alienate consumers such that they "just stop visiting Web sites," Naider said. Although many users have changed their online habits, they haven't necessarily fixed their machines, even as infected computers slow, often to a crawl. Twenty percent of users who had computer problems did not attempt a fix. Among those who did, 29 percent waited a month or longer. Two in five who tried to fix their machines did so on their own while others needed help from a friend, family member or a professional repair shop. In 20 percent of cases, the problem couldn't be fixed. The survey also found that 43 percent of Internet users say they've been hit with spyware, adware or both. Those who report spyware were more likely to have previously engaged in "risky" behavior such as playing online games and visiting adult sites. Broadband users tend to be at greater risk. Pew also found that three-quarters of Internet users do not always read user agreements and other disclaimers where spyware and adware are sometimes disclosed. The study was based on random telephone-based interviews with 2,001 adult Americans conducted May 4 to June 7. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware definitions is proving to be a double edge weapon

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

A recently formed organization, the Anti Spyware Coalition, has exposed to the public their ideas about the need to reach an agreement about spyware, its definition and the ways to get rid of it.
This new coalition is supported by the industry leaders: the gigantic Microsoft, DC-based Center for Democracy and Technology, Webroot and others.

One of the most important steps is the definition of spyware in order to allow Anti-Spyware software distributors to settle their disputes about what a spyware is and what is not.
Not all adware is spyware; sometimes, as when it is installed in the user computers in exchange for the installation of freeware, results beneficial.

The real problem comes when adware enters the user’s system without or with minimal intervention on the user behalf. This is the case of users who just hit the YES button each time a popup appears.

The definition of spyware will allow security companies to instruct their clients better on how to keep these malicious elements away from their computers. Besides, the creation of a definition will allow the development of laws against spyware.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Caught in a Web of Viruses, Spyware, Hoaxes, Spam, Phishers, Pharmers and Every Other Scam? Online Shopping Still Beats Going to the Mall

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Research shows that eCommerce trends are moving upward. With so many good security products available and better security awareness, people are taking charge of their online shopping experiences and coming back for more.

(PRWEB) July 14, 2005 -- Consider this scenario for a moment: You are at the mall and standing in line to purchase a few items. As you mindlessly wait your turn and fret about making it to your car with all the rain outside, you feel a slight nudge from someone weaving through the line. You step aside and then step back into the waiting line. The encounter didn't alarm you, however when you reach the register and search for your wallet, you realize that you have just been pick pocketed. Stunned and then outraged, you whirl around to find the culprit already lost in the crowds and long gone... And you thought identity theft was just for those whiny Internet users!

So is online shopping safer than traditional shopping? What about all that hype over the dangers of spyware, trojans, worms, viruses, phishing, pharming? The good news is that these fear factors do not control the Internet. Security products that protect online consumers such as antispyware, antivirus, firewalls, and filters are taking charge of the Internet and replacing fear with confidence. Shop freely and calmly assisted by the power of the technology that secures and protects the Internet.

Research shows that eCommerce trends are moving upward. That is good news for security Internet businesses like LogiGuard. “Security is one of the main issues that have stifled consumer confidence in the past,” says Wendi Trent, Director of Marketing, LogiGuard, LLC, “and the increased confidence in online shopping trends demonstrates that the security industry is doing a good job.” With so many good security products available from companies like LogiGuard and better security awareness, people are taking charge of their online shopping experiences and coming back for more. More satisfied customers means repeat business which means more sales. This is a most exciting time to buy online. Convenience is the latest in consumer buzz and the Internet is overflowing with convenience. No lines, no blisters, no grouchy clerks, no closed doors, no worries. The positively pragmatic possibilities of virtual shopping are right at your fingertips, day and night. The world is literally your market.

There is so little positive news about all the good that is happening in the security industry. We are constantly bombarded with the latest vulnerabilities and security breaches. The truth is that you are safer on line than calling in a catalog order, swiping your card at the hardware store, or faxing your card to pay for a product. “It is possible to have an unsecured transaction over the Internet, but by far it is MUCH SAFER than handing your credit card over to someone who can jot down the number and verification code on the back of the card, or stating the card number over the phone for an order,” explains Michael Rock, Web development contractor, Internet Presence. Consumers can shop more confidently now than at any other time. No more lost purses, highway robbers, or pickpockets. Online shopping is the best, most efficient way of shopping.

Although Internet security breaches receive a lot of press, most vendors and analysts admit that transactions are actually safer in cyberspace than in the real world. Leaving a credit card number online does not have to be like leaving a credit card receipt in the waste basket. More fraudulent use of credit card occurs within retail store employee circles, restaurants, and phone order centers than from phishing a server. Arming yourself with knowledge about how security works and understanding the methods of payment available online will help you to feel more secure as an online customer. This feeling of security will help you to feel more satisfied with your Internet shopping experience.

Security on the Internet is a very serious business. All secure web browsers ( like Explorer, Netscape and Firefox), will have a lock icon located on the toolbar or status bar at the bottom of the browser to annotate secure pages. If you do not see a lock, then the page is not secure. Do not give any personal information if you value your privacy without assurance that you are on a secure page. Another way to check for secure pages is to look at the URL and make sure that https appears instead of http. This indicates the use of public key encryption, one of the strongest encryption methods available at this time. This is also known as SSL or Secure Socket Layer. This protocol provides a secure connection to the server which protects your personal information as it travels over the Internet. Additionally, a second method of security that is being used is known as SET or Secure Electronic Transactions. This method encodes your credit card number on the server so that only the credit card company and the bank can read your number. These methods are very secure. When you understand how encryption works, you see that it is literally like finding a needle in a haystack to decode an encrypted site or server.

Another measure of security that is helpful is the use of vulnerability testing for websites. Retail sites benefit the most from this service as it can be used for early detection of any holes on the website that could be exploited by malicious users. Services such as Hacker Guard by LogiGuard perform daily tests and provide verification of this testing process to consumers by displaying a date-stamped logo directly on the site. Consumers can click on the logo and a certificate will be revealed that explains the testing procedure. This service gives assurance that a third party is constantly watching the site to stay one step ahead of those who would manipulate and misuse the Internet.

Although vulnerabilities are real and servers can be compromised, it doesn't happen easily. Be aware of all the security measures that protect you. Don't be paralyzed by fear when considering buying something online and using your credit card to pay online. Break through that web of fear and go online, not to the mall!

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Tech Giants Team to Fight Spyware

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

New group hopes to keep users safe, but can it succeed?

China Martens, IDG News Service

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

The Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), a group of IT companies and public interest groups, is hoping to succeed where a previous vendor organization failed in tackling the global problem of spyware. The ASC released an agreed-upon draft definition of spyware this week that it hopes will promote public comment and ultimately result in users becoming better educated about the dangers of spyware.

The Consortium of Anti-Spyware Technology Vendors (Coast), initially drawn from the security software vendor community, fell apart in February after a failed 16-month effort to coordinate its members' conflicting goals and an ongoing debate over admitting companies that created spyware. The ASC, convened by the Center for Democracy and Technology, has a much wider membership than Coast.

ASC member include the likes of America Online, Computer Associates International, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Yahoo, along with McAfee, Symantec, and Trend Micro, and anti-spyware specialist vendors Aluria Software and Webroot Software. The organization also numbers the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic, the Cyber Security Industry Alliance, and The University of California Berkeley's Samuelson Law, Technology, & Public Policy Clinic among its members.

The ASC was formed in early April, after a number of companies approached the Center for Democracy and Technology about forming a group to combat spyware. The organization's Web site went live this week.

Ari Schwartz, associate director of the Center for Democracy and Technology, has been heading up the ASC's work. He says that the new anti-spyware consortium had learned from Coast's experience. "The main difference between us and Coast is that we're trying to help anti-spyware companies communicate better together and with consumers," Schwartz says. "Coast was more about communication between anti-spyware companies and software publishers."

Cause for Concern

One fear the ASC has is the potential harm spyware could be having on consumers' Internet behavior, Schwartz says, as indicated by last week's Pew Internet & American Life Project survey. The study revealed that 91 percent of Internet users polled have changed their behavior online to try and avoid being attacked by spyware and other unwanted technologies.

Spyware isn't only plaguing consumers. "What we're hearing from companies is that spyware is starting to become a bigger enterprise problem," Schwartz says, pointing to the recent multimillion dollar contract for anti-spyware technology issued by the U.S. Department of Defense.

"We'd like to see more enforcement actions," Schwartz says, adding that the ASC will hope to improve communications between anti-spyware vendors and law enforcement to track down spyware companies. A commissioner from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attended the ASC's Washington, D.C., meeting.

The ASC is inviting public comment for the next month on documents it released this week. "We're just trying to get a foundation down," Schwartz says. The documents include a list of spyware and other potentially harmful technologies aimed at users, a glossary defining commonly used terms relating to spyware, and safety tips about how to protect against spyware.

There's also a process laying out how to resolve disputes if a vendor believes its software has been wrongly tagged as spyware. Previously each anti-spyware company worked on developing its own process and spyware companies would try to play off one antispyware company against another using their various dispute processes, according to Schwartz. "We're leveling the playing field so that anti-spyware companies spend less time talking about the [vendor dispute] process and more time on how to tackle spyware," he says.

Spyware can be defined two ways, according to the ASC. "In its narrow sense, spyware is a term for tracking software deployed without adequate notice, consent or control for the user," the organization states in its glossary. However spyware is also used as an umbrella term encompassing not only its narrow definition, but also other "potentially unwanted technologies," the ASC adds, including harmful adware, unauthorized dialers, rootkits, and hacker tools.

In its anti-spyware safety tips document, the ASC has six major recommendations for users to defend themselves against spyware. The organization suggests that users keep the security on their computers up to date; only download programs from Web sites they trust; familiarize themselves with the fine print attached to any downloadable software; avoid being tricked into clicking dialog boxes; beware of so-called "free" programs; and use anti-spyware, antivirus, and firewall software.

Come August 12, ASC will review and respond to all the comments it has received, Schwartz says. The organization will then meet toward the end of August and produce a final document. "The next step is do risk modeling, help companies make decisions about what they flag as spyware, what's their objective criteria for flagging, and work on best practices," Schwartz says.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware Pushers Under Fire

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By Tom Sanders
VNUNet.com
07/13/05 7:41 AM PT

A clear definition of spyware could end the discussion about some borderline cases. Some makers of software tools that are considered malicious take offence with the spyware label. Claria -- the former Gator -- for instance, has been very vocal about being a software tool that users want.

Using Digital Signatures to Secure Email and Stop Spam and Phishing. Tumbleweed invites you to download our white paper. Understand why S/MIME digital signatures are the best solution for authenticating email and stopping email threats. Download now.

The anti-spyware coalition (ASC), backed by software, Internet and security vendors including Computer Associates, HP, Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) and Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) , has unveiled a draft spyware definition.

Having a proper definition that sets a border between useful tools and malicious piece of spyware is crucial, said Ari Schwartz, associate director of the Center for Democracy and Technology .

Categorization Effort

"The anti-spyware community needs a way to quickly and decisively categorize new programs. The definitions will serve as a foundation for all future efforts to help users make more informed decisions about which programs to keep and which to delete."

Many of the anti-spyware group's members today publish spyware filter and removal tools. Future versions are expected to use the newly agreed definitions in defining which applications to label as malicious.

The ASC's definition of spyware labels software that impairs the users' experience, operates outside of their control and collects personal data .

Public's Input

The public is invited to comment on the draft definition until August 12. The group will then create a final version.

A clear definition of spyware could end the discussion about some borderline cases. Some makers of software tools that are considered malicious take offence with the spyware label. Claria -- the former Gator -- for instance, has been very vocal about being a software tool that users want, and in recent months has been both included and removed from various spyware removal tools.

Critics however warn that any definition of spyware will be used by makers of the malicious tools to evade detection and removal by anti-spyware tools. They could use the guidelines to tweak their software to make it fall outside of the definition.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Maybe They Should Call It MS Pro-Spyware

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

There's a quick way for Microsoft to extract itself from the controversy over its anti-spyware program and its rumored plan to buy Claria, the big spyware company. I can also think of a slow way, but the quick one is more fun.

Here goes: Just change the name of the software from Microsoft Anti-Spyware to Microsoft Pro-Spyware, since that seems to be where the company is headed. How else to explain Microsoft's willingness to "upgrade" several pieces of spyware from a "remove" recommendation to "ignore," but its unwillingness to explain why the action was taken?

In this spirit, Microsoft might instead change the name of its software to Microsoft Spyware, which would be especially appropriate should Microsoft buy Claria.

There may be a better course, but it's slower. And it would require some heads-up thinking in Redmond.

This plan requires Microsoft to improve—that is become more publicly accountable for—its behavior. Microsoft expects customers to give it their trust, but won't provide the information necessary to show that that trust is well placed.

Microsoft owes its customers very specific information about why it considers a particular piece of software to be spyware. Then, customers need to be fully informed when Microsoft changes its recommendations. Microsoft should not make any recommendation besides "delete" unless it's willing to provide a report card on each piece of spyware so that customers can decide for themselves what action to take.

In the current case, Microsoft customers deserve to know why several pieces of spyware were recently changed from "remove" to "ignore." Have the companies responsible for this spyware changed their behavior? And, if so, how? Or has Microsoft changed its criteria? Microsoft needs to explain.

Read more here about industry reaction to Microsoft's explanation of the change in treatment of Claria's products.

Customers need an intelligent way to make decisions about what spyware should be removed and whether spyware might be associated with software they want to keep. In order to do this, Microsoft needs to provide very specific information about the dangers, effects and "benefits" associated with particular spyware applications.

Microsoft is welcome to make a recommendation as to what action a user should take when confronted by particular pieces of spyware. But it should do this only after it provides customers with the information necessary to make an intelligent decision.

Microsoft already makes too many decisions for its customers, but where spyware is concerned, the default answer should always be "remove."

Knowing Microsoft as I do, it is my opinion that its anti-spyware developers are as independent as their boss, Mike Nash, says they are. That is, they haven't been pressured by the supposed Claria deal.

There are entire business units at Microsoft that seem, at least occasionally, to take great pleasure in thumbing their noses at everyone else, and anti-spyware seems to be one of them. Control at Microsoft is too decentralized for any one person, save Bill, Steve or a few of those who report directly, to have ordered a change in Claria's status and made it stick.

Click here to read more about rumors that Microsoft plans to acquire adware vendor Claria.

The more we know about the situation, the more it appears that Claria and several other pieces of spyware were "upgraded" back in March. That doesn't sound like a conspiracy, but it does sound like Microsoft might be trying to change the definition of spyware.

It is quite possible that Microsoft wants to "rehabilitate" spyware so it can become a legitimate way for the company itself to distribute advertising-supported software. Microsoft has already said it plans to move toward services and subscriptions for revenue, and one way for customers to pay for those services would be to view advertising.

Make such an agreement more explicit and software could be funded in the same manner as commercial television and radio. And if you don't like the ads, then buy the subscription. I already do that with several online services.

I can see the ad now: "Microsoft Spyware is GOOD for you!" Maybe the secret of Office 12 will be ad support rather than an upgrade price.

As for the immediate situation, Microsoft's public letter has only managed to make things worse.

Instead of addressing the entire issue, Microsoft's letter is so narrowly written as to be almost funny. It seems specific, but isn't. It tries to explain, but doesn't quite manage to. The letter is a classic example of too little, too late.

If Microsoft doesn't want to become known as being "pro" spyware, the company needs to fully explain itself and make the necessary changes in its software, policies and procedures so customers can have full confidence in its recommendations.

Microsoft wants our trust, but must do more to earn it.

Contributing editor David Coursey has spent two decades writing about hardware, software and communications for business customers. He can be reached at david_coursey@ziffdavis.com.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Coalition Issue Definitions for 'Spyware'

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By ANICK JESDANUN

NEW YORK - Anti-spyware vendors and consumer groups took a stab at issuing uniform definitions for "spyware" and "adware" on Tuesday in hopes of giving computer users more control over their machines.

The definitions seek clarity that could help improve anti-spyware products, educate consumers and fend off lawsuits from developers of software that sneaks onto computers.

It's not clear what, if anything, the taxonomy itself might accomplish in ending the deception involved in placing intrusive and damaging programs on people's computers.

The 13-page document is silent, for instance, on what developers must do to obtain consent from consumers. Nor does the document, still formally a draft, clearly state how specific programs might fall under a certain category.

"It's not the end game but it's a great starting point," said Dave Cole, director of product management at Symantec Corp., a member of the coalition that spent three months crafting the terms. "You've got to have a foundation, a common vocabulary to start with ... and have all of us speak the same language."

Forty-three percent of adult U.S. Internet users say they've been hit with spyware, adware or both, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. More than 90 percent of Internet users have changed their online behavior, meanwhile, to try to avoid becoming victimized.

The coalition flags as potential threats _ an umbrella definition that includes spyware, adware and other categories such as "hijackers" and "cookies" _ programs that:

_impair users' control over their systems, including privacy and security;

_impair the use of system resources, including what programs are installed on their computers; or

_collect, use and distribute personal or otherwise sensitive information.

By classifying "adware" as falling under the umbrella term, "Spyware and Other Potentially Unwanted Technologies," the coalition avoided a key dispute that has led to lawsuits: Is adware a form of spyware or are the two separate?

The coalition recognized that not all advertising software is unwanted and restricted the use of "adware" to the potentially unwanted kind. It created a separate category for "hijackers" that change browser settings and noted that some data files, or "cookies," have legitimate uses for saving preferences.

The industry can now discuss and define how specific technologies or practices harm users, said Ari Schwartz of the Center for Democracy and Technology, which led the coalition. He said more specific guidelines are expected this fall.

The definitions themselves could undergo revision after a one-month period for public comment.

Release of the definitions comes as Microsoft Corp. acknowledges that it has revised its treatment of adware made by Claria Corp., formerly known as Gator Corp.

Instead of putting the programs in "quarantine," Microsoft's anti-spyware tool recommends users "ignore" the items it detects. Microsoft said the change was unrelated to speculation that Microsoft has been in talks to buy Claria (Neither company would comment on any talks).

The three months that the coalition spent discussing the terms, Edelman said, could have been better used to get to the heart of the problem: Clarifying what constitutes a user's consent to allow spyware or adware to be installed on a personal computer.

The coalition did, however, provide tips for consumers, including advice on how to read license agreements and other "fine print" where consent is often sought.

Adware vendors said they welcome clearer rules on what's acceptable, though they consider definitions a good start.

"Is it perfect? No, but any kind of refinement, any added clarity is going to be helpful," said Sean Sundwall, a spokesman for 180solutions Inc. "50 percent is way better than 0 percent."

Bill Day, chief executive of WhenU.com Inc., said the terms "will tend to add structure to what has now been unstructured conversations" with anti-spyware vendors.

Schwartz said nothing in the definitions or the upcoming "best practices" guidelines will eliminate all differences among makers of anti-spyware programs.

"Companies are going to make decisions, and people are going to have to decide which anti-spyware tool is best for them," Schwartz said. "Each company itself will have to make decisions about whether something is unwanted or unexpected."

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware, Viruses Ignite Fear, Loathing Among Vast Majority of Internet Users

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

A study from the Pew Internet & American Life Project reports that more than 90 percent of U.S. Internet users have changed their online usage habits due to the increasing threat of spyware and viruses.

“Internet users are increasingly frustrated and frightened that they are not in charge of their Internet experience,” said Susannah Fox, an associate director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Some 91 percent of Internet users have changed the way they use the Net in trying to avoid unwanted and invasive software, the survey found.

Key findings of the survey including more than 1,300 users include:

81 percent of Internet users say they have stopped opening email attachments unless they are sure these documents are safe. 48 percent of Internet users say they have stopped visiting particular Web sites that they fear might deposit unwanted programs on their computers. 25 percent of Internet users say they have stopped downloading music or video files from peer-to-peer networks to avoid getting unwanted software programs on their computers. 18 percent of Internet users say they have started using a different Web browser to avoid software intrusions. “Familiarity breeds contempt when it comes to spyware,” Fox added. “The more Internet users know about these programs, the more they want to sound the alarm and take steps to protect themselves. “These survey results show that as Internet users gain experience with spyware and adware, they are more likely to say they are changing their behavior,” she added. “But what is more alarming is the larger universe of people who have struggled with mysterious computer problems, but have no idea why.”

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Nine indicted in Israeli spyware espionage case

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By Staff writers, TechWeb | 11 July 2005 09:45 AEST

Indictments were filed by an Israeli prosecutor last week against nine men in the industrial espionage case that involved planting Trojan horses on rival companies' computers to spy out their secrets. The indictments against the nine private investigators working in Israel accuse them of industrial espionage, fraudulent receipt, uploading computer viruses, hacking computers with criminal intent, wiretapping, use of wiretaps, invasion of privacy, and managing an unauthorised database. In late May, 18 people were arrested, including a pair in Britain alleged to have created a custom piece of spyware. That pair, say authorities, was hired by the ring of nine private investigators just indicted. They in turn were employed by several companies and other individuals, who ordered up the espionage to gather confidential information about such things as upcoming bids and customers. Although the man-and-woman team of programmers in the UK face extradition to Israel, and the investigators have been charged, the investigation into the third ring of companies is not completed, said law enforcement officials in Tel Aviv. In associated news, one of the victimised companies -- a satellite broadcaster called HOT -- on Thursday was granted an injunction against rival YES, a firm that allegedly hired some of the indicted private investigators. The injunction bans YES from using any of the information obtained by the spyware snooping.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware and adware explained

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware and adware are two of the hottest topics in computing. It is claimed that nearly two thirds of all PCs are infected with spyware; and Microsoft recently bought Giant in order to launch its own spyware and adware removal software.

So what are spyware and adware? And, more importantly, how can you remove them from your computer?

What is spyware?

Spyware is software that gathers information about how you use your computer and transmits the data to a central server. This information can include which websites you visit, what applications you're using, or information about your computer specification. But, more sinisterly, the software can also transmit the usernames and passwords you've typed in online

The data gathered about you might be used to send adverts to your computer in the form of annoying pop-ups, to send you spam email or, in rare cases, to impersonate you online.

The definition of spyware varies greatly. Some privacy enthusiasts argue that all cookies are spyware, but these small files can make using the web easier (remembering logins, for example). The truly malicious spyware programs are those that install themselves without your permission and send data silently without you knowing.

What is adware?

Put simply, adware is software that displays advertising on your computer. Often spyware and adware are part of the same program. Adware is, in theory, harmless on its own; some programs are free because they show adverts which pay for the developer's time. By clicking 'I agree' when installing these you are often agreeing to see the adverts in return for the free software. But when the software starts silently spying on you, it stops being harmless.

How does spyware and adware get onto my computer?

These programs are often installed because your browser or operating system has a security hole which was exploited by a website to install the spyware/adware. Or you might have installed a piece of free, advertising-supported software which has also installed spyware alongside the legitimate advertising.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Surfers get smart on spyware

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Internet users claim to have changed their habits

Iain Thomson, vnunet.com 08 Jul 2005

More than 90 per cent of internet users have changed their habits to try and reduce their exposure to spyware, according to a study from the Pew Internet Project.

The survey of 2,000 users found that over 80 per cent no longer open attachments from unknown sources, and nearly half have stopped visiting sites they suspect of harbouring malware.

Nearly half of respondents claimed to have personal experience of a spyware infestation.

"This is probably a conservative estimate," said Susannah Fox, associate director at Pew.

"There is a very strong likelihood that a big proportion of those who have had computer problems have been victimised by spyware without knowing the cause of their problems."

Fox cited a survey last year from the National Cyber Security Alliance which found that 53 per cent of respondents said that they had spyware on their computers. But a remote scan of the PCs revealed that 80 per cent of respondents had such programs installed.

Over half of respondents had suffered slow downs or crashes more frequently as a result of spyware, and nearly one in five was having web pages redirected.

Eighty per cent of internet users (and 90 per cent of internet users who have been hit by adware) said that more should be done to alert consumers about adware in files they are downloading.

Only about one in 10 internet users indicated that the current practice of clicking through a user agreement or disclaimer is adequate consent to install adware on a computer.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Spyware casts lengthening shadow over Net usage

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Thursday 7th July 2005 3:46PM

Over 90 per cent of Internet users have changed their online behaviour due to concerns about spyware, according to the latest research from Pew Internet.

A new Pew Internet Project report, covering US Internet users, suggests 81 per cent of those online say they have stopped opening email attachments unless they are sure these documents are safe. And 18 per cent say they have started using a different Web browser to avoid software intrusions.

This chimes with recent research over the decline in market share for Internet Explorer following the repeated security alerts surrounding Microsoft's browser, a migration which has largely benefited the open source Firefox.

Apparently, awareness is also increasing about the relative danger of dodgy Internet sites. Almost half, 48 per cent, of internetusers say that they have stopped visiting particular websites due to the fear they might deposit unwanted programs.

More specifically, 25 per cent of respondents said they have stopped downloading music or video files from peer-to-peer networks to avoid getting unwanted additional software on their PCs.

The report, which was written by Pew's Associate Director, Susannah Fox, highlights the threat to broadband users, who are more likely to take part in heavy duty file-swapping through p2p networks. Visiting adult websites and playing online games are also identified as the most likely way to attract spyware.
'Familiarity breeds contempt when it comes to spyware. The more Internet users know about these programs, the more they want to sound the alarm and take steps to protect themselves,' said Fox. 'These survey results show that as Internet users gain experience with spyware and adware, they are more likely to say they are changing their behaviour.'

'But what is more alarming,' she adds, 'is the larger universe of people who have struggled with mysterious computer problems, but have no idea why. Internet users are increasingly frustrated and frightened that they are not in charge of their Internet experience.'

Alun Williams

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Is It Spyware or Adware?

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By Jeff Gelles
Sunday Gazette-Mail
07/07/05 9:44 AM PT

"People are used to antivirus programs where everything is black and white. Spyware and adware fall more into a gray area," said Kraig Lane, Symantec's product manager. Symantec's new Norton Internet Security AntiSpyware Edition labels some adware "low risk" and recommends that users leave it alone, instead of deleting it.

Slip a prerecorded DVD into your computer, and this software program quietly goes online to report what you're watching, like an alien contacting its mother ship.

Is it spyware? Not necessarily. The "mother ship," in this case, is Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) . The software is the Windows Media Player.

To some privacy advocates, the Microsoft program behaves in certain ways like spyware, which illustrates a basic problem: It's tough to fight something when you have trouble simply identifying it.

If It's Secretive, It's a Spy

Critics say the spyware label can apply to any secretive software that does something on your computer without your knowledge and for somebody else's purposes.

There is no debate that it refers to plainly malicious programs that spy on your e-mail, hijack your modem or steal account numbers.

But when the risks are less obvious -- say, with an adware program that tracks your Web surfing to deliver targeted pop-up ads -- consensus has been harder to come by.

Critics say that adware, like spyware, is often downloaded by mistake or through deception -- sometimes by clicking on a "Security Warning" that wrongly implies a program is needed to continue viewing a Web site, or occasionally by just visiting a site.

Adware can quietly collect data about users' online habits. It can cause computers to become painfully slow or crash. And it can be difficult to remove.

Better Advertisements

Adware-makers counter that they use technology to deliver a smarter form of advertising that consumers willingly accept, because they want the games or entertainment offered in exchange, or simply welcome the ads and special offers.

Stuck in the middle are people such as Kevin Charnigo of Doylestown, Pa. He never knowingly accepted any of the programs clogging his 3-year-old computer, but it became so jammed with unwanted software that he was ready to toss it out. Even with a high-speed connection, he could barely get e-mail or surf the Web.

"I would turn the computer on and I'd start seeing pop-ups before I even logged on to the Internet," said Charnigo, regional pharmacy supervisor for CVS.

While Charnigo does not distinguish spyware from adware, or one piece of adware from another, leading adware-makers insist such distinctions are crucial. And their efforts are paying off.

Partly at their urging, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an anti-spyware bill in May that leaves adware alone if it is accepted voluntarily by computer users -- in return, say, for a downloaded game or screen saver -- and if it steers clear of features that are specifically prohibited, such as being difficult to remove.

Shedding the Negative Label

Adware-makers also have pressed companies that make spyware-removal programs to quit labeling their programs as risky or even mentioning them at all. Symantec's (Nasdaq: SYMC) new Norton Internet Security AntiSpyware Edition labels some adware "low risk" and recommends that users leave it alone.

Kraig Lane, Symantec's product manager, said that as Symantec looked past programs that were hijacking computers or stealing personal data , it realized it was dealing with a different kind of threat.

"People are used to antivirus programs where everything is black and white. Spyware and adware fall more into a gray area," Lane said.

Some privacy advocates say spyware and adware are the latest examples of a commercial intrusion into personal computers that began with "cookies" -- small files that advertisers and Web sites place on personal computers to track a surfer's behavior.

Chis Hoofnagle, West Coast director for the Electronic Privacy Information Center , puts Windows Media Player in that same category.

Microsoft says the online-reporting feature provides users with information about the DVDs they watch, collects no personal information , and can be disabled. Even so, Hoofnagle said, each program comes with a unique serial number.

"By installing Windows Media Player, you've basically tagged your computer," he said.

Getting Into the Business

Microsoft recently raised its profile in the spyware wars by offering computer users a beta-test version of an anti-spyware program developed by a company it acquired.

Michael Serdikoff, a Wyncote, Pa., computer consultant who says spyware and adware remain the largest problem he faces, is one of many who see irony in the software giant's new role.

Not that Microsoft is wrong to target spyware, he said. But he and others blame Microsoft for much of the problem, which they say was fueled by security holes in its software.

Even so, Serdikoff cuts Microsoft a break.

"When they designed it, this stuff wasn't even out there," he said. "Nobody was forward-thinking enough."

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Trend Micro Launches 3 Anti-Spyware Products

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By ChannelTimes Staff
Mumbai, Jul 6, 2005

Trend Micro, the network antivirus and Internet content security software and services provider, has announced three new solutions that detect and remove evasive spyware and grayware for the home, small-to-medium business, and the enterprise.

Trend Micro Anti-Spyware is the first significant offering resulting from the company's May 2005 acquisition of InterMute, Inc., a leading developer of anti-spyware products, and offers immediate protection against some of today's most insidious spyware programs, the company said.

The new solutions are engineered to provide accurate, real-time detection and removal of spyware and grayware while incorporating enhanced features that provide optimal scalability and ease-of-use. Designed to operate alongside various antivirus and security software, these solutions can be used alone or as part of a layered defense strategy at multiple points in the network.

Eva Chen, CEO of Trend Micro, said, "As promised, Trend Micro has executed quickly following our recent acquisition of InterMute, continuing our momentum around providing customers with top-quality solutions against spyware. These three solutions provide the superior technology, global expertise and timely support that customers have come to expect from a pioneer in the security field. With Trend Micro, customers can get anti-spyware protection that easily complements their antivirus solutions, providing opportunities to adopt integrated security solutions now and in the future."

Trend Micro Anti-Spyware products feature CWShredder, regarded as one of the most effective solutions for eliminating the CoolWebSearch Web browsing hijacker and its many variants - some of which avoid detection and removal through ever-changing methods. Trend Micro's global research and support centers provide timely updates to these products.

Trend Micro Anti-Spyware 3.0 is designed for the consumer and small office/home office environment and actively monitors more than 150 touchpoints on the system to look for spyware behaviors. It is currently available online.

Trend Micro Anti-Spyware for Small and Medium Businesses 3.0 can be centrally deployed and managed remotely via a Web-based dashboard, thus offering visibility and control throughout an organization. Based on technology pre-installed in more than 6 million PCs shipped by top PC manufacturers, this solution delivers exceptional reliability and compatibility with other software products, the company said. This solution is now available through retailers.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

The Enterprise Edition is designed to meet the demands of larger, more complex organizations. This solution provides a non-integrated desktop option to customers not yet ready to replace their existing desktop antivirus software. Trend Micro Anti-Spyware Enterprise Edition 3.0 will be available in August 2005.

Spyware suspected in illegal money transfers

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

07/06/2005
The Asahi Shimbun

Banks have reported a series of illegal online money transfers believed perpetrated by a thief armed with a "spyware" program, sources said.

The illegal transfers were made last Friday likely by the same individual because the same account was used to receive the money transferred from accounts at eBank Co., Mizuho Bank and Japan Net Bank Ltd., the sources said.

The crimes were apparently committed through the use of a spyware program that infiltrated the account holders' computers and enabled the swindler to obtain PIN codes required to transfer money on the Internet, the sources said.

It is rare for spyware-caused financial damage to be reported by several banks at the same time.

According to the sources, hundreds of thousands of yen was transferred from the account of a Mizuho Bank customer through the company's online banking system on July 1.

Financial damage at Japan Net Bank was not provided, but more than one illegal money transfer was made, the sources said.

In the eBank case, the customer received an e-mail message in mid-June with an attached file of a moving image, bank officials said. They speculate the spyware program was released on the hard drive when the customer opened the attachment.

On July 1, 130,000 yen was transferred from the customer's account.Officials at eBank confirmed the illegal online money transfer in the morning. But when the bank later froze customer's account, the transfer had already been completed.

Banks' Web sites urge customers to report unfamiliar money transfers and to avoid opening suspicious e-mail because spyware programs are often hidden in such messages.(IHT/Asahi: July 6,2005)

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Trend Micro Releases Anti-Spyware Offerings

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

By CXOtoday Staff
Mumbai, Jul 5, 2005

Trend Micro, a network anti-virus and Internet content security software and services provider, recently announced three new solutions that detect and remove evasive spyware and grayware for the home, small-to-medium business, and the enterprise segment.

The new anti-spyware solutions are engineered to provide accurate, real-time detection and removal of spyware and grayware while incorporating features that provide optimal scalability.

The software is designed to operate alongside various anti-virus and security software, and can be used alone or as part of a layered defense strategy at multiple points in the network.

Trend Micro anti-spyware products feature CWShredder, regarded as one of the most effective solutions for eliminating the CoolWebSearch Web browsing hijacker and its many variants - some of which avoid detection and removal through ever-changing methods.

Trend Micro's anti-spyware (consumer version) is currently available online, while anti-spyware for SMBs 3.0 is available through retailers and anti-spyware Enterprise Edition 3.0 will be available in August 2005.

Trend Micro anti-spyware offerings represents the first significant offering resulting from the company's May 2005 acquisition of InterMute, Inc., a developer of anti-spyware products.

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Is Spyware Slowing Your Computer Down To A Crawl?

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Posted by George Peirson on: 2005-07-03 18:18:15

---

Everyday more and more computers are becoming infected with Spyware and Adware (advertising tracking). No matter where you go on the web, someone is trying to sneak something on your computer. From honest web sites placing simple logon cookies, to paid advertising tracking your movements on the web, to malicious software that is designed to record your keystrokes and discover your passwords, Spyware and Adware have together become the web’s number one problem.

Many of these programs are down right dangerous and seriously threaten your online privacy and identity. But even the simple and supposedly benign Adware programs can cause you serious problems.

Spyware is any program that installs itself onto your computer with the intent to spy on your activity. This can be recording your online searching habits, or whatever you type on your keyboard. Adware is not much better. It is designed to watch what you do online, where you go, which terms you search for and then report this to the ad agency that runs the adware program.

Adware programs may be designed with the best intentions in mind, but even these can cause your computer serious problems.

Here is what happens. Many, if not most, advertisers on the internet will try and place a cookie or other small program on your computer. Many will add code that will track that cookie as it hits different pages. The code may be designed simply to gather anonymous data, or it may be trying to send ads to your browser that the advertising company thinks you will be more likely to respond to.

Whatever the case, the Adware or Spyware is using your computer to do its tracking. This means that part of your computer’s power and CPU cycles are being diverted away from the activity you are trying to perform. Your computer is being used by someone else instead to track your movements. Now, when we multiply this behavior by tens or hundreds of Adware or Spyware programs all trying to use your computer for their work you can begin to see the problem.

These programs can literally slow your computer down to a crawl, or make it crash altogether. They can fill your computer up with trash files, open unwanted popup windows, use up the space in your internet cache and generally just make working on your computer a nightmare.

Luckily there are several easy solutions to the problem. But first let me make one distinction, Spyware and Adware are not the same thing as a computer virus. Although a computer virus can install spyware on a computer, you will need different tools to remove a computer virus and to keep your system clean from Spyware and Adware. You should be using both a high quality commercial anti-virus program and one or more good quality programs for handling the spyware/adware problem.

There are several good Spyware/adware programs on the market. I use two different programs on my network, Ad-aware from Lavasoft and Spy Sweeper from Webroot Software although there are several others. You can easily find both of these by doing an internet search for Ad-aware and Spy Sweeper. Or simply do a search for spyware. Both of these programs will scan your hard drives and registry and present you with a list of spyware/adware programs hiding on your system. You can then quarantine or remove the offending programs. I use both of these programs since neither one seems to catch everything. Plus I will run them 2 or more times in a row, the nastier spyware will not be completely removed on the first pass.

The process is very easy and I recommend running these programs at least once a week and every time you have been doing some extended web surfing. You will be surprised at how many of these spyware/adware programs will sneak onto your system. I run a very clean network and I have yet to scan my system and not come up with at least a few of these hiding on my hard drive.

So be aware of the problem, take reasonable precautions, scan your system frequently, and the spyware/adware curse can be broken.

Copyright 2005 - George Peirson

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

Don't be tricked by spyware fraudsters

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me

---

by JONATHAN KENT

---

HIGH-tech fraudsters are fooling computer users into inadvertently loading software that allows their every keystroke to be tracked, a local information technology professional has warned.
The spies can then gather information from a computer without the user's knowledge, including credit card numbers, passwords and other sensitive information.
Robert Berry, whose company Digimedia specialises in servicing computers, said spyware was an increasing problem.
"Spyware is often a problem when you have a computer that is being used by teenage children," Mr. Berry said. "Young people will often download free music, free games or free software.
"When you're downloading something, you should be aware of exactly what you're downloading, particularly if it's a remote online installation.
"That is how people can end up downloading spyware onto their computers that can allow someone, somewhere, to track all your movements."
Spyware can hitch a ride onto a computer without the user's knowledge during visits to porn or gambling sites, or in downloads of free games, music or even screensavers. It can also arrive with downloads of cartoons aimed at children.
Adware is a spin-off of spyware technology and it is capable of unleashing a barrage of pop-up advertisements, often unwanted, onto a PC screen.
It used to be that viruses or "worms" were the biggest threat to computer networks, but spyware, which cannot be stopped by anti-virus shields, is now taking over as the chief irritant.
"Because spyware is something that you unwittingly download yourself, anti-virus software is no protection against it," Mr. Berry said.
"Sites where people swap music and other downloads are particularly dangerous, as people can download anything remotely.
"A lot of the attackers are based in eastern Europe or anywhere where there are no regulations. That means that even if the culprits are caught, little can be done about it."
While private computer users are at risk, entire company networks can also fall prey to spyware attackers, if staff browsing the web at work inadvertently introduce it onto the system.
Mr. Berry said it was important that companies made themselves aware of the threat and how they could protect themselves.
There are anti-spyware programmes that can detect when information is being sent out from the computer and which can inform the user by means of a pop-up window.
"Most of the service calls I get now relate to spyware problems," Mr. Berry said. "One symptom of it is that your computer becomes very slow.
"In most cases, I find that the most effective way to repair an effected computer is to clear the machine and then re-install everything."
Identity theft is a common result of the accidental downloading of spyware and Mr. Berry's work has allowed him to see other devious methods used by cyber thieves.
"They send out thousands of e-mails at random, trying to get people to divulge personal information," he said. "They call it 'phishing'.
"For example, they might send an e-mail masquerading as being something from Citibank. You can open it up and it will look very like the Citibank site. Some people who receive it may have a Citibank account and may take it seriously and enter their bank account details and pin number.
"An e-mail I saw on a client's computer only this week purported to come from IBM. They sent about 20 e-mails from addresses like serviceibm and mailibm. They would say your password has expired or your service is overdue, things that would probably make you feel the need to take action.
"The e-mail may come with an attachment and anything could be in there, such as a spyware programme.
"You have to watch out for con men on message boards as well, trying to get hold of information they should have no need of, like birth dates and addresses, for example. You have to be careful."
l The Bermuda Police Service this week warned of an e-mail scam that several island residents may already have fallen victim to.
People are informed that they have won the "Belgian Euro Millions Lottery", but in order to claim their prize they must first forward 1,000 euros and then fly overseas, where they will then be encouraged to part with more money.
A police statement this week said: "It appears that many victims do not seem overly surprised that they have won the lottery despite having not entered it in the first place.
"We are advising members of the public not to send money if they receive a letter or e-mail claiming to be from the 'Belgian Euro Millions Lottery' or any other lottery that has not been entered by the recipient. If it sounds too good to be true, then it is!"

Learn to Remove Spyware! Click me