Tips for Avoiding Spyware

If you've spent any amount of time on the Internet, you've probably wasted at least a few hours removing adware or spyware from your computer. Spyware or adware, which is a software program that installs itself (without your knowledge) on your computer. After it's installed, the software collects information about you, and when you're online it sends the information to the spyware program's owner. Most spyware fits into either of two categories:
* Surveillance spyware
* Advertising spyware

Surveillance spyware scans documents on your computer and can capture your keystrokes as you type. It can spy on forms you're filling out on a Web site (such as your login password or your credit card number) and the text you enter in a chat window. Government and detective agencies have been known to use this type of software, as have jealous spouses.

Advertising spyware is software that is installed when you're installing other software (usually software you download from the Internet) or that is installed in the background while you're visiting a Web site. It's common for advertising spyware to be included (without your being told) when you install software that's advertised as "free, if you don't mind seeing advertisements when you use it." One of the most pervasive distributors of spyware is software you download to take advantage of "peer to peer" file exchanges (for music and video). Advertising spyware logs information about your computer - and about you. The information includes passwords, your Web browsing habits, your online buying habits, and so on.

Both types of spyware can also install viruses and worms on your computer. Many of them change your browser settings (such as your home page), and your efforts to correct the changes are temporary; the spyware changes them again.

Below are tips for keeping adware and spyware at bay -- and your organization's computers running strong.

1. Update Windows immediately.
In the Windows Security Center in the Control Panel turn on automatic download andinstallation for updates. Unless the computer came with a third party security suite or firewall, turn on the Windows XP firewall.

2. Use an anti-spyware tool with real-time protection.
The following two programs are well regarded by computer professionals:
* Ad-Aware from Lavasoft.com Lavasoft.com
* Spybot S&D (for Search & Destroy) Spybot.com

4. Don't open attachments or click links in emails from strangers.
Many types of viruses spread via email attachments, and the same is true with spyware. Hopefully, your organization has an anti-spam solution in place, which will drastically reduce the amount of potentially dodgy messages that wind up in users' in-boxes. Still, it's important to remind those on your network not to open attachments from strangers or those that end in .EXE, regardless of who sent it.

5. Only download software from a trusted source.
The allure of free software can be quite seductive, but you might end up paying in other ways. Many developers, such as those who produce file-sharing programs, make their money by bundling adware or spyware with free products. Warn users to be particularly wary of "fun" freebies such as screensavers, emoticons, and games. Before downloading anything from the
Internet, it's crucial to scrutinize the Web site's privacy policy (usually located near the bottom of the page), keeping an eye out for questionable or suspicious words and phrases -- such as "banner ads" and "third-party software" -- that might indicate the presence of adware or spyware.

6. Don't visit adult sites.
Adult Web sites are havens for spyware, Trojan horses, and other security threats. Instruct users never to visit these types of sites on your organization's machines.

7. Download and install an alternative browser like Firefox or Opera.
Because it uses ActiveX controls -- a Microsoft technology that allows a Web browser to access other programs -- Internet Explorer is particularly susceptible to spyware-based hijacks. And once spyware has invaded Internet Explorer, it can be very difficult to repair the browser without reinstalling the entire operating system.

Since Mozilla's open-source browser Firefox doesn't offer ActiveX controls by default (though plug-ins are available), it's considered a more secure Web-surfing choice. As the browser becomes more popular, industry experts believe it could be subject to more attacks.

Experts also believe that that Firefox's built-in pop-up blocker is more effective than Internet Explorer's, which will help reduce the amount of potentially troublesome ads that your users see.


Surf Safe !


Source :
- Ten Tips for Avoiding Spyware
- Top 10 tips to keep that new computer spyware-free
- Giving Spyware the Boot