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Solutions From KnowWare |
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Home and Office Computer Services — California License E-83783 |
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Virus or Spyware |
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No question about it. Yes. Viruses and worms today can easily evade anti-virus programs. Don't think that just because your anti-virus program is running all the time that you are not infected. |
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We frequently receive calls from customers that complain about specific problems only to find that the machine has been infected even though their anti-virus software has been updated and is running. |
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Can Viruses, Worms, and Spyware Defeat Anti-Virus Software? |
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The most important thing you can do to keep your computer safe is to install virus detection software and keep the virus patterns up to date. Antivirus programs perform two general functions: scanning for and removing viruses in files on disks, and monitoring the operation of your computer for virus-like activity (either known actions of specific viruses or general suspicious activity). Most antivirus packages contain routines that can perform each kind of task.
Keep your operating system current with the latest patches and updates. The writers of viruses and worms often exploit bugs and security holes in operating systems and other computer software. Software manufacturers frequently release patches for such holes. |
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Do not click links that are contained in a pop-up window. These pop-up windows are often spyware and will just install themselves right on your computer before you can stop them. To close the pop-up, click the X in the title bar and not the one in the window itself. You can also right click the window in your task bar and click on close to steer clear of clicking the window all together. It is always safer to stay far away from the pop-up window if you can. When unanticipated dialogue boxes pop up always choose "no" or click cancel.
If you get a window asking you to run a program you did not select hit cancel or close the program with the X in the title bar. These types of programs are most apt to be spyware and not your computer attempting to tell you something.
Be exceedingly precautious of free downloadable software. There are literally thousands of sites that offer cool toolbars, amazing cursers, and other interesting things to computer users. If you aren't sure if you can entrust the website or have no idea that it is safe, don't download things from it. What you are actually doing is exposing yourself to spyware and perhaps more. You can wind up downloading a lot more than just the program you thought you were. |
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Understanding the Risks to your Computer and Software |
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Adware
Adware is basically every software that displays advertisement on your computer. As adware itself does not threaten your privacy or security, additional factors are involved before they are considered themselves to be an actual threat. This would be for example: Security - if adware installs without your knowledge, or only mentioned on page 51 of a long license agreement without the option to not install it. Connectivity - if adware installs it own automated updater that downloads updates and/or additional software without your confirmation or even knowledge. Permanence - if the adware keeps in memory and is annoying you with advertisement even if the host application that did install it is not running, and this hasn't been announced on install. Backdoors - if removing the host doesn't remove the adware, and the adware uses multiple protection schemes to prevent its removal.
BHO—Browser Helper Objects
Browser helper objects are small programs that extend Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Not all BHO’s are classified as a dangerous to your computer, but the classification as a BHO means no threat until it was installed secretly, or spies on your IE usage. IE Toolbars are comprised of BHO’s and have to be independently judged when balanced between functionality and the draw on your system resources. The only exception to BHO not being harmful are those classified as Unstable BHO. Those are programs that have made the browser they integrate into (Internet Explorer) unstable, crashing it or causing other negative side effects.
Browser Hijacker
There are three criteria that classify a software that changes your browser start or search pages as a browser hijacker: Stealth - changing the settings without informing you or asking you for confirmation. the page settings back using the common ways. Software that changes the Internet Explorer or any other browsers start and/or search pages without your consent, or software that does this changes, but adds additional measures to prevent you from changing the settings back is classified as a browser hijacker.
Dialer
Every software designed to call toll numbers for unauthorized matters, using your dial-up hardware, is classified as a dialer. Matters that are regarded as unauthorized are used to only include visiting porn sites and downloading cracks or hacks — more commonly today dialer packages dial international toll numbers resulting in International Long Distance charges for which you have no recourse.
Key Logger
Key logger are easily classified, as those are programs designed for spying on other people. Commercial advertisement for these products show the purpose some people choose to have these programs installed on their computers..
Malware
Classified as malware is software that comes with the purpose of doing harm to the users software that doesn't fit into the other categories. A few criteria for malware are: Blocking - software that renders other software useless or even removes it. Deletion - software that is removing software or data. Connectivity - software that constantly opens connections to Internet sites without any obvious need for this.
Spyware
Spyware is a worse form of adware. Spyware generally meets the adware criteria, an in addition one or more of the following: Tracking - watching the Internet traffic reveals that the program does transmit an unique identifier assigned to you / your computer to track your habits of using the software or more. Spying - the Internet traffic reveals that personal information, for example that complete URLs or form data, including possible sensitive data like login names and passwords, are transmitted. Bad policies - the Privacy Policy of the product reveals that is collects personal information, which is sometimes even sold. Loose policies - if the Privacy Policy only reveals a few harmless non-personal information that is transmitted, without explicitly excluding any personal information like serious Privacy Policies do. In the case of Loose policies, software should be classified as possible spyware until other criteria are fulfilled.
Trojan
Trojan is a classification for software that uses stealth to install into your system often with the intention of doing harm. Usually this classification is accompanied with a classification as key logger, spyware or virus, which defines the level of threat the Trojan is representing.
Worm
Classified as worms is software that is using local software to spread itself to as many other people and computers as possible without the users consent. The more publicly recognized worms are those often spread through email where in past cases the mere act of opening an email resulted in the worm being sent to everyone in the user’s address book disguised as a normal message.
PUPS
The acronym PUPS stands for Possibly Unpopular Software and defines software that shows dubious behavior and is likely to be unwanted. In many cases it is hard to find sufficient factual proof for malware status even though its malevolence is rather obvious by intuition. |
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Quick Tips |
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Quick Tips |
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Page Updated: 5/14/2008 5:45:46 AM Questions: webmaster@solutionsfromknowware.com |
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