Spyware and Adware Alert
If you have a Windows computer with connectivity to the Internet, you can be impacted by
spyware and adware.
- What is Spyware/Adware?
- Spyware is software that sends your personal information to a
third party without your permission or knowledge.
- Adware is software that displays unwanted advertisements on your
computer. This software can conduct certain activities on your
computer without notifying you, usually without your permission.
These activities may include pop-up advertisements, changing Web
browser settings such as your Home Page, and collecting personal
information.
Some of these programs are annoying (but harmless), while others may
slow your computer's performance or violate your privacy, while still
others can cause applications to perform slowly or not at all.
Under this same category are "bots" which can be used by hackers as a back door to gain access to your system,
and possibly your network.
- Spyware is introduced to your system in the
following ways:
- Shareware/Freeware downloads
- Bad Internet cookies
- Popup Ads
- Poor Internet security, usually with no firewall or
antivirus software on your network
- Opening email attachments
- Security Warning Popup appears when you are on the Internet, asking you to install software
- Malicious web sites
- Symptoms of Spyware on your system include:
- System slows down when accessing the Internet.
- Ads popup or new browser windows appear when surfing
the Internet, or even when you don’t have an Internet browser open.
- Your browser homepage has changed and continues to
change after you manually change it to a different web page.
- How to help prevent Spyware attacks:
- Keep your computer’s software updated with current
patches. Use Windows Update to update your Windows operating system:
http://www.windowsupdate.com.
Additionally, you can schedule Automatic Updates in Windows. Please
read the following Technet article to schedule your Automatic Updates:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/327838.
Other software should be updated as required by the manufacturer.
- Install anti-virus software and keep it updated with
the latest program and definition updates.
- Think before you install anything from the Internet.
If you did not specifically request to install a downloaded piece
of software, do not allow the download to install.
- Install personal firewall software on your workstation
or have a firewall installed in your network.
- Install a popup blocker. Free popup blockers are available
in the Google Toolbar, Yahoo Toolbar, or as part of Windows XP SP2.
- Windows XP Pro users can download Service Pack 2,
which will enable the Windows Firewall automatically.
- Block cookies from untrusted web sites.
- Delete your Temporary Internet Files regularly.
- Consult your Internet Service Provider, network administrator,
or contract a technician to determine which security utilities you
can use.
- How to remove Spyware. There
are a number of Spyware Removal Utilities on the market that are free
or low cost. The following is a list of free spyware utilities that
have been used by some of our customers:
More information:
Any software used to protect your system is only good if you update
it regularly. Refer to your anti-virus, firewall, and spyware documentation
to keep these programs updated with the latest patches, fixes, and definitions.
The following TechNet article outlines how the Windows Firewall works
in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320855&Product=winxp
The following is a Microsoft site that contains many articles about Spyware:
http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=88&View=en-us&qu=spyware
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