10 Tell Tale Signs of Spyware and Adware Infection
Though there are no warning signs to indicate that spyware or adware is being installed on your system, there are several tell tale signs to alert you of their presence, once they install. I have compiled here for your convinence 10 tell tale signs that can warn you of the presence of adware or spyware on your computer. Here they are.
1. Browser change:
Frequent, unauthorized changes in your browser landing page or homepage
should be a warning sign that something is going on with your computer. Your
home page is the first page that you come to when you log on to your internet
account.Very often, this page is the home page of your Internet Service provider
(ISP), except if you changed it. If you find your home page changing frequently to
pages that you do not know, there is a good chance that your system is infected
by spyware or adware.
2. Busy system or modem light:
A lighted system or modem indicator is a sign of on going activity. If you are not
online using your computer, the modem indicator should not come alive. A flickering
modem light when no one is online is a good indication that something is going on
with your computer.
3. Influx of unwanted emails:
Everyone gets a certain amount of junk mail everyday. However, a sudden spike in
the number of unwanted email to your computer should be a cause for investigation.
There might be sypware working behind closed doors in your computer.
4. System slow down:
Have you noticed how your speed demon suddenly slowed down to a crawl like an old
witch? If it is taking more time to launch your applications and even longer to load web
pages, if your Windows xp or 2000 Task manager on launch indicates almost all
available resource in use, you might be dealing with a case of spyware activity.
5. Unwanted redirects:
Spyware and adware have the ability to redirect your search to web sites or pages of the
choosing of the program owners. If you end up at sites and webpages that you did not
search for, there is a good chance that you are being redirected by the unseen hands of
spyware and adware owners.
6. Intrussive banners:
Some spyware open up your browser for an avalanche of banner displays. Very often,
these banners are hard to close. A lot of times, they are replaced as quickly as you
close them. Sometimes the banners are so plenty, they overwhelm your system resources.
7. Unwanted pop-ups:
Pop-ups when properly used, are a good resource to have on the web. They are used by
responsible marketers to direct you to additional resources. However, pop-ups can be
abused by aggressive advertisers through the use of adware or spyware. Disregarding
professional marketing and advertising ethics aggressive advertisers employ adware and
spyware scripts to spam your browser with unwanted and sometimes illicit offers.
Another variation is the use of personalized pop-ups. When you begin to receive multiple
pop ups with your name on them, that is an idication that someone is spying on you with
spyware.
8. Unknow 900 numbers:
900 number are not very common. They usually carry a charge for access. Have you noticed
a spike in your phone bill with charges to 900 numbers that you do not know? You might
have been spied on a spyware program owner. It is believed that spyware and adware are
responsible to a certain percentage of the identity theft crime that we see and hear about
often today.
9. Foreign entries in your favorite folder:
If you all of a sudden begin to see foreign items in your favorite folder, be warned. There is
a good chance that someone has caused those items to appear there. It is suggested that
you check your favorite folder frequently and delete unfamiliar entries.
10. Additional browser toolbars:
The presence of a toolbar that you did not install on your system, may well be another tell
tale sign of spyware presence.
The average Internet user does not ordinarily fool around with toolbars. Most people are
satisfied with the Internet Explorer, Yahoo and may be Google toolbars. If a toolbar looks
unfamiliar to you, it probably is and should be investigated and possibly removed.
Finally, there are times when it may seem all is well. Do not rest of your oars. A good rule
of thumb for living on the internet is to do your due dilligence. Be proactive. Deploy some
security systems and scan your computer frequently as some spywares and adwares
operate in stealth.
Your system is your investment. Protect it.
This article is brought to you by Allspywarefree.com
Austin Akalanze is an Educator, a Freelance writer and webmaster at http://www.allspywarefree.com
He has been published on several article directories across the net.
Where Spyware Lurks on the Internet
Spyware has to be the most talked about PC security threat of 2005. It has now surpassed the computer virus as the No. 1 menace to computer user both at home and in the enterprise. Despite efforts from Microsoft and independent security software companies, the spyware menace is set to continue through 2006 and beyond. The research firm Radicati Group expect worldwide anti-spyware revenue to surpass $1 billion by 2010.
There are numerous types of spyware with some more dangerous than others. At one end of the spectrum spyware pushes annoying ads to your computer as is usually referred as “Adware.” It is still spyware as the ads are generally pushed to you based on your surfing habits. A bad infection can also dramatically impact your computer’s performance as your desktop slowly gets overwhelmed with pop up adverts.
At the other end of the spectrum spyware programs can record what you do on your computer including individual key strokes. This information is then shared with a third party. This data is then sold to marketing companies or used to profit from. For example, the program may have captured your bank log-in details or credit card information.
Profit from these activities drives spyware development and deployment. According to anti-spyware vendor Webroot Inc advertising revenue generated from spyware is much more lucrative than trying to generate profit through Spam Email.
Here are the common ways spyware gets onto your computer:
Bundled with free software like screensavers or P2P file sharing programs which you download. For example Kazaa, a P2P file-sharing application, installs adware onto a user’s computer even though it claims to contain “no spyware.” Waterfalls 3 from Screensaver.com installs spyware and Trojan horses. Examples are courtesy of a report from StopBadware.org’s website.
Opening Spam email attachments.
Being enticed into clicking on links in pop up adverts which then downloads spyware. These pop ups usually display messages to do with winning money or entering a special prize drawer.
“Drive-by downloading” - this is when spyware is automatically downloaded onto your computer from the website you are surfing.
Earlier this year a report published by the University of Washington revealed categories of websites which are mostly like to host spyware or infect users through “drive-by downloads.” Their research revealed the following categories:
Gaming sites
Music download sites (I interpret this to mean “illegal” music sharing sites like dailymp3.com or where you can find P2P applications)
Adult sites
Celebrity sites
Wallpaper / screensaver sites
Here are some tips and strategies to reduce the chance of spyware infection:
Switch on your browser’s pop blocker.
Install an anti-spyware tool with active protection which helps prevent infection in the first place.
Keep Windows and other Microsoft applications like office up to date with the latest patches.
Use SiteAdvisor - http://www.siteadvisor.com. This is a free plug-in for your browser which tells you whether a site is safe or not based on their testing. This is new software which is highly recommended.
If you are a frequent visitor of the high risk categories please consider changing your surfing habits or at least making sure your system is fully protected.
Richard Rogers runs a number of computer-related sites offering Spyware Remover and Anti Virus Software help.
Tags: anti spyware, detecting spyware, spywareSigns That Your Home Computer Is Infected by Spyware or Adware
There are a number of indicators you can watch for which will suggest that your computer has been infected by spyware or adware. Please note that some of the symptoms listed below are not unique to just a spyware or an adware infection.
1) PC Performance - Both spyware and adware consume your PC’s resource like computer memory. A bad spyware infection could dramatically slow your computer’s performance including causing your system’s to become increasingly unstable. Spyware also can affect your internet connection speed as it takes up bandwidth to communicate information back to its creator.
2) Pop up Ads - It is highly likely that your computer is infected by adware if you notice more pop up ads appearing than usual. In some cases pop ads start appearing on the desktop even if you have not opened a web browser. Alternatively, search results may appear in a pop up or another browser window relative to the website you are visiting or keyword term you have typed into a search engine.
3) Browser Toolbars - These programs are commonly bundled with free software which the publisher often describes as “advertiser supported.” The toolbar then feeds adverts based on the website you visit. They are usually very difficult to uninstall. “180 Search Assistant” and “Huntbar” are example programs.
4) Browser Settings - Your internet favourites or bookmarks and start page are two main settings which are targeted by spyware authors. Web sites are inserted into your list of internet favourites in the hope that you will visit them. Browser hijackers change the start page which is visited when the browser loads. Any unexpected change to your start page is a sign of infection.
5) Start Up Programs - Some spyware variants will try to add themselves to your Windows start up program list. If you boot up time becomes noticeably slower then review your program start up list to check for applications you are not familiar with and remove them. This program list can be review using the “MS Config” option from the Windows XP Run command.
6) Software Failure - A spyware infection can cause some of your programs to crash or stop working. In particular watch if your Internet Explorer browser refuses to work all of a sudden.
7) Hosts File Changes - The Hosts File is a Windows file that maps the numerical IP Address to the Host Name very much like the address book on your cell phone “maps” your friend’s name to their telephone number. Some spyware programs can change these setting so that when you type in “www.yahoo.com” for example you are re-directed to the spyware author’s website.
Richard Rogers runs a number of computer-related sites offering Spyware Remover and Anti Virus Software help.
Tags: anti spyware, detecting spyware, spyware
