How To Keep Your Computer Safe

Step 4: Avoiding Adware and Spyware

No one knows how many computers are infected with spyware. A recent Consumer Reports study showed that 36 percent of US home computers showed signs of active spyware. Research by the firm IDC reported that number as 67 percent. That’s 2 in 3 computers.

Definitions:
Spyware – Spyware is software that covertly gathers user information and activity without the user’s knowledge (such as passwords or other information you type). It may install itself on a computer without the user’s direct permission and that doesn’t clearly or honestly tell users how the information it gathers will be used. Spyware can be used by identity thieves. For example, a program could be installed on your computer that would record every keystroke you type – which could give the identity thief access to your passwords, your bank account information, your credit card numbers, etc.

A subset of spyware is known as sneakware. With sneakware, the software vendor often tries to fool inexperienced users into thinking their computers are at risk if they don’t install the software. For example, you may encounter a pop-up dialog box labeled “Security Warning,” which leads the user to believe the software must be installed to keep the computer safe, when actually clicking “yes” will download software that makes unwanted changes to your system.

Adware - Adware is similar to spyware, but it generally alerts users to its presence and intentions. Adware can profile your online surfing and spending habits or can cause pop-up ad windows to appear while you are surfing. They also tend to slow down your Internet connection.

Be aware that if you download any free software from the Internet, you are taking a chance of downloading a tagalong program known as spyware. These programs can be difficult to remove from your computer and may slow down your computer’s performance. Spyware and adware can monitor your web traffic and share it with marketing companies, or they can sometimes log your passwords and other private information you enter (even on secure websites). They can cause pop-up windows to appear every time you open Internet Explorer. They can change your Web browser preferences, such as reseting your Home page, adding entries to your Favorites list, or taking over the built-in search engine.

Sometimes the end-user license agreement – the agreement you have to accept before the software will download – will name tagalong programs, but users often do not read these agreements before clicking OK.

How to do it:

Be careful about the types of websites you visit. Generally, if you have the opportunity to access something on the Internet for free that you would normally expect to have to pay for, be aware that you may be getting spyware in addition. The most common problematic sites are those offering free pornography, free games, or free software.
Beware of freeware. Before you install freeware (or free software), do an Internet search and find out more about the product. Search in a spyware database like spywareguide.com, to get more information about what you are downloading and what the programs will do. Read through the software’s terms and conditions before you install it. Always read through the license agreement to see if you are going to end up with other software you don’t want.
Keep Internet Explorer at a high or medium security setting, and restrict Active X Controls. Active X is an Internet technology that can be automatically downloaded and executed by a Web browser. Restricting the Active X Control setting will prevent software from being installed without your knowledge. It may be used to display content on a website, but this technology is also sometimes used to install adware or spyware without the user knowing. Let's see how to make these changes.
Some spyware bypass these security settings by taking advantage of known security flaws in Internet Explorer or the Windows operating system. That’s one reason why it is extremely important to run Windows Update regularly. You may also want to consider using a different Web browser than Internet Explorer, because this could decrease such risks.
Scan your system regularly (at least once a month) with spyware scanners. Some Internet Service Providers offer spyware scanning software. Some antivirus programs also include an anti-spyware function, or have separate anti-spyware software you can purchase. Two recommended programs are Spybot’s Search & Destroy and Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware; both have free versions available. Spybot often does the best job of restoring your computer to the way it was before the spyware was installed. Spybot also has a function that will block all known spyware from infecting your computer in the future; it warns you whenever any program tries to alter the computer’s system settings. Because there are so many different variants of spyware and adware programs, and more are being written every day, it’s a good idea to use multiple lines of defense – especially if you’re using free software to protect your computer. The free version of Ad-Aware does not include the proactive protection, but Ad-Aware Plus (the paid version) does. And keep your spyware scan software up-to-date – before you run a system scan, always check for software updates.
Use a spyware block list file, such as the ones offered at http://spywareguide.com/blockfile.php.
1. Download Minimal Download file by clicking the Download Now link. A box should appear like this:
2. Select Save, and choose a location where you can find the file (such as your Desktop.) You should see a file like this:
3. Double click the downloaded file to install it into your system software. This block list file will block Internet Explorer from running all known "bad" Active X Controls; when a page tries to install a component from the list, it will fail.
If your computer is already infected with spyware, the anti-spyware software may not be enough to fully purge the changes made to your computer by the spyware. If this is the case, you may find it is quicker and easier to reinstall your operating system software. Consult your operating system’s documentation for instructions on how to do this. Be aware that reinstalling your operating system may wipe out any documents or files you have saved on your computer and could erase programs you have installed; be sure to back up your files before reinstalling system software!

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Last Updated: 6 January 2005