How Best to Combat Spyware?
Spyware can be more than an annoyance. Poorly programmed spyware
can interfere with other programs and can even cause system instability. Privacy
issues are at stake as well. This type of software is often installed without
a user's consent and often can't be uninstalled without special tools. When distributors
use tricks and deception to install uninvited software, trust is destroyed. The
first line of defense against spyware is to be careful installing software. Know
what's being downloaded. A large percentage of freeware or shareware programs
have spyware embedded in them. Sometimes that's disclosed in the user agreement,
but often not. Before downloading any new software, look for guarantees
that it's spyware free. Even so, be on your guard the file-sharing program
Kazaa has been claiming to be spyware-free for years. Anyone who installs this
software soon has an opportunity to test this claim. How can you tell
if you have spyware on your system? You may see pop-up advertisements even when
you aren't browsing the web. Your homepage may have been changed without your
consent. New toolbars are installed on your web browser which you didn't request.
Your computer may be sluggish or mysteriously reboot on its own. Though, the last
effect is usually a virus. If you find your system bogged down with spyware,
don't give up hope. There are several utilities specifically designed for removing
spyware from your computer. They rely on frequently updated databases which contain
signature files of all known spyware and adware. They scan all the files on your
hard drive and alert you if 'uninvited guests' are found. Many are free,
though sometimes the paid versions have more automation features such as removing
spyware on receipt rather than requiring a manual scan. None will find every piece
of spyware on your system, since they rely on a database which has to be populated
according to someone's judgment. And, one man's spyware is sometimes another's
welcomed advertiser. Some spyware is notoriously difficult to remove. They
may make several alterations to your system settings and install files in different
places. Often the only way to remove this type of spyware is to find the locations
of all the files and manually delete them. Needless to say, this should
be performed only by skilled users. Deleting the wrong files can damage your programs
and even your operating system. One software tool that can help you remove
difficult spyware is called 'HijackThis'. It creates a list of files which could
have been altered with spyware. The list is very comprehensive and also includes
system files and files installed by legitimate software, so take care. HijackThis
wasn't designed to be a spyware removal tool, but it can be used to locate persistent
and hard to remove spyware. It requires knowledge of various system settings and
you must be careful when changing them. It's possible to disable your system with
the wrong setting. Fortunately, there's a community of HijackThis experts on the
Internet willing to give free advice about suspicious entries. Once your
system is spyware free help keep it that way. Some of the spyware removal
tools include utilities that can protect your computer from being exposed to spyware.
Much like virus scanners, they monitor changes to your system files and alert
you of any suspicious activity. And, of course, beware those tempting looking
free offers. You may get more than you bargained for. |