Avoid Spyware and Rogue AntiSpyware!

The most annoying threats coming from the Internet now are called Spyware and Rogue AntiSpyware (Rogue AntiVirus or Fake AntiVirus). It is a worldwide problem. Very often a person installs one of these programs themselves by downloading and installing free programs that come booby-trapped with ad-generating spyware. When you install the application, it also infects your PC with a spyware program. Many of the most popular music and file-sharing programs, including KaZaA, BearShare, LimeWire, Morpheus, Audiogalaxy Satellite, Grokster and iMesh, can install spyware and adware or be the conduit for delivery and installation.

These rogue programs can generate custom-tailored ads, monitor your Internet activity, or record your keyboard keystrokes to steal passwords and account numbers. They can come in the form of Internet helper tool bars, which include Bargain Buddy, Better Internet, ClearSearch, DotCom Toolbar, and CoolWeb Search. Most people don't realize they are installing additional software along with the cool new program they just downloaded. Worst of all, many of these programs will remain even after the original program is uninstalled. Just visiting a Web site or clicking on a Web ad can install an application that is spyware. This is called a "drive-by installation."

And it gets worse. Some of these programs will open up a back door to the Internet allowing other Spyware and Adware programs to be installed on your computer without your knowledge, another kind of “drive-by-installation.” After this the ad popups become more frequent and can even occur when you are not on the Internet. These programs are always running in the background using up valuable system resources, memory space and processor time. The resources of your computer are limited and as these Spyware and Adware programs increase they will slow your computer down to a crawl and it will eventually stop running. You will experience slow startup, your favorite applications will take forever to open up, the Internet will stop working, one system crash will happen after another, and then the computer will just stop running.

The most common and most destructive threat today is called Rogue Antispyware and will install itself on your computer when you visit a web site or click on an ad. These programs masquerade as antivirus and antispyware programs. When they are installed the rogue will put up infection warnings and offer to remove the imaginary virus and spyware objects for a fee paid to a web site. At the same time most of your computer functions and operating system tools will be unusable and applications will not open. Your computer is being held for ransom by internet pirates. These programs are very difficult to remove and can cause damage to the operating system (OS) if left unchecked. After the OS is damaged the only recourse is to erase the hard drive and reinstall the operating system.

One way the drive-by installation works is through banner advertisements that a user will click. It can be a legitimate web site with an advertisement that, unknown to the owner of the web site, has a link to a rogue antispyware install. On some sites a rogue install program will be imbedded in the web site code and it will run when you get on the site. You will see warnings pop up telling you that your computer is infected and offering help. By clicking on any part of these pop-ups (whether Yes, No, Cancel, or the X) the installation package will be delivered to your computer and the rogue antispyware will be installed on your PC.

If you see anything like this, your Internet Explorer or other web browser should be closed right away. Since there is a popup box open on your Internet Explorer page, you cannot just click on the X to close the page; you have to end the web browser task. For directions on how to close an Internet Explorer page without clicking on the popup box, refer to the separate instruction document “Stop Drive-by Spyware Installations Using End Task.” If you are unable to end the task, your only recourse is to power off the computer.

If your computer does get infected by spyware the performance of your PC will continue to degrade until it is useless. This is where the computer tech comes into play. Cleaning up the computer, if it can be cleaned, will cost from $50 to $200 or even more. The worst-case scenario is an operating system reinstall with ALL data lost: programs, documents, letters, e-mail, address book, pictures, music, financial data, etc.

To avoid much of this trouble stay away from Internet helper tools, search toolbars that are added to the Internet Explorer page, shopping helper bars, and free coupon tool bars. Do not download any program that claims to be able to speed up your Internet connection or speed up your downloads; it cannot be done with a simple program. The speed of your Internet connection is limited to the speed of your modem and the cable or DSL line you use to connect. If it is FREE - question it, if it says it will help you - question it, if it pops up and says you may be infected don’t click on it. If you come across a program that looks like it is something you could use, Google it first. Go to www.google.com and do a search on that program and look over the web site links you receive. If you see a lot of “help how do I get rid of this,” or links to computer cops, or other hints of Spyware or Malware, the program probably is not good. Don’t be easy, don’t be curious, and don’t be fooled.

You can fight back and keep your computer clean. The best way to protect against spyware and rogues is to run applications that identify and remove them. These programs will try to block an attempted install, will scan your hard drive for software that makes popup ads or collects your personal information, and will also remove "tracking cookies" that can be used by ad companies to track your activities on the Internet. There are several good programs you can buy to help protect your computer from virus, spyware, and adware infections. Unfortunately no single program will protect you from all attacks or from drive-by installations on your computer. You will need a good AntiVirus program, AntiSpyware program, and a Firewall to give you maximum protection. A manual scan should be run at least once a week by your antivirus and your antispyware programs. Even with protection tools installed on your PC, you are still at risk. You can’t become complacent thinking that you are protected. Be careful of what you click while on the Internet and what you download or install.

A couple of good firewalls are:

Norton Internet Security 2011, which also includes AntiVirus.

ZoneAlarm a free download with a very good full version you can buy.

Some good Spyware and Adware protection programs that you can use are:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Spy Sweeper

AdAware

Spybot - Search & Destroy