Newsletter - 03: Spyware, your Computer and the Internet

This Newsletter focuses on PC Security, specially Spyware. Visit http://www.welloiledpc.com for the complete article on Spyware. You will find easy-to--understand answers to the following questions, at www.welloiledpc.com

1.   How do I know if my computer is affected by Spyware?

2.   How do I act quickly if my computer is ever affected?

3.   How do I minimize the risk of Spyware attacks?

4.   Are there ways to predict Spyware attacks?

5.   What are the tools/ software solutions available, that remove Spyware?

6.   Which is the best-of-breed Anti Spyware solution today?

For any specific question, you are welcome to mail in to us by clicking this link: Security Matters 

Spyware is the Internet’s latest security threat. It is not just an annoyance, since it affects not just your 

Computer or data, but could affect your personal finances as well! To add to the problem, Spyware are not as easy to remove as Viruses. Mercifully, Spyware is not yet as big a worry as Viruses or Spam mail, though the menace is definitely growing at a fast clip...

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What is Spyware?

Spyware are programs that install themselves onto your Computer when you are browsing the Internet, without obtaining your permission to do so. While Cookies too are installed when you visit certain websites, the difference is that cookies are usually used to determine whether you have been to the site before, while Spyware are used for far more dangerous purposes.

Spyware have been written to track your browsing habits and thus, send you mail based on your interests. For example, if you are looking to change your job, you would be visiting one or more job portals. A Spyware installed on your Computer would notice this and secretly send out this information from your computer to its developers, who then either use it for themselves or sell it to online marketers. Suddenly, your mailbox would fill up with mail supposedly from job and related websites! This is an example of a harmless Spyware. In fact, vendors such as hp, Logitech and Dell install software onto their products, so that they may analyze the behavior of the buyers of their products.

Spyware has a much darker side too. Some of them are written to steal a user’s personal information and send it to its creators, right from his/ her Computer, right under his/ her nose, using his/ her Internet connection! Here is what could have left caused a major disaster in Jason's life...

1. Jason was searching the net, collecting information about the Seven Wonders of the World . His 10-year old daughter had to prepare a picture poster and write-up on this topic in the next 4 days as part of her schoolwork and Jason, good father that he is, was helping her out after office hours, using their Home Computer to access the Internet.

2. While browsing, Jason notices a pop-up advertisement claiming to sell cars at prices much below normal.

3. Jason had always been interested in sports cars! He clicks on the colorful and attractive window with pictures of lovely cars, wanting to know more about the offer. However, nothing happens after the click…

4. A little disappointed, Jason closes the window and assumes that the link to the cars website must be broken. He continues to search for the Seven Wonders…

5. The next day, Jason notices that his Computer has slowed down tremendously. He suspects that a Virus may be the reason, but his AntiVirus program (patched and fully up-to-date) fails to find anything wrong with his machine. Soon, Jason is forced to give up – the Computer issue will have to wait, since he has an important engagement 3 days later. Little does he realize that his Computer has been subject to a Spyware attack!

6. Over the next 3 days, every time Jason connects to the Internet through using the affected Computer, his personal data is streamed out to the creators of the Spyware. Jason’s e-Mail Identity, all the names and addresses in his Address Book, his Credit Card details, his Bank Account details including the password he used currently to operate his bank account over the Internet, his PayPal account details… all these were streaming out to the Spyware creators! The amount of data involved is very little, since all this information was streamed out in text form: no graphics are required after all!

We hate case studies ending on a sad note and so would like to end it on a happy note...

Jason was lucky. He was advised by a good friend that his Computer has probably had a Spyware attack. It is early diagnosis of the problem - followed by implementation of preventive measures immediately, that helps Spyware victims to emerge with least damage to themselves!

Here is what Jason did right after Spyware was diagnosed:

1. First of all, he contacted his Bank and got his Account Password changed.

2. Next, Jason contacted his Credit Card company and informed them that he could be the victim of a Spyware attack. They were eager to help out and readily agreed not to honor any charges on his credit card, unless the charge slip physically had his signature, until further notice. They also changed the Transaction Number on his Credit Card (the 4-digit number in small letters on your Credit Card), so that the earlier Transaction Number would be rendered void.

3. Similarly, Jason also changed his PayPal account password

4. Lastly, he then purchased a copy of the best AntiSpyware program and ran it on his Computer. It identified and removed the Spyware from his machine in under 30 minutes, restoring it to full efficiency!

Here are ten recent Spyware and their details in brief:

On to some most important questions now:

1.   How do I know if my computer is affected by Spyware?

2.   How do I act quickly if my computer is ever affected?

3.   How do I minimize the risk of Spyware attacks?

4.   Are there ways to predict Spyware attacks?

5.   What are the tools/ software solutions available, that remove Spyware?

6.   Which is the best-of-breed Anti Spyware solution today?

For answers to all these questions as well as on how to keep your Computer running well-oiled (i.e., healthy, trouble-free and efficient) at all times, visit http://www.welloiledpc.com! 

We look forward to your suggestions!

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This Newsletter has been written by us at WellOiledPC

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