We all hate spyware with a passion. If you don't then you either have never been bombarded with problems because of them or you simply code them for your own SICK needs.
What is spyware?
Originally spyware was supposed to detect shopping trends and the sort of websites you visit for the sole use of market research. Pretty soon after this idea was founded, people saw the possibility it had for their own dirty deeds. Who was to say that spyware couldn't detect credit card details, passwords or even start virus infections?
Fortunately for us, about the same time people realised this possibility, spyware destroyers were also being developed. I will list these below.
They don't install themselves through conventional installation methods using 'Setup.exe' files. They install themselves on your machine using a few select routes.
- Embedded into a web page so that they install themselves when you load a page.
- They come bundled with software. When you download and install that next free 'game', you may be installing 2 programs...
- Malicious routes. Trojans or even hacking could install them. I believe this route is not very popular but purchasing that latest version of Norton Internet Security is definitely a good idea.
I have a firewall and anti-virus software - I'm surely free of problems?
Oh no your not! Like I said above, spyware can get in with bundled software for example. Because these programs are coded like any other legitimate program and so would not be detected by an anti-virus scan. It cannot be stopped by a firewall either if it is 'riding' on another program's set-up file. It lets it in because you allowed it to!
How do I protect myself, then?
There are a few programs that will turn your PC into an almost impenetrable cast iron safe of immunity (computers are never immune from problems)
When I say a few, I hear some of you winch in pain of seeing more of your valuable hard drive space like it's a part of your own skin being eaten by flash-munching bacteria. Don't worry!
These programs are all well below the 5meg threshold so you can install these and use them whenever you feel the need to clean yourself :p
Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3
Excellent piece of software that actively scans any changes made to your machine that spyware might do such as installing BHOs, changing registry entries and changing IE's home page.
JavaCool's Spyware Blaster 3.2
This one sits in your system tray and actively scans every exe or cab run for spyware. It stops them downloading themselves and stops browser hijacking.
HijackThis! 1.98
A standalone exe that scans your HDD and registry for spyware and enables you to delete registry entries that can prove dangerous. I can't really explain this one - go to the link. If you don't know what you're doing then PLEASE don't delete things because one thing and you could even have to reformat your computer, reinstall Windows and start ALL over again. You can save a scan log and have it analysed on the developer's forum by professional and other helpers in the know.
Lavasoft's Adaware
This program was introduced to me before I even knew what spyware was (and I forgot about it in the first version of this article!) It even protects you from known data-mining, aggressive advertising, parasites, scumware, selected traditional trojans, dialers, malware, browser hijackers and tracking components. I could go on and on about this brilliant piece of software but thier sales blurb does it for me on the above link! Download it
now!
I've been HiJacked!!
If you've been browser hijacked, several things can happen. Your default error, search and homepages will all be different to your normal pages. It is very often that these pages are the ones that force viruses, malicious DirectX and other nasties onto your computer.
Although these settings can be manually changed by running 'regedit', it is most likely that the spyware / Trojan will continue to make changes to your settings no matter how many times you delete their entries.
Run the above programs and you are rid of spyware vermin!
Please be careful - Disclaimer
The above article is written on years of computer experience and education. I know what I'm doing while many of you won't know and make mistakes. If you do, I have warned you a few times throughout this article that whatever mistakes you make, you made them under your own will and ignorance of the warnings.
Do not do things that you aren't sure of consequences or the result. The owner of CodeNewbie forum account DavH27, forum owners and web space hosts on this forum cannot be held responsible or liable for any mistakes you have made.
This makes us completely exempt from any evil individuals that think they can sue anybody for anything. We did not do it to your computer, we SUGGESTED a way of fixing your problem but we did not code the programs ourselves that actually made the screw up.
However, the programs are fully functioning and do what they are supposed to but sometimes a user makes mistakes and that is the USER's fault.
Conclusion
I hope everybody who has read this article has downloaded all of the above programs, scanned and checked their machine over for spyware. It is good practice to make scans, defrags, backups and other PC maintenance procedure on a regular basis.
If anybody has followed the above advice, does not understand something or wants to suggest a change or addition, please either reply to this topic or PM me.
Copyright 2004 to the author alias DavH27. Usage of this article in whole or with modifications is strictly forbidden and protected by the United Kingdom's Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and other international laws. Anybody found violating the copyright act will be given one notification of removal warning, after which a solicitor/lawyer will become involved.
Beating down spyware
thanks for the contribution! nice disclaimer .. i'll hire you if i ever get sued. haha
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