Spyware , Adware , Scumware
This is an IMPORTANT COMPUTER TIP …
I have an important message to share with you. I felt strongly about it before, but now that it has happened to me, I feel even more strongly about it.
First, let me ask you the following questions:
1) When you go to http://www.google.com, do you see a popup ad while still in the search results at any time? You shouldn’t, because Google doesn’t support pops at all.
2) Do you get popups on a website with a competing company advertisement? If so, Why would that company advertise their competitors? Think about it.
3) Do you have a web search toolbar in your browser that you didn’t insall?
4) Do you have a web search toolbar in the top of your emails that you didn’t install?
5) Do you see icons on your taskbar or desktop that shows software you didn’t install?
I did. I also knew what was causing it due to working on the internet as much as I do. If you have ever heard of Spyware, Adware, or Scumware, you will know what I am talking about. These programs can record your every move – secretly gathering information about you including which websites you visit, which ads you click on, your name, age, social security number, credit card number, passwords, email addresses, buying habits and more.
These bad program are not picked up by anti-virus programs at all. So, since I found that I had it, and I was getting quite annoyed by the extra popups, and couldn’t guess what other information of mine was being stolen. So, I had to ask a friend of mine what the programs there were to help get rid of it.
I downloaded spyware software, try AdAware, and did a scan. This scan resulted in a few small things to have removed. But, it didn’t find the cause of my problem. I was still getting popups at websites I knew didn’t carry the popups. Turns out that I had 2 new spyware bugs. I decided to research the search engine to see what spyware programs others trusted.
If you really want to protect yourself, I highly recommend doing something about keeping your computer free of spyware/adware. The price is affordable, especially for this type of protection.
I even asked how I had picked this Spyware up. I was told ” It’s a Driveby. Which basically means you went to a site or a pop-up was displayed, an ActiveX component was installed; which in turned installed the Spyware. This is the 2nd most common way of getting it. The other way is by installing free games, etc. You may want to adjust your IE Security settings to a higher level. You will get message boxes when you go to sites but it should help prevent these from installing.”
I hope you found this information useful. If you feel that you have found it useful, please send this message to family and friends to help protect them. I am amazed at what comes out sometimes that tries to sabatoge our computers on the internet. Always read and be aware of what is out there. Search google for the latest computer threats. Educate yourself.
-Article Copyright © Wendy Shepherd - http://www.wendyshepherd.com
**May be reprinted with permission, credit, and link
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Comments: 1.
Wendy
What I do and recommend to all my friends and family (especially those I have had to visit and clean up their pc’s from this crap), is disable active X. This can be the best deterrant. What I do is go to (in IE) Tools >> Internet Options >>> Security >>>> Custom Level Button, and from there either disable or ask for Prompt. This way, by prompting, you can allow active X on sites you KNOW are safe, and click NO when the prompt comes for sites you are unsure about. This truly is one of your best defenses.
Another is to just forgo IE altogether. I get so weary of doing friends a favor and cleaning up their spyware because they are being repeatedly careless. I have installed FIREFOX for each of them.
Comment by Barbara (Xerraire) — 5/7/2006 @ 10:36 am
2.
Wendy
Good morning , I have been using ad-ware Se for a long time and it is great to have. I also use search and destroy another good one
I have Norton anti virus here, but sometimes Norton does not pick up everything
So I use both of the other also
Thanks for your blog
have a great day
Comment by Diane — 5/8/2006 @ 7:52 am
3.
Thanks for the heads up Wendy. This same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. It was awful. My pc had spyware that neither my antivirus nor my adaware picked up on and unfortunately, the spybot program I was already running missed it too. Programs began installing themselves left and right, faster than I could uninstall them. I brought my computer into my trusted tech, but nothing could be done. I had to get my pc wiped clean. I’ve since purchased a program called SpySweeper (webroot.com) which will help to make sure this doesn’t happen to my pc again.
Comment by Karlyn — 5/8/2006 @ 9:34 am
4.
One of the best ways I’ve found to protect yourself from things like this is to use Firefox instead of IE. Firefox automatically blocks 99% of popups (a few do occasionally get through, but I’m online for a good 8 hours a day and I get maybe one or two popups a week), as well as plugging the security holes that are wide open in IE.
It’s a free download from Mozilla, and while it’s highly customizable, customization isn’t necessary. You can truly download it, install it, and run it immediately.
I also use their version of Outlook, called Thunderbird. It’s also available free from Mozilla.
Comment by Jitka — 5/8/2006 @ 11:31 am
5.
Mozilla Firefox eliminates ALL of the popups I used to get with IE. It’s great and will help avoid so many viruses!!! Plus, it will import all of your setting and Favorites from Internet Explorer, if you’d like.
I HIGHLY recommend it!
www.firefox.com
www.mozilla.com/firefox
Comment by Ann — 5/8/2006 @ 9:28 pm
6.
Wendy,
I just installed www.mozilla.com/firefox as you know me I trust you and will trust anything you recomend.
Comment by SueWarmhold — 5/9/2006 @ 7:58 pm
7.
i cant ever get rid of popups
Comment by june snith — 5/12/2006 @ 2:42 pm
8.
I took switched over from IE to Firefox about 2 years ago. I was very happy with it till they came out with the latest version. When I uploaded to the latest version, I lost ALL background colors. I was so upset, I went thru my programs and reinstalled the earlier version. My colors came back and I went merrily on my way for several months. But recently, my flashplayer wouldn’t work anymore (despite upgrading to the latest of it), plus I was losing more & more audio everyday. Thinking it must be something wrong with my computer, I thought it must be time for a new one, not that I can afford it. Then, 3 nights ago, my computer crashed and wouldn’t let me online till i filled out some kind of profile for the latest Firefox version. In essence, my computer was being held hostage till I installed the new version. Which made me real mad. I installed it, got online, and sure enough, again NO COLORS! I was heartsick. So while online, i searched for a different browser to try and see if it was Firefox or my computer at fault. I decided on OPERA. I installed it and instantly got all color back AND all audio and applets and flashplayer stuff. I am ecstatic over it! It just saved me hundreds of $ I can’t afford, and opened up a big wide world I had been shut out of for way too long. I have nothing but praise for OPERA and now disgust for Firefox!
Comment by Peachbelle — 7/13/2006 @ 5:02 pm