What is Spyware?
Spyware is a type of malicious software that is installed on your computer without your consent. It is usually a very small piece of software that installs so quickly you don’t even know it. Once installed, it runs in the background undetected. The purpose of spyware is to take partial control of your computer or to intercept data from your computer. Spyware is created by unscrupulous developers who wish to take something from you for their own purposes. What is taken depends on the purpose of the spyware, and could be anything from bandwidth to highly confidential personal information.
Some Examples of what Spyware Does
Some spyware takes control of your computer and can turn it into a “zombie” that is under the control of the programmer. Hijacked computers are often placed into “zombie farms” that include hundreds (or thousands) of other computers that are also under control of the spyware owner. These zombies are often rented to spammers or hackers who use these computers as mail relay agents or in targeted attacks against other websites.
Depending on the creator’s intent, some spyware is designed to capture and transmit personal information about you. As you enter information into websites for example, an infected computer might capture your keystrokes and transmit your social security number, bank account numbers, pins, passwords, drivers license number, etc… to an internet thief living across the world. He/she in turn may use this information to steal money or your identity, or might sell the information to other unscrupulous individuals who want it.
As you see, spyware can be very dangerous and it is becoming as prevalent as computer viruses. It is now a recommended computer security practice to use anti-spyware software in conjunction with anti-virus software on every computer that is connected to the internet.
Isn’t Spyware a form of Computer Virus?
Not exactly. Spyware is similar to a computer virus in that it exploits computers for personal gain. It differs from a virus though, because it does not replicate to other computers and usually is not designed to destroy data. Anti virus software usually does not detect spyware because it does not contain the characteristics of a virus.
Preventing Spyware
If not using anti spyware software, everyone who uses the internet should periodically run a spyware detector to make sure his/her computer is clean. Most legitimate spyware remover software companies offer a free trial version that will allow you to perform a spyware scan.
As with antivirus software, when you purchase anti-spyware software you are entitled to frequent spyware database updates. Regularly checking for and installing these updates is critical to keeping spyware off your computer. New spyware is introduced into the internet on a daily basis and it is important to update your spyware detection software with the latest spyware data definition files. Most good anti-spyware software includes an auto update feature that makes downloading and installing updates very easy.
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This very common scenario is playing out for millions of computer users every year, and understanding some basic variables will help you make the proper decision for your situation.
Far too many folks are opting to buy a new computer without understanding what is causing their existing computer to be slow. This often leads to the same situation a few months after buying a new computer; it’s slow again because the human behavior that caused the slowdown wasn’t changed.
There are so many malicious programs traversing the Internet that anyone who’s online on a daily basis can’t help but pick up some of this “grime” regardless of how careful they are. And it’s even worse for careless users (especially teenagers!).
Before you assume your old computer is too slow, make sure you understand what’s making it slow. Start by rebooting your computer and checking the number of running processes in the Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del then look in the lower left corner of the Task Manager window).
For desktop computers, a cleaned-up machine should have between 30 to 40 processes; laptops generally 35-45. The higher this number is, the more likely that getting the operating system cleaned up will return your computer to its old glory.
While you have the Task Manager open, click over to the “Performance” tab to see if your CPU Usage meter is jumping up and down or is running at a level higher than 10 percent.
This is generally another clear indicator of malicious or unnecessary software operating behind the scenes on your computer.
If the computer was fast enough two years ago and you are essentially using the same programs, then the computer’s hardware is likely not the problem and shouldn’t necessarily be replaced.
If you have no interest in adding any new programs that require additional “horsepower” (gaming, video editing, etc.), and you pretty much live your life on the Internet, then paying to clean up your operating system and adding a little extra RAM will likely be the best bang for the buck (I recently revived my 4-year-old laptop by installing Windows 7 and doubling the RAM).
If your computer has few running processes, isn’t exhibiting strange CPU usage (via the meter) and is just generally too slow for your needs, then getting a new computer is likely your best option.
The reality of the computer world is that everything gets faster and cheaper over time, so the longer you can postpone your next computer purchase, the more you will get for the same money.
While we are on the subject of new computers, let’s make sure you are completely aware of all of the issues surrounding the migration and actual costs should you decide to go the new computer route.
Retailers and manufacturers routinely generate ads to make it look like computers only cost £200 to £300 these days. But if you spend any time looking into these “deals” you’ll likely realize that you’ll end up spending two to three times that amount for a reasonable-performing, properly configured system.
The practice of installing “trialware” (which means that in 30 to 60 days you will have to pay an additional fee to keep using essential programs such as Microsoft Office or even your anti-virus or anti-spyware programs), charging to remove unnecessary programs that shouldn’t have been installed in the first place or using “starter” batteries on low-end laptops are just a few of the hidden-cost tricks played with really cheap computers.
In addition, think about what it’s going to take to get your new computer to look and act like your old computer. Programs and their associated data must be imported from your old computer along with your address book, favorites, desktop images, screen savers, printer and scanner drivers, photo download and editing systems, network settings and a host of other items that most folks don’t take into consideration up front.
Be sure to calculate the additional expense for having the migration work done for you if you are not capable or willing to do it yourself.
Cleaning up and updating your old system eliminates all of these migration issues and costs, so make sure you understand everything that is involved in both scenarios before you make your final decision.
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If you want to try out Windows 7 but are not sure whether or not your computer can run this new Microsoft operating system, there are two ways that you can turn to in order to find out if your PC is ready for Windows 7. You can use the Windows Upgrade Advisor and the Windows Compatibility Center.
The Windows Upgrade Advisor is an application that you download from the Windows 7 official website and install on your computer. When you run the application, it will evaluate your system’s memory, processor speed and other system information to see if it meets the minimum system requirements of Windows 7. Incidentally, Windows 7 is a lot less resource-intensive than Windows Vista.
On the other hand, the Windows Compatibility Center is an online database that lists which software and hardware will work with Windows 7. All you need to do is to browse the lists or search if the applications you use are compatible with Windows 7
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An e-mail is circulating claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asking recipients for personal information before scheduling their H1N1 vaccine.
Fact Finder learned this is completely false and no such information is necessary to receive the vaccination. The only questions a health representative would ask is related to your health.
“Let’s make sure the public is aware of yet another scam if you will. And so this would apply of course to anything; you shouldn’t give out your personal information unless you know absolutely for sure who’s requesting it and why. And it would be highly unusual for any health agency to request that type of information,” said Adair County Health Department Emergency Preparedness Planner Ron Stewart.
Stewart tells Fact Finder the CDC would rarely – if ever request personal information such as your address or social security number. He says they sometimes conduct surveys but they’re very cautious and would never release any personal information to the public.
Not only is this a total scam, it can give your computer a virus.
If you receive a suspicious e-mail claiming to be from the CDC, contact your local health department immediately.
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Internet Explorer (IE) has been plagued with vulnerabilities since the beginning of its existence. It’s not that IE is a “bad” browser, it’s just that it is the most used browser around the world. This high usage percentage makes it the logical target for those who make all sorts of malware. This malware can cause your system to slow down, have popups, or even crash.
Since these vulnerabilities exist, you will get better performance, better security, and better expandability by choosing Firefox.
Firefox is a browser made by Mozilla that not only loads pages faster and has better security, it also allows you to customize it. There are themes that allow you customize the look of Firefox and add-ons that allow you to add functionality to it. The add-ons can be anything from allowing you to play music in the background of your browser to viewing the weather. Obviously this is appealing to most users since browsing the internet with the same old browser can get a little bit tedious. Adding a bit of variety to it can decrease the tedium.
Unfortunately, there is one drawback to using Firefox: Not all websites are compatible with the way it displays the webpages. Sometimes pages will appear distorted or perhaps leave out all media on the page. This can be a little bit frustrating, but is easily remedied by an add-on called IE-tab. IE-tab allows IE to run inside of Firefox, thus allowing a website that cannot be displayed correctly by Firefox to be displayed by Internet Explorer.
I’m not saying that Firefox will be the best browser from now until the end of time because that would just be foolish. There will most likely come a time where Firefox also develops vulnerabilities of its own. Having millions of users use the same browser will continue to shift the emphasis from IE to Firefox, but that won’t happen for quite a long time.
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ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Health officials are warning the public not to be fooled by an H1N1 E-mail scam, that could make your computer sick and your personal information vulnerable.
The emails call for adults to create a personal H1N1 vaccination profile on the CDC.gov web site. The message however is spam and investigators say its just someone hoping you’ll give them access to your personal information.
“They’re putting some kind of a virus onto your computer that they can use for Identity theft purposes. That virus is not at this time detectable right away and some of the antivirus companies like McAfie and others are developing something to counter it,” said Captain Craig Dodd, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s investigators say a government agency will never send you a request for personal information through an email. They would likely send you forms to fill out through the U.S. Postal Service. If you’re worried something might be a scam they say the safest thing to do is look up the agencies number in the book, call them, and ask if they’ve emailed you information before you fill it out.
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PC Repair opens it’s doors in Bournemouth, covering all surrounding areas including Poole, Bournemouth, New Forest & Dorchester.
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