Spyware and Malware and Adware! Oh My!
If you’re a Microsoft Windows user (and aren’t living in denial (or under a rock)) you know what Spyware is. You might even have some now. Maybe you have an extra toolbar in your browser that you can’t seem to disable. Maybe you have frequent pop-up browser windows with vaguely related search results from search engines you’ve never heard of. Maybe you relectricity bill has gone up because your air conditioner is having a hard time keeping up with the heat from your network of PC’s using 100% CPU all day and night.
But why?
One word: Spyware
It’s a broad term encompassing all manner of nastiness including IRC bots, Adware, Keyloggers, Trojans, Host File Hijackers, Rogue toolbars and much, much more!
Before you throw up your hands and shut down your computer (or switch to an OS that doesn’t run your favorite CRM program!) take heart. While there are a bunch of bug-eyed weirdos out there creating this cyber trash, there are just as many white-hat-wearing good folks out there creating tools that we can use to protect and/or fix our down trodden windows installs and get back all the bandwidth and CPU power we paid for!
In general, most antivirus applications don’t cover much of the Spyware spectrum. The ones that try usually don’t do a very good job of it. The answer, typically, is to also run an anti-spyware application.
A word to the wise when picking an anti-spyware application: There are quite a few programs out there that are nothing more than spyware masquerading as anti-spyware applications. In truth, they simply go about downloading more spyware!
To get started in the battle against spyware, check out some of these links:
Microsoft Windows Defender — Microsoft’s BETA anti spyware program. Similar to a typical virus tool. Free.
Spybot Search & Destroy — The original anti spyware tool. Free.
Ad Aware — Anti spyware tool with free and pay versions.
Ewidio Anti Malware — Anti Spyware tool recently purchased by Grisoft, the makers of AVG antivirus. One to watch. Not Free.
Castlecops — Community with active forums FULL of great information on keeping your machine clean of spyware and the like.
Simply Tech — Italian consultant who has created a couple of excellent tools to remove some nasty spyware variants,
Look2Me and EliteToolbar.
HijackThis — Heavy duty tool by Merijn from www.merijn.org. Allows you to get DEEP into the settings to root out the problems like no other tool.
Doug Castell
I have, yes. I found that it semeed to inflate it’s found items list by counting one thing as maybe 200, for instance. It does seem to be fairly effective, however, despite it’s slightly deceptive manner of couting found threats..
kurt
Have you looked at Spy Sweeper from Webroot? I find it to be the best at detecting spyware before it infects your machine rather than after. They also have an enterprise edition with central management http://www.webroot.com
Doug Castell
An excellent site has been brought to my attention. Spywarewarrior.com. They have a grest list of fake Anti-spyware applications here. Definitely worth a bookmark. Lots of other useful information on their site.