| Adware and Spyware have become familiar terms | | | | load than it did in the past. This is because |
| in the lexicon of Internet jargon. Their | | | | lots of spyware programs have added |
| definitions range from helpful cookies that | | | | themselves to the Windows start up procedure |
| many people choose to have on their computer | | | | and load every time you turn on your |
| to programs that can actually steal your | | | | computer. |
| identity. That's a pretty big area. That's | | | | |
| why any information of these important | | | | 4. Your computer is running slower than |
| subjects needs to include definitions of | | | | normal. |
| exactly what actually encompasses both adware | | | | |
| and spyware.Adware is software that provides | | | | If you are experiencing any of these |
| advertising, usually in the form of pop ups, | | | | symptoms, you probably are infected and need |
| and gathers general information, by using | | | | to take some action.There are hundreds of |
| cookies, through the user's Internet | | | | Spyware programs on the market. Most offer a |
| connection. Adware is often packaged with | | | | free on-line inspection of your computer to |
| free downloaded programs. By definition, | | | | see if any spyware is present. Since their |
| adware, by itself, is not dangerous, but can | | | | scans always find something, it's a great way |
| fall into the annoying category. Adware can | | | | to market their product. However, it's |
| generate constant pop up advertising when the | | | | probably a good idea to dig a little deeper |
| downloaded program is running. It can also | | | | before making a buying decision.Some |
| place cookies on your computer that will | | | | anti-virus programs include adware and |
| provide information about you when you click | | | | spyware elements as part of the basic |
| on the pop ups or log on to the original | | | | program. Check yours and see if you have a |
| program download site. If users register the | | | | spyware feature and if it is activated. If it |
| downloaded program, usually games, and pay | | | | is, and you still are experiencing problems, |
| the registration fee, the adware disappears. | | | | make sure you have downloaded the latest |
| If you download a free program, there is a | | | | updates.At Jamison Software, we look at |
| reasonable probability it will contain some | | | | viruses and spyware as two different problems |
| form of adware. So far, that's not | | | | and have chosen to attack them with two |
| necessarily a bad thing. Many people happily | | | | different programs. When selecting a spyware |
| trade payment for enduring a few pop up | | | | program we looked at numerous reviews and |
| advertisements and don't care if their | | | | tested several (they all have 30 day free |
| general Internet surfing habits are being | | | | trials) on different computers before making |
| tracked. The problem begins when they become | | | | a decision. Spyware and anti-virus programs |
| intrusive. | | | | work basically the same way. They develop |
| | | | large data bases or encyclopedias of known |
| That's when adware becomes spyware.When | | | | adware and spyware. The computer is scanned |
| adware is expanded to use your computer's | | | | against these data bases and the culprits are |
| resources to steal information, it becomes | | | | identified and deleted or placed in a |
| spyware. Spyware is like the Trojan horse | | | | quarantine folder where they can't continue |
| that is discussed on our Virus article. | | | | to cause trouble. These data bases are |
| Computer users who are installing a program | | | | constantly updated in order to keep up with |
| or swapping files (i.e. music downloads) may | | | | the spyware developers. Good Spyware programs |
| also be installing a spyware program whose | | | | should do two things well. They should |
| purpose is to monitor your computer activity | | | | maintain great data bases and provide fast, |
| and gather your private and confidential | | | | proactive customer service.Why do we like two |
| information. This includes e-mail addresses, | | | | programs? Viruses and Spyware are cousins and |
| user passwords and certainly any credit card | | | | sometimes there is a gray line between the |
| numbers you enter when making a purchase | | | | two. With two data bases, we can sometimes |
| on-line. They can also happily install other | | | | stay ahead of the curve, finding a problem in |
| spyware programs, hijack your web browser by | | | | one program that is actually solved by the |
| changing your home page and your browser's | | | | other. Here's an example.We use and highly |
| search engine. All the time it is sending | | | | recommend Spysweeper by Webroot software. One |
| back information to the bad guys, who will | | | | feature of Spysweeper is that it identifies |
| use it for their own advertising purposes, | | | | new programs that will start when Windows |
| sell it to other bad guys or use it to steal | | | | starts. If no new programs are being |
| your identity. To do all this, spyware uses | | | | installed, this means only one thing-spyware. |
| your computer's memory resources and | | | | When that happens, an alert screen appears |
| bandwidth. This can slow your computer to a | | | | and there is an option to remove the |
| crawl, especially if you use memory intensive | | | | offending program. Sometimes that procedure |
| programs. Spyware is not | | | | is successful and the problem is resolved. |
| | | | However, occasionally the program reappears |
| good.Do you have adware and/or spyware on | | | | all by itself in a second or two. We have a |
| your computer? The chances are absolutely | | | | virus. That information can be passed on to |
| outstanding that you do. This may not be a | | | | AVG Anti-virus Systems, our Anti-virus |
| problem, but sometimes it could be | | | | software provider, and within hours an update |
| disastrous. Some of the signs that your | | | | removing the offender is downloaded and |
| computer may be infected are: | | | | implemented. This happened several times on |
| | | | our test computer (we did not use a firewall |
| 1. Your web browser looks a little | | | | to attempt to create just this scenario) and |
| different. New toolbars suddenly appeared. | | | | we were very pleased with the results. We |
| The search engine you use is different. A | | | | also found that Trojan horse files with a |
| brand new home page suddenly appeared. | | | | .pif suffix were the main culprits.If you are |
| | | | concerned about spyware, we recommend |
| 2. Pop up advertisements that aren't related | | | | Spysweeper. We found the data base very |
| to the web site you are viewing are appearing | | | | thorough and up to date and their customer |
| with disturbing regularity. You click on | | | | service team responsive. When we had to |
| links that go to nowhere. Ads for | | | | upload suspected spyware for their review, |
| pornographic web sites start popping up on | | | | they provided detailed, easy to follow |
| your computer. Your "new" search engine | | | | instructions.Buy and Download Software Online |
| produces web sites unrelated to your query. | | | | - Free Trials AvailablePeter O'Brien is a |
| | | | vice president for Jamison Software. A |
| 3. Your Windows desk top takes longer to | | | | division of The Jamison Group, Inc. |