Spyware back in the Spotlight

One word comes to mind when researching the recent influx of malicious software flying around the Internet and mysteriously downloading onto Windows PC’s: BEWARE. Well, there is another word: DANGEROUS. Last month Symantec, the popular anti-virus company (Norton), released their semi-annual "State of Computer Vulnerabilities" report. And it doesn't look good for our home computers. Especially for Windows based computers.

With all the activities high school students engage in over the Internet, many home computers will be more vulnerable to attacks from malicious software than ever before. This software, also known as malware, adware, Trojans and spyware, is VERY difficult to remove. Actually it’s impossible to remove. Spyware programs have become so sophisticated; they now re-build themselves after an anti spyware sweep of the hard drive. The reality now is the infected computer must have its hard drive reformatted, and Windows re-installed.

Keep in mind these are NOT virus programs, and anti-virus software will NOT prevent these programs from being installed on Windows computers. The programs are triggered into action by Internet users clicking to certain web sites, or downloading software they think is “free”. Virtually all “free” software on the Internet is laced with malicious software.

Just this week, a new variant of spyware hit the newswires: the Spam Thru Trojan. When you get hit with this one, your computer becomes a “spam server”, sending thousands of spam emails throughout the Internet. Nice huh? It gets worse. It is so sophisticated that is has its own anti-virus and anti spyware software built in so that it can shut down all the other malicious programs that may be running on the hijacked computer. Now why would it do that? Because all spyware programs use the computers resources, and by shutting them down, the Spam Thru Trojan then has available all of these resources to become a better spam server! All of this can happen on your Windows computer, at home or at work.

Here is the reality: Symantec detected 47 new browser vulnerabilities in the first 6 months of 2006, representing a 52 percent rise over the 25 vulnerabilities recorded in the latter half of 2005. By vulnerabilities they mean all malware variants. What can you do about prevention of infection? For one, do not download any software that is claimed to be “free”. Especially file sharing software or game cheat sheets. A certain hack if you do. Ever hear of LimeWire? This is a very popular file sharing program. Maybe, just maybe, their claim that their software is free of malware is true. Why take a chance? I would never.