Softwords Blog

Understanding Spyware, Malware and Adware

Spyware, malware and adware are programs designed to infect a computer and often hamper the owner’s activity. Spyware is often thought to solely describe a program that examines a computer user; however the implications are much greater. These stealth applications often gather information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, transmitting information in the background to someone else. As for the avoidance and elimination of spyware, there are numerous programs designed to thwart these applications.

Malware, short for malicious software, is designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus or a Trojan horse. Malware includes things like spyware or adware programs, such as tracking cookies, which are used to monitor your surfing habits. It also includes more sinister items, such as keyloggers, Trojan horses, worms, and viruses. A good anti-virus application can be configured to scan for any type of malicious code, and alert you to its existence, even if it is not currently known malware. However, remember that your anti-virus software, security application or even computer operating system is only as good as its last update. To get full protection, on a regular basis you MUST update with the latest virus definition files, scanning engines, patches and fixes. They can often overlook certain types of malware. It is a good idea to run at least one anti-adware application in combination with your anti-virus software. In addition, utilizing a firewall can be helpful. While it won't keep malware out, it can help to stop such programs from accessing the Internet and sending your personal information to the intended target.

Adware, while not necessarily malware, is considered to go beyond the reasonable advertising that one might expect from freeware or shareware. Typically they're designed for commercial gain and are appropriately titled as a program that routinely shows advertisements to a PC. Adware will regularly continue to produce ads even when the user is not running the originally application installed. Usually bundled into another program, adware is considered a way for many developers to recover programming costs since a program since shareware or freeware is offered at little or no costs to the user. Adware and spyware are sometimes grouped together because the computer user’s Internet activity is frequently tracked, recorded and may even be sold to a third party. Software is available to help block advertisements and/or remove adware programs altogether.

Remember to always take time to be web wise and keep informed. If spyware, malware and adware destroy nothing else, they destroy your confidence in your PC or network, which is something that is quite valuable.

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Note: All issues from the year 2000 are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

How to become Web Wise

The Internet has rapidly become a part of our daily lives. It has erased borders between communities and has changed the whole globe by becoming a single entity. It is a significant tool offering an unconstrained quantity of information and services from around the globe. By using your PC, you can read a newspapers, order books, input and process data, view pictures or listen to radio stations from around the planet, with countless Web sites and services added daily. It can be overpowering; and at times, it's difficult to find the precise information you want. Knowledge is what keeps you surfing safely, and protecting your information, and so ignorance of the hazards is no excuse. Some of these threats can take the form of Viruses, Hackers, Spyware, Malware, Worms, Trojans and new to the scene, of internet threats, Phishing. If you are not sure what they mean then you must take the time to educate yourselves and how they can affect you.

Computer Viruses

A program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against your wishes. Even a simple virus is dangerous because it will quickly use all available memory and bring the system to a halt. An even more dangerous type of virus is one capable of transmitting itself across networks and bypassing security systems.

Hacker / Hacking

Hackers have an ability to bypass or override password protection and other security strategies. Hackers often work at a distance from their target computers by abusing the facilities of the internet for the purpose of gaining unauthorized access to steal and/or corrupt data.

Spyware

Spyware is software that covertly gathers information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits information in the background to someone else.

Malware

Short for malicious software, software designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus or a Trojan horse.

Worms

A worm is a program or algorithm that replicates itself over a computer network and performs malicious actions, such as using up the computer's resources and possibly shutting the system down.

Trojans

A Trojan is a benign destructive program that hides as an application. One of the most dangerous types of Trojan horse is a program that claims to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses onto your PC.

Phishing

The act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to defraud the user into surrendering private information that is used for identity theft. The e-mail directs the user to visit an illegitimate Web site where they are asked to update personal information that the legitimate organization already has. The bogus Web site, however, is set up solely to steal the user’s information.

An unwanted computer virus, and/or PC problem can harm hardware, software and productivity. Learning how to browse the web safely, keeping informed and protected is always the best policy.

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Note: All issues from the year 2000 are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

The Effects of Cybercrime

When you purchase a home it comes with a door and a lock. You always will make sure that the door/lock exist and that the lock is working properly. If you want you can aim to further secure your home against any threats. You may purchase a new security system, an additional lock or maybe even a pet dog for added safety. Why would you not secure your investment? Would you invite criminals to use your home to commit additional crimes wherever he/she pleases?

When it comes to your PC or Network, you need to ask yourself the following questions.

- Would you like to have yourself, organization or business responsible for cyber-crime, without you knowing?
- Would you like to be prosecuted for something you did not do?
- Would you like to be sued for privacy violations?
- Would you like to be the base of operations for major crime?
- Would you like to become another survey statistics?
- Would you like to loose clients due to lack of public confidence in your Information Technology system?
- Would you like to be the VICTIM?

So how are criminals committing the crimes? We have listed some of the tools of the trade below.

•Wireless networking technology poses the biggest problem, as an unsecured network can be hacked from someone outside using a simple radio antenna, PDA or cell phone.

•Password Crackers (Software designed to decrypt passwords, so they can gain access)

•Network Scanning software that looks for open ports to gain access to a network (software or hardware based)

•Illegitimate Websites (fake URLs), to lure you into giving information over the web or even hack an un-patched (updated) system

•Spam is used to get email lists to possibly cause more damage

•Phishing is the act of sending an e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to defraud the user into surrendering private information that is used for identity theft.

One may ask what are general reasons, for hacking, by cyber-criminals? Some are to gathering trophies, financial rewards, revenge, protest, criminal activity, identity theft, forging documents and just plain general mischief.

In the same fashion, computer viruses that can generate havoc on your PC system are just as criminal. Viruses can cost companies millions and dollars in time to repair an infected system. Recently, Microsoft went as far as to post a $250,000 bounty for the writers of the MSBlast worm and the SoBig.F virus. Organizations such as Interpol now have sections of their website devoted to cyber-crime, with other websites such as the IFCC “Internet Fraud Complaint Center” specializing in Internet Crime.

Hopefully, the information provided above will aid in protecting your PC from unwanted computer viruses, and PC problems that can harm hardware, software and productivity. The bottom line is that if you have a virus or if your computer has been hacked, you are no longer in control of your PC. If viruses, hackers or criminals destroy nothing else, they destroy your confidence in your PC or network, which is something that is quite valuable. Hopefully, the information provided above will aid in protecting your PC from unwanted computer viruses, and PC problems that can harm hardware, software and productivity. The bottom line is that if you have a virus or if your computer has been hacked, you are no longer in control of your PC. If viruses, hackers or criminals destroy nothing else, they destroy your confidence in your PC or network, which is something that is quite valuable.

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Note: All issues from the year 2000 are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

Security Measures being considered for Canada

Security is a growing concern in many fronts. This article focuses on the Internet since that is how many of us become exposed and with the growing number of offices integrating the Internet in their day-to-day use, some measures should be taken to insure your security.

The Canadian government, including the ‘Department of Justice’ and ‘Industry Canada’, wrote the 21-page blueprint as a near-final step in a process that seeks to give law enforcement agents more authority to conduct electronic surveillance. A proposed law based on the discussion draft, is expected to be introduced in Parliament in early 2003.

Canadian officials say such laws are necessary to fight terrorism and combat even run-of-the-mill crimes. They also claim that by enacting these proposals, Canada will be following its obligations under the Council of Europe's cyber-crime treaty, which the country is in the process of considering.

Items being considered in relation to cyber-security:

•Thinking of having ISPs (Internet Service Providers), to have the general requirement of Internet interception capabilities.

•Government involvement in how Internet intercepted data is to be regulated.

•Compliance mechanisms to ensure ISPs are following new government regulations.

•Requirements to ISPs to hold Internet related traffic data on all individuals from 3-6 months (data-preservation).

•Changes under the criminal code for the acquisition of intercepted emails.

•It would outlaw the possession of computer viruses.

•The most sweeping change the legal blueprint contemplates is compelling Internet providers and telephone companies to reconfigure their networks to facilitate government eavesdropping and data-retention orders. (The United States has a similar requirement, called the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, but it applies only to pre-Internet telecommunications companies.)

•Another section of the proposal says the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police recommends "the establishment of a national database" with personal information about all Canadian Internet users. "The implementation of such a database would presuppose that service providers are compelled to provide accurate and current information," the draft says.

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Note: All issues from the year 2000 are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.

It's just a virus

The world seems to have been placed on a heightened alert with the events of September 11, 2001. The word ‘Security’ is now one of the most common words heard and seen on Radio, Television and the Internet. With this in mind, the precautions needed to protect your PC from computer viruses have become a prominent topic. The total cycle of a new virus coming on scene, a virus warning and protecting your computer from a malicious virus has become the norm. However, for those who still have not seen the importance of securing your own PC, the following information may just save you from a potential headache!

Computer viruses can be transferred to an unsuspecting PC through an assortment of formats. Avenues such as e-mail, infected software, diskettes, infected CD-R/RW, computer documents and even Internet web browsing can transport a computer virus to your PC without you even knowing. Sluggish and slow software or operating systems can often be attributed to a computer virus lurking through a computer workstation, unknowing to the person using the PC. New computer viruses are showing up on a weekly, now even a daily basis and they can cause many issues with a PC, to numerous to mention.

If you have anti-virus software remember that an Antivirus program is only as good as its last update. To get complete protection, you must regularly update the virus definition files and the scanning engine. Prevention is always better then hours of frustration and lost data. Some of the main ways to ensure your PC is protected from malicious computer viruses are as follows.

•Refrain from opening e-mail and e-mail attachments from individuals you do not know.

•Do not execute .EXE files directly from your e-mail.

•Look at purchasing an Antivirus software package and have it updated on at least a weekly basis.

•Have diskettes, CD’s scanned by virus-scanning software before inserted on your PC.

•Secure your Internet Web browsing.

•Make sure you have a regular backup, in case you need to restore data.

Due to the nature of computer viruses, in terms of protecting your PC, nothing can be guaranteed. The individuals who create viruses are people with lots of time on their hands that look for loopholes, in existing operating systems, software, hardware and the internet that can be exploited to cause grief on the unsuspecting target. The information provided above will, hopefully aid in protecting your PC from unwanted computer viruses that can harm hardware, software and productivity. The bottom line is that if you have a virus, you are no longer in control of your PC. If viruses destroy nothing else, they destroy your confidence in your PC, which is something that is quite valuable.

Click here to view other Softwords publications

Note: All issues from the year 2000 are provided in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To view these files, you need to have Adobe Acrobat® Reader installed on your computer. You can download this free software from the Adobe Web site.