What Is It?

Spyware, along with spam, is becoming one of the many things that makes life on the Internet a chore.  It often makes you feel dirty and paranoid, neither of which are good.

Have you ever had the feeling that someone is looking over your shoulder when you are working, browsing the Internet or reading your email? Well, that's a distinct possibility, but they weren't exactly over your shoulder, but sneaking around inside your computer.

Spyware (also known as adware) is a relatively new class of malicious software that observes your work, browsing, email reading and other habits, and reports these back to some third party who collects this information and can then use it to target advertising at you.

So, not only are your Internet sessions inundated with Pop Up windows with advertising junk in them, you are inundated with Pop Ups that are targeted at you using the data collected by these spyware companies.

Are you willing to let possibly sensitive data about your company be broadcast to elusive third party companies somewhere out there on the Internet?  Companies who you have had no previous relationship with.  Well, not that you know of.  Companies who have not signed any form of Non-Disclosure Agreement with you?

And you think that's bad? Have you ever used a computer where some inappropriate or offensive website has kept popping up? Has the person who's computer this is assured you that they didn't go there or ask for this Pop Up, yet cannot seem to get rid of it? Well, say hello to another lovely feature of many spyware/adware infestations - they change your web browser's home page and won't let you revert to your preferred home page. They can also pop up pages at scheduled times or intervals, so even when you are not browsing the Internet, you are still accosted by annoying Pop Ups.

Does your browser's start page point somewhere you've never been?  Somewhere you'd never really want to go?  Somewhere you'd not want your kids going, or to be seen by other members of your company?  Sometimes this can be embarrasing.  Other times it can be downright offensive and place you in a compromising position with regard to your company security and ethics policies.


How Did I Get This?

Some spyware is installed when you inadvertently click on a cleverly worded banner advert or Pop Up. Something such as "Your computer is infected with spyware. Click here to remove this", or "Punch the monkey to win $1000. Click close to exit." And the close button or any other action on your part actually installs the junk that they are peddling. If you are the kind of person who believes random Pop Up messages, then I've got this genuine piece of the Berlin Wall to sell, as well as an Earth-facing block of land on the Moon.  ;-)

Other times, the spyware is installed without your knowledge at all. Alexa components used to be installed by default with Microsoft Internet Explorer, and some versions of the Logitech Mouse drivers even include the spyware application "Backweb".

Browser and/or Operating System vulnerabilities have also been used to install spyware.  All you need to do is to visit a website - possibly via a Pop Up that is forced upon you and the spyware is installed.  This is just one reason that an external firewall and regular maintenance of your network are recommended - Quark IT's Maintenance Contract options ensure that all of the latest applicable patches are applied, that your firewall is running the latest version, and that your AntiVirus and Spyware applications are also up to date.