About Adware
and Virus protection
You need to wear a belt AND suspenders to stay safe
these days. Here's why:
Adware
Typically, adware components install alongside a shareware
or freeware application. These advertisements create revenue
for the software developer and are provided with initial
consent from the user. Adware displays Web-based advertisements
through pop-up windows or through an advertising banner
that appears within a program's interface. Getting pop-up
advertisements when you’re working on your computer
is very annoying.
Spyware
Spyware often installs as a third-party component bundled
with a freeware or shareware application, just like adware,
making the distinction between the two somewhat vague. Spyware
includes code used to gather and transmit information about
the user or his or her behavior to a third party. This statistical
data often is collected without the knowledge or consent
of the user.
Hijackers
Often installing as a helpful browser toolbar, hijackers
may alter browser settings or change the default home page
to point to some other site.
Trojan horses
Trojan horses slip into an individual’s system and
run without the user’s knowledge. They can have many
functions. For example, some use a computer's modem to dial
long-distance, generating huge phone bills for the computer
owner. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojan horses do not make
copies of themselves.
Tracking cookies
Internet browsers write and read cookies, files with small
amounts of data (such as site passwords and settings) based
on instructions from Web sites. In many cases, cookies provide
a benefit to users. However, in some instances cookies are
used to consolidate and track user behavior across different
sites, which provides marketers with private information
about an individual.
Defense Against
Spyware, Adware and Parasites
Everyone knows about spyware, adware and other malware.
But what you may not know about is a Proven, Four-Step defense
that will virtually guarantee that your computer is protected
in a practical, simple manner.
Let me spoil the secret before you even read the article!
The steps are:
1. Install a good anti-virus program. I Recommend
PCcillan by Trend Micro, for several reasons.**
2. Install a top rated Spyware and Adware program
like Trend
Anti Spyware or Adaware, the old standard.
Then install another one!
But Be careful that the one you choose isn't spyware
itself. read more
3. Install Microsoft
Anti-Spyware. It is free at this time.
4. Keep everything up to date! Every PC I repaired
this year for Virus damage had Norton on it, but hadn't
been kept up to date! Any anti-virus that counts on YOU
to remember to update it isn't worth 10 cents, as we all
decide to do it later, when it is more convenient.
I prefer
PCcillan because it has a 60% smaller affect on your
processor and RAM, and has kept my 14 machines clean for
years. It's way less expensive, and does a better job. Free
online scans, good tech support, automatic updates...like
that. I have done contract virus
repair at companies such as Bechtel and Bank of America,
as well as for city governments. My strong advice is to
protect yourself by taking the above suggestions to heart.
Is it really that simple?
Yes, and the reason you need two
adware and spyware removers is that no one of them gets
all of them.
Microsoft Anti-Spyware.
Many people believe that just because they have one particular
anti-spyware program, that they are covered.
Definitely Not! Spyware is one case where you absolutely
Must use both a belt and suspenders.
You will find that there are many bits of malware that Trend Spyware Tool
S&D catches, but Microsoft doesn't -- and vice versa.
Also, one product may catch the parasite, but only the other
one can successfully remove it.
Microsoft Anti-Spyware is available at:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/
If you have a Legal copy of Windows, the download is Free!
(But be warned that they Will Check your windows, and
you must download and install the checking too. No big worries.)
Keep Everything Up To Date!
Last, but certainly not least, you absolutely must keep
your operating system, anti-virus and anti-spyware products
updated.
Microsoft releases patches and updates to all currently
supported versions of Windows almost weekly. Use the "Automatic
Update" feature to make sure you get them, or check
manually at least once a week through Internet Explorer's
>Tools >Windows Update menu option.
Removal and Cleaning
Ideally, these four steps should be done just after the
system is first set up and before it ever hits the Internet
-- but if this isn't the case, don't be surprised at all
the viruses, parasites and malware you may find.
If this is the case, my recommended removal and cleansing
method is a 'top-down' approach -- from the simplest and
safest method -- down to the more difficult and dangerous.
1. See if the application has a menu entry or an "Uninstall"
or "Remove" option anywhere. Most legitïmate
software (but ones that may carry parasites as extra baggage)
may be able to be removed (at least partially) this way.
2. Under the Windows Control Panel, select the "Add/Remove
Programs" applet -- look for, and "Uninstall"
anything that may be related to the malware. Be aware that
many "innocent looking" applications carry spyware,
malware and parasites. Remove anything in any way resembling
problems exposed through either of the anti-spyware programs.
3. Use the removal features of the anti-virus and anti-spyware
applications. I recommend doing this After the previous
two steps, because sometimes the applications will be removed
more 'cleanly' by reversing their original installatïon
process.
Note: After performing any step, be sure to repeat the scan
with the anti-virus and/or anti-spyware program to see if
the problem was really fixed. You should continue trying
to remove the problem until the scan comes up clean. This
may also mean rebooting your computer between removal attempts.
Trend Spyware Tool Search and Destroy will prompt you to
reboot and attempt removal during the reboot if it encounters
a particularly stubborn bug.
In some cases, no amount of scanning/cleaning/rebooting
can remove the malware. In this case, you have two options:
a) Boot the computer into "Safe Mode" and re-attempt
the Trend Spyware Tool and Microsoft scan/removal process.
(To get your computer to boot into Safe Mode -- press just
after restart -- and select "Safe Mode" from the
boot menu.)
This may allow you to remove applications
that are run automatically at start-up, but that protect
themselves by preventing the file from being deleted while
the bug is running.
b) Boot the computer into Safe Mode, Run "Regedit"
or "Regedt32" and try to clean the parasite by
searching the registry for strings that the anti-virus programs
have found.
If you still need help you can get tech support online
from the virus software manufacturer, or use "per incident"
paid tech support.
I won't provide detailed instructions on registry editing
-- because if you don't know how to do it already -- you
shouldn't try! It can mess you up.
(Legal: Everything in this article is
"At Your Own Risk".)