All You Have Know About Spyware

There are a lot of PC users that know little about "Spyware", "Mal-ware", "adware", "hijackers", "Dialers" and many more. This will help you avoid pop-ups, spammers and all those baddies.


What is Spy-ware?
Spy-ware is Internet jargon for Advertising Supported software (Ad-ware). It is a way for shareware authors to make money from a product, other than by selling it to the users. There are several large media companies that offer them to place banner ads in their products in exchange for a portion of the revenue from banner sales. This way, you don't have to pay for the software and the developers are still getting paid. If you find the banners annoying, there is usually an option to remove them, by paying the regular licensing fee.

Known spywares
There are thousands out there, new ones are added to the list everyday. But here are a few:
Alexa, Aureate/Radiate, BargainBuddy, ClickTillUWin, Conducent Timesink, Cydoor, Comet Cursor, Zula/KaZaa Toptext, Flashpoint/Flashtrack, Flyswat, Gator, GoHip, Hotbar, ISTbar, Lions Pride Enterprises/Blazing Logic/Trek Blue, Lop (C2Media), Mattel Brodcast, Morpheus, NewDotNet, Realplayer, Songspy, Xupiter, Web3000, WebHancer, Windows Messenger Service, DownloadAccel, Flyswat, freeNsafe, Naviant, Net Perceptions. You can get more names of spyware at GRC | OptOut.


How to check if a program has spyware?
The is this Little site that keeps a database of programs that are known to install spyware.

If you would like to block pop-ups (IE Pop-ups), there tons of different types out there, but these are the 2 best I think. Try to use Google Toolbar. This program is Freeware or you can use shareware program like AdMuncher.

If you want to remove the "spyware" use this freeware from Lavasoft, Ad-Aware. This software is a multi spyware removal utility, that scans your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware components and lets you remove them. The included backup-manager lets you reinstall a backup, offers and multi language support. Or you can try to get Spybot-S&D that can be get for free too. This anti malware application will detects and removes spyware of different kinds (dialers, loggers, trojans, user tracks) from your computer. Blocks ActiveX downloads, tracking cookies and other threats. Over 10,000 detection files and entries, and provides detailed information about found problems.

Or you can try BPS Spyware and Adware Remover. This shareware program have Adware, spyware, trackware and big brotherware removal utility with multi-language support. It scans your memory, registry and drives for known spyware and lets you remove them. Displays a list and lets you select the items you'd like to remove.

Other shareware anti malware is Spy Sweeper v2.2. It can detects and removes spyware of different kinds (dialers, loggers, trojans, user tracks) from your computer. The best scanner out there, and updated all the time.

The favorite spyware removal utility is HijackThis. HijackThis is a tool, that lists all installed browser add-on, buttons, startup items and allows you to inspect them, and optionally remove selected items.

If you would like to prevent "spyware" being install, you can try SpywareBlaster. This program is Freeware. SpywareBlaster doesn`t scan and clean for so-called spyware, but prevents it from being installed in the first place. It achieves this by disabling the CLSIDs of popular spyware ActiveX controls, and also prevents the installation of any of them via a webpage.

Or you can use SpywareGuard. SpywareGuard provides a real-time protection solution against so-called spyware. It works similar to an anti-virus program, by scanning EXE and CAB files on access and alerting you if known spyware is detected. Another freeware for this is XP-AntiSpy, a small utility to quickly disable some built-in update and authentication features in WindowsXP that may rise security or privacy concerns in some people.

If you would like more Information about "spyware", you can find at these sites:
Spychecker, Spyware Guide, Cexx and Thief Ware.

All these softwares will help remove and prevent evil spammers and spywares attacking your PC. I recommend getting "spyblaster" "s&d spybot" "spy sweeper" & "admuncher" to protect your PC. A weekly scan is also recommended.