Silvana,
Spyware is an ugly, ugly thing. There are a number of decent tools that will catch and kill most spyware. These apps kind of, sort of work like antivirus apps, however there are a few key things to note:
1.) Unlike the Antivirus industry, there isn't a clear consensus as to what exactly IS spyware/adware. With viruses, it's pretty much a no brainer. There are clear definitions as to what a virus is. Spyware/Adware hasn't been quite as clearly defined.
2.) There's a LOT of politics as far as which bits of spy/ad ware are acceptable and which are tainted by the dark side. Last year, there was a consortium put together by some of the anti-spyware makers (I forget the name). The consortium fell apart when one known spyware maker was allowed, like a wolf amongst the flock, into the fold.
3.) In SOME cases, certain antispyware companies (as a result of #2) have made deals with spy/adware makers to NOT detect or remove their wares.
So what exactly IS spyware/adware? In a nutshell, spyware can be defined as anything that reports back to the maker various bits of information such as your web surfing habits, queries you've submitted to Google, Yahoo and other search engines. All this would NOT be that terrible if that's all they did. The more complex spy/adware apps also do nasty things - such as hijacking your browser, taking you to strange search engines, and influencing your search results.
And then there's the dreaded pop-up/pop-under... When you cross the fine line from spyware into the realm of adware, you get a slightly more sophisticated bit of software that not only reports, but gets marching orders as to what ads to pop-up/under your main browser, in the (hopefully) vague hope that you will click on the ad and earn them some money.
An example of how really BAD things can get: About a year ago, I had the displeasure of having to try cleaning out a computer that was so badly infested with adware - any time I went to scan the computer with an online antivirus app, the adware went NUTS popping up window after window after window advertising some unknown antivirus software app until the computer ran out of resources and ground to a screeching halt. Like I'm ever going to give these ******** a DIME of my business, let alone recommend their crappy tools. I finally got the machine cleaned up by going to a different online AV site that the adware didn't recognize and cleaned up the infestation.
Now, all this is NOT to be confused (entirely) with ad supported software. There are a number of apps that serve up advertising as a means to keep the application free or dirt cheap. How "evil" this is depends quite a bit on the application and how the ads present themselves. For instance, popular IM tool, ICQ, serves up small, relatively tasteful ads. No problem. However, there are a number of apps and applets that come bundled with spy/adware that, as we've seen above, do nasty things to your computer. Avoid these at all costs, whenever possible.
The big question - which anti-spy/adware products should you get? I recommend two or three - depending on what operating system your running.
1.) If you've got Windows XP SP2 (or later) Microsoft's Antispyware Beta seems to be a good tool. Unfortunately, you must be using SP2 or later to be able to download it and make it work.
2.) Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE Personal is an excellent choice. And best of all, it's free.
3.) Spybot Search and Destroy is likewise excellent.
Why so many? As I mentioned above, there's no 100% clear and concise definition to what constitutes spy/adware. One app might catch and remove something the others miss entirely.
A quick side note: As a bonus feature, many antivirus providers have been delving into the realm of dealing with spy/adware. Most of the main players in the Antivirus game have been adding those features to their program suites to add additional value. Panda, Norton, McAfee and Trend Micro all have antispyware algorithms built in to even their most basic AV suites. As no program is perfect, it never really hurts to have any of the above mentioned antispyware apps on hand.
How they work:
Antispyware apps rely on lists of known files and scan for their existence on your hard drive. If file X exists, quarantine or delete it. If there's a registry entry that loads a known bit of spy/adware, kill it. If there's a cookie in your browser's cache, nuke it. etc...
As there are newer and uglier bits of spy/adware coming out all the time, there are newer, updated lists of things to find released periodically for these programs. Most will ask to be updated or update automatically.
Installation is straightforward. Simply download the installer, save it to disk, run the setup program and follow the prompts. You can find AdAware SE Personal 1.06 and Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4 at http://www.download.com (a CNET sister site) and the Microsoft Antispyware beta can be gotten from http://www.microsoft.com . It's usually a top download so it should be listed front and center.
Submitted by: Pete Z.
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Antispyware programs do work like antivirus programs where the main purpose is to rid of unwanted and potentially dangerous applications. In fact, many popular antivirus programs also protect your computer from spyware and adware like Avast Antivirus.
There are two types of antispyware protection: real-time and passive. Real-time antispyware programs run in the background like active Antivirus programs like Norton Antivirus. The main advantage of this is that it attempts to stop spyware as they are entering your system. And since most spyware enter computer system during web browsing, real-time protection does show its value here. The disadvantage is that real-time protection eats up memory (but usually not a lot) and CPU cycles. Passive antispyware programs, like the free version of Lavasoft?s Ad-Aware, do not run in the background. Instead, you have to manually run them and they will scan your whole hard drive for spyware and adware. The main advantage of passive protection is that it doesn?t eat up memory because they are not running constantly in the background. The disadvantage, of course, is that passive protection does not protect your computer from spyware in real time and running the program best work when you are not multitasking. In another word, if you are running a passive scanning session, you shouldn?t be doing anything else on the computer. Another disadvantage is that passive protection is more prone to be compromised if a certain spyware or virus has the ability to cripple any antispyware/antivirus programs.
Cost is another issue. Many real-time antispyware programs are commercial or shareware, which means you have to pay money for them. Some real-time antispyware can be downloaded for free like Microsoft Antispyware Beta, but only for a limited time. Passive antispyware protections can be found at little or no cost like the free version of Lavasoft?s Ad-Aware. Some real time antispyware require yearly subscriptions like antivirus programs. Freeware passive protection usually requires no subscription fees.
Like Antivirus programs, real-time antispyware programs need to be updated periodically to make sure the latest spyware definitions are used by the program. Spyware ?definitions? (or ?signatures? as some would call it), like virus definitions, is a database of all current spyware that the program can identify and remove/clean. Since spyware and viruses are discovered constantly, it is imperative to update your definitions frequently. Real-time programs usually have the ability to automatically update their definitions as well as any new versions of the software. Passive protection usually requires the end user to manually update the definitions (usually by clicking on a simple button) before running the scan.
All in all, spyware usually isn?t harmful like viruses but having enough of them will degrade the performance of your computer over time. Unfortunately, there are some spyware that can be downright nasty like SpySherriff where it take control of your whole computer (also known as ?hijackers?). With this in mind, it is better to invest in a commercial based real-time spyware protection that also has passive protection option as well as automatic update feature. This way you will be protecting your system from spyware and also have to option to manually scan and remove those that may have seeped through ? all while keeping tabs on newly discovered spyware. Memory usage is usually insignificant assuming you have enough system RAM and the little investment on real-time protection is worth more than the headache of removing that one or two spyware that renders your computer helpless.
Submitted by: James L. of Tustin, CA
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Dear Silvana,
To protect your system from spyware, an antispyware program takes several approaches, in order to give you full protection.
The best way, of course, is to prevent them from getting into your system in the first place. Many antispyware programs are now integrated into antivirus programs and download managers in order to detect them before they get into your system. That's your first layer of defense. However, you should also only download from trusted public sources, such as download.com, where you can be sure that no spyware may be tacked onto your install without your knowledge.
Your second layer of defense is a background program that monitors the system for suspicious activities, like a browser hijack jumping you to a certain URL, or a hidden program install that you didn't know about, or unauthorized modification of the windows HOSTS file in order to redirect you from a competitor's website. These are signs of a spyware trying to install itself, or trying to do its nefarious deeds, and with such background programs installed, you will be warned instead of being left in the dark. Microsoft AntiSpyware's security agent, and Spybot S&D's TeaTimer are parts of their respective packages that performs this background task.
Finally, there's the signature scan. Much like viruses, spyware have distinctive signatures that can be detected through file by file scanning. A database of these signatures can be compiled, and computers scanned for signs of their presence. These database must be updated frequently, and you must download them frequently so you are always up to date in your protection. Fortunately, most of these programs have an auto-update function.
To install an anti-spyware program is just like installing an antivirus. Just install, let it scan your system after the install, and enable the background (sometimes called "real-time") protection, and that's it!
The three big names in this field are AdAdware (scan only, no real-time component), Spybot S&D, and a recent dark horse... Microsoft AntiSpyware. All of them are free (AdAware has a professional version that's NOT free, and a personal version that's free), and there are no conflicts in running all three on your system. I have all three on my system and I run a scan with all three every few weeks.
So download them and try them, maybe keep all of them, and be safe when computing.
Submitted by: Kasey C. of San Francisco
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Hi,
First of all, let us take a look at the difference between computer viruses and spyware. A computer virus is a piece of code designed to replicate itself as many times as possible, spreading from one computer to all computers connected to it. Most recent viruses spread to other computers as an email attachment - the virus sends itself to everyone in the address book of the infected computer. The payload of a virus is designed to damage your personal files or maybe even your operating system.
Spyware, on the other hand, refers to malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the consent of the user of that computer. They generally do not damage any files on your system. Instead they perform tasks like monitoring your browsing habits to deliver targeted advertisements, theft of personal information (like saved passwords, credit card numbers etc.) or redirecting you to advertising sites.
Now, antivirus vs. antispyware:
The difference here is the type of files they go after. Antivirus applications target files/programs which are likely to damage existing files on your system, either your personal files or system files.
Antispyware applications worry more about unwanted software installed on your system which would track your browsing habits, present you with unwanted advertisements and stuff like that. They simply ignore destructive viruses, leaving them at the mercy of the antivirus applications, and go after the spyware on your computer.
Both antivirus and antispyware applications look for their respective targets in a similar manner, they inspect the contents of the Windows registry, the operating system files, and installed programs, and remove files and entries which match a list of known virus/spyware components, or files having a particular design. Once detected, they treat their targets in a similar fashion, either quarantining them or deleting them altogether. Thus the main difference is the way in which they go after the unwanted.
Yes, you need to have both an antivirus as well as an antispyware program installed on your computer. Ad-aware and Spybot-Search and Destroy are two pretty useful antispyware applications. Microsoft has its own antispyware application which is a free download for Windows 2000, XP and 2003 users. Like antivirus applications, antispyware applications too require constant updates which can be downloaded from the vendor?s site.
Major security firms such as ZoneAlarm, Symantec, McAfee and Sophos have added anti-spyware features to their existing anti-virus products. I would recommend one of these for ease of maintenance since you have everything in once place as opposed to two separate applications.
As for installing them, it?s just like any other application, download the installation files from the vendor?s site (alternatively you could get it from your local computer reseller), run the setup file and follow the instructions.
Regards,
Submitted by: Noel R.
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Silvana,
If you have a PC, an antispyware program is as important as an antivirus program. In order to understand how antispyware programs work, you need to know how spyware works. Spyware can put tracking cookies on your computer. Cookies usually are helpful, like when they remember user names and passwords and shopping cart information, but can get malicious when they track your web browsing history across unrelated websites, resulting in an increased amount of spam in your inbox.
Another type of spyware is a browser highjacker. You'll know if you've encountered one of these if your home page and/or bookmarks have changed and you are getting excessive amounts of popup ads even when you're not surfing the internet.
Antispyware software does work like your antivirus software in that it searches your computer for tracking cookies and other spyware and allows you the option to ignore, quarantine, or delete the files. You also get these spyware removal programs on your computer in the same way that you get other programs: simply download them from the internet and install them. Unfortunately, there are some malicious antispyware programs out there. Do not download one from an unsolicited popup ad, it is probably spyware disguised as antispyware.
Norton antivirus is another program most computer people in the know tend to avoid. I recommend uninstalling it from your computer, as it slows your computer down and is largely ineffective.
I recommend Ad-Aware by Lavasoft, www.lavasoft.com. It is free, easy to download and install, allows you to perform a full system scan and a smart scan (which scans only parts of your hard drive that spyware is likely to be stored), and once spyware is detected, it allows you to ignore, quarantine, or delete the files. The only downside is that you have to manually check for updates (yes, just like viruses, new spyware is always being written, so antispyware definitions change in response to new spyware software) and manually perform the scans. For a nominal fee you can upgrade to the professional edition which allows you to schedule automated updates and scans.
One last simple way to avoid spyware, especially the more common and malicious types, is to change your web browser. Most spyware is written for Internet Explorer, and other browsers like Firefox or even Netscape are less prone to spyware. Of course, certain applications, like Windows Update, only work with Explorer, so it is helpful to keep that browser around. I use all three for various uses.
Happy Browsing!
Submitted by: Jeremy S.
***********************************************************************
Answer:
In a short answer, most of anti-spywares requires update, yes.
They work just like any antivirus app, they search for a specific signature or behavior.
Some anti-spyware programs keep monitoring those hidden registry lines in your system and compare it to what they should look like. If they are changed, the program will require your attention to find out if those changes are legitimate or not. Even if the new types of spyware are not detected, this attitude will fend them off nevertheless.
Anyway, spyware works exactly like a virus: they trick you into running their code (by assuming someone else's identity in your e-mail, for instance), it is hard to find out if they are really running, cause your system to misbehave (Pop-ups galore, anyone?), and the most dangerous kind will search for your valuables (passwords, credit cards and the like) and broadcast them over the Web. Not nice, as you already found out.
The original idea of spywares was to replace those long surveys to find out what is your consumer behavior, such as what kind of software or hardware are you prone to buying in the next six months, or what kind of sites do you visit the most. CNET itself uses this method, but they are more polite, presenting it as a poll, where you are willing to participate, with questions such as: "Will you buy Windows Vista when it shows up" and such. They will have the information, just as easily, but without prying into anyone personal lives without their notice, and driving you mad.
Installation of these programs is a breeze. If you can install your Office software without hassle, so does your anti-spyware program. They work and install by the book: they ask you to be installed in a folder inside your Program Files folder, they create a desktop and Start Menu Icons, and the most elaborate will boot along with your system so you are protected from the start, along with your antivirus, no secrets. Well, some modern programs now come in a virtuous triumvirate: they are firewalls, antivirus, and anti-spyware, all into one. All three names point out to the same problem: some evil is after your personal data, and you are willing to protect it at a cost. If you got the other two, the anti-spyware part is already late.
At last, spywares are not even complete programs (er, very few are), they are pieces of code embedded in other pieces of software, like viruses. They must wait until you run the twisted version of the other software, so they can run. In the worst-case scenario, they are embedded in sites code, as javascript and such, and just by entering those sites you can get infected by those plagues. I don?t see any difference between viruses and spywares, only their course of action is slightly different, so regular antivirus solutions can?t figure out how to trap them.
If you find anti-spyware programs that cover all of these points, you will be fine. Nothing prevents you from choosing the best in each area, and nothing prevents you from choosing a complete, single-company solution either. Recommendations go for 4 major players: Zone Alarm Suite, Norton Internet Security, (all-in-one) or AD-Aware combined with AVG Antivirus and Zone Alarm "lite" (neat, independent, all free-cost solution). Good luck.
Submitted by: Luiz A.
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Many use more than one anti-spyware program to be safer. Yes, they work like an antivirus program but they do not detect viruses, they protect against spyware. They search the computer for spyware with their own spyware data files and compare your computer with their spyware data. They detect the spyware on your computer; show you the names and information about them and delete them, destroy them. They need updating once a week just like your antivirus program, some auto-update.
Here are links to fabulous free anti-spyware you can download on line.
CNET recommends these and so do I. Many techs use these.
1. Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/ (Auto-updates)
2. Microsoft Anti-Spyware http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx (Auto-updates)
3. Spywareblaster 3.5.1 http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html (this one you remember to update once a week.)
DOWNLOADING AND INSTALLING
Go to one link at a time; install one thing at a time. Never install two things at once.
Downloading and installing is clicking on the word
1." Download " and clicking on a
2. File name and the word
3." Install."
1, 2, 3, the file installs itself by you clicking on it and following the cues. It is that easy. Once you download and install one, the rest is a piece of cake.
The best way for me, is to install to the "Program Files" folder. I do this to all the apps or program files I install. This way I know where they are and I am organized. There are a lot of program files (lowercase) in the "Program Files? folder" already. Do not worry about those. Don't let them scare you. When you are in this ?Program Files? folder do not delete anything. This will keep all your programs safe and trouble free. There are many yellow program file folders in your ?Program Files? folder.? They are all ?program files? (lowercase) all stored in one place, the ?Program Files? folder; (Uppercase)
Go to links one at a time highlighted in blue above. Click the download button. A message will come up and ask you where to download. (Where to put this application on your computer for you to install)
1. Click on ?C? (my computer)
2. Click on "Program Files."
3. Click ?yes?
Once it is downloaded to your computer do step 1 and 2 again but a little different.
On your desktop, right click on ?my computer? then on ?explore.? A list on the left appears. Click the plus button on ?C.? (Your computer stuff) Then look for a yellow folder called ?Program Files.? (Uppercase) Click on the Folder Called ?Program Files.? (Uppercase) (Every program is there) See all the yellow folders? They are all program files (lowercase) with individual names.
Look for the name of the file not in a Yellow Folder called ?spybotsd14.? It is not in a folder yet. On install it will make one for you. When you click on this it will automatically install. Follow the cues it gives you for installation. If it asks you if you want a shortcut on your desktop, click ?yes?. When it asks you ?Where to install?? click in ?Program Files? (UPPERCASE) You are putting this program into your ?Program Files? folder. (At the top) (Not into any of the other individual yellow folders.)
Once it is done installing you will see a program in your ?Program Files? folder called ?Spybot ? Search&Destroy? and an Icon on your desktop called, "Spybot - Search&Destroy." For me, to keep things very tidy and organized, I will drag my Spybot application (the one you clicked on to install) into my Spybot ? Search&Destroy folder in my ?Program File? folder. The application is not in a folder. (It is not necessary to drag the app into the Search&Destroy folder but I like things neat. I also forget things. This way everything is together.
Your program is installed and now and you can use it. The shortcut is on your desktop. Go to your desktop and click on it, it opens your Spybot Search&Destroy program.
1. Click on ?Search for updates.? (Do this first)
2. After updating, click on ?Download the updates.?
3. Go to ?Help? take the tutorial and get to know your program before you use it. Do not try to do the advanced things until you understand them and what they do. In advanced mode, spybot is very powerful and can damage your computer
4. Click on ?check for problems.? (It will give you information about the problems)
5. Do not change to advanced mode till you are experienced.
6. Remember to always do backups in the spybot before you allow changes.
It automatically asks you if you want to do a backup before it lets you delete or fix things.
You just click, "Yes" to let it do backups. It will do it for you and put the backup in the backup-folder in spybot. It is easy to find. It says "backup folder? in spybot."
Submitted by: Heidi B.
***********************************************************************
Answer:
Hey, CNET members! I am completely new to antispyware programs, and I would like to install one. However, I have no idea how these programs work.
Q. Do they work like my antivirus app?
A. Yes, they do have similarities. Some of them have 'resident' capabilities that watch your computer continuously, some don't...just like some AV apps do.
Q. How do they know which files are good and which ones are bad?
A. Basically, in similar ways AV apps do.
Q. Do the programs need updating?
A. Yes they DEFINITELY and most importantly DO! Some, if not all, have settings that you can configure to update similar to the update features in AV or you can do it manually, just like AV apps.
Q. I'd also like to know how to install these programs, if possible.
A. The same way you would install any other app on your computer, either from a zip file or CD-ROM disk. First you turn off all your existing running applications, then install according to directions. (I prefer to do this with my computer totally disconnected from the net since my other 'armor' apps won't be running.)
I, personally, like Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware. I run these two simultaneously. As a back-up to those two EXCELLENT programs I also use Yahoo's Anti-Spy. What one may not look for the other might and take care of. They play well together and are easy to use. I've used this combination on both Windows 98 and XP Pro with great results. And as an added BONUS you can download them for FREE right here in C/Net's Downloads section.
If you would like to learn more about these particular programs before you download them you can go to their respective websites to do so. The programs are available for download there as well.
Spybot Search & Destroy at: http://www.safer-networking.org/
The Ad-Aware at: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
The Yahoo! Anti-Spy is contained within the Yahoo! Toolbar at: http://toolbar.yahoo.com/?.cpdl=iy
I hope this helps you in your all too important quest to protect your computer from spyware/adware, etc.
Submitted by: Julie A. of Kansas City, MO
Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic