By:Donny Gray

Katrina WintersDeondrick Pina

Alex Napper

Spyware

History The word 'spyware' was used for the first

time publicly in October 1995.

It popped up on Usenet (a distributed Internet discussion system in which users post e-mail like messages) in an article aimed at Microsoft's business model.

What is Spyware

Spyware refers to programs that use your Internet connection to send information from your personal computer to some other computer, normally without your knowledge or permission.

This information is a record of your ongoing browsing habits, downloads, or it could be more personal data like your name and address.

How it infects your computer

Most spyware is installed without users' knowledge.

Spyware gets on a system through deception of the user or through exploitation of software vulnerabilities.

Most of the time it is bundled with some sort of other software that the user has downloaded.

Effects and Behaviors

A spyware infestation can create significant unwanted CPU activity, disk usage, and network traffic.

Stability issues, such as applications freezing, failure to boot, and system-wide crashes, are also common.

Spyware, which interferes with networking software commonly causes difficulty connecting to the Internet.

Types

Some types of spyware disable software firewalls and anti-virus software, and/or reduce browser security settings, thus opening the system to further opportunistic infections, much like an immune deficiency disease.

Some other types of spyware use rootkit like techniques to prevent detection, and thus removal.

Remedies and Prevention

Spyware is still changing, meaning remedies can vary from different types of spyware.

If programs do not work to rid the computer of the infected then a full system reinstall would be needed.

Most big anti-virus firms have added anti-spyware to their anti-virus packages. (Such as Macafee and Symantec)

There are two things an anti-spyware program can do to protect you.

1. They can provide real time protection against the installation of spyware software on your computer.2. Anti-spyware software programs can be used solely for detection and removal of spyware software that has already been installed onto your computer.

Examples of Spyware Programs

CoolWebSearch Internet Optimizer HuntBar Movieland MyWebSearch Zango WeatherStudio

Examples of Anti-Spyware Programs

Ad-Aware SE Spybot - Search & Destroy GIANT AntiSpyware AVG Anti-Spyware Professional Edition