Spyware & Adware

What is it and

how to make your computer go fast again.

What is Spyware?

• ParasiteWare

• Adware

• Spyware

• Malware

Page Hijackers

Dialers

Spyware Vs. VirusSpyware & Other Potentially

Unwanted SoftwareViruses

Motivation Profit Intent Harmful

Monitor online activities for commercial gain

Damage computer system, corrupt files and destroy data

anti-virus software not helpful Detectable and removable with anti-virus software

Difficult to relate symptoms with spyware infection: Sluggish PC performance, increased pop-up ads, unexplained home page change, mysterious search results, etc.

Easy to relate symptoms with virus infecton: Corrupt program files, loss of computer storage memory, deletion of critical files, etc.

New technology (less than 5 years)

Old Technology

Who Does SpyWare Effect

• Windows Users YES!!!!!!!!!

• Mac Users Not Really

• Linux/Unix Users Not Really

How Do You Contract Spyware

• Visiting websites

• Via E-mail

• Installing it yourself

How to Cleanup Spyware

Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition

SpyBot Search&Destroy

MacScan

How Do I know what is safe to Remove?

• If a spyware scanning application found it, it is removable.

• Only exception is free software that comes with Ads.

How to Prevent SpywareAd-Aware SE Personal EditionSpyBot Search&DestroySpywareBlasterSpywareGuardMacScan

Install a pop-up blocker

READ EULA before installing Software

Stay up to date with your security patches!!!!

TURN ON YOUR FIREWALL!!!!

Windows Firewalling

Windows Patching

Mac Firewalling

Mac Patching

Additional Resources

www.spywareguide.com

www.spywarewarrior.com

www.firewallguide.com/spyware.htm

www.securemac.com

genetics.cwru.edu/help/

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/expert/honeycutt_spyware.mspx