So you may be asking yourself, what in the world is Spyware? Before I answer that question, let's discuss some of the symptoms of spyware. The most common symptom of spyware infection is random pop-up windows. These differ from standard pop-up windows. How? Well, standard pop-up windows are called through your web browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, etc.), they are programmed into the web page. Spyware pop-ups are controlled by a little piece of software that stays resident in your computer, and you may not even be aware it exists. These pop-ups can occur even when your web browser is closed and you are not accessing the internet.

So back to the main question, what is spyware? Spyware is generally classified as any piece of software that stays resident on your pc, monitoring your web browsing habits and computer usage in order to display advertisements from companies that may interest you.

So how does this get installed on your computer? The most common way is through what is called ActiveX controls. ActiveX controls are used to install little pieces of software that are required by certain web sites in order to view specialized content. The simplest example is Macromedia Flash. If you try to play a game and do not have Flash installed, an ActiveX control will pop-up and ask you if you want to install it. You click "yes" and then you can now play the game. ActiveX controls are generally a good thing and very useful; however, as with anything else it can be abused. The advertisers use ActiveX to install their software, a user not knowing any different will say "yes" to install the software, thinking that it is necessary to view the web page just because it asks you to.

Why do advertisers do this and how can they get away with it? The reason they do it is simple, money. This form of advertising has basically no overhead, and even if one person buys something from one of these ads, it makes it worthwhile. The reason that they can get away with this form of advertising is because you are agreeing to install their software. By clicking "yes" on an ActiveX control you are agreeing to the license agreement, or the fine print, that is displayed in the ActiveX window. There is however, some legislation in the works in states like California and Utah that are working on ways to make spyware illegal.

One other common method if installation the I feel should be mentioned is through file sharing programs such as Kazaa. When you install Kazaa you are also agreeing to a license agreement that says it will also install these ad programs.

You may be asking yourself, "Why do I need to protect myself?" Spyware has become just as much, if not more, of a nuisance than Viri. Much of the spyware software that gets installed can wind up causing system crashes and destroy your internet connection. The difference between Spyware and Viri is that unlike Viri, spyware is NOT written with the intention of causing harm to your computer; however, most of it does because of poor programming and incorrect removal.

So how do you protect yourself? I will list a few things to help prevent spyware, but first I should make a few things clear. ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS read everything carefully before you agree to it. %90 of all spyware infections can be prevented by being educated and aware of what you are doing on the internet. Also, these tips are not guaranteed to stop ALL spyware, but they are a step in minimizing exposure to it.

1. Use an alternate browser: IE is the most attacked browser because of its wide usage and security holes. Using an alternative browser, such as Mozilla or Opera, will reduce the threat of spyware being installed through ActiveX controls, as neither of them use this technology.
2. Disable ActiveX controls (Internet Explorer Only): You can use the following steps to disable ActiveX controls all together OR you can have it prompt you whether to install or not.
• Open Internet Explorer
• Select TOOLS and then INTERNET OPTIONS from the menu up top
• Select the SECURITY tab
• Near the bottom, select "Custom Level"
• The first set of options can be set to Disable or Prompt ActiveX controls

One thing to be made aware of is that disabling ActiveX all together may result in not being able to view certain web pages. If you are comfortable with what you are doing, you can set your options to prompt you when something needs to be installed.

3. Install Spyware Removal Software: There are a lot of free tools on the internet that can help you remove spyware. Be careful though as you can seriously wreck your computer by removing something incorrectly with some of these tools. Real-time scanning is something to consider when looking for software. Real-time scanning monitors your system in real time, so if something tries to install itself, you will be made aware immediately and can prevent it. Two of the most commonly use pieces of software are Spysweeper and Ad-Aware. I personally recommend Spysweeper as I find it does a better job with real-time scanning. Be advised that there is a subscription fee with Spysweeper in order to receive updates.

To repeat myself, the best prevention of spyware infection is to educate yourself, and to be aware of what you are doing on the internet. I hope you found this article useful, if you have any questions feel free to contact me. You may also discuss this over at our forum.

Andrew Raia
Senior Technical Manager
zTech Computer Services