Top Ten Spyware and Adware Threats Identified

On December 8, 2004 Webroot, an award winning anti-spyware solution provider, released a press release identifying the ten most significant emerging spyware and adware threats. Most of these you probably haven't heard of and a few may surprise you.

It is estimated that 9 out of 10 computers are infected with spyware, also known as, adware, scumware, malware and many others.

Here's the top 10.

? PurtyScan ? popup ads that trick users into installing by claiming to find and delete pornographic images.

? n-CASE - adware program that delivers targeted popup adds. This program is usually bundled with freeware.

? Gator - adware program that displays banner ads based on your Web surfing habits. This program is usually bundled with the Kazaa file-sharing program, as well as other free software programs.

? CoolWebSearch ? hijacks home page, Internet Explorer settings, and Web searches.

? Transponder - monitors sites visited and any data entered into online forms, and then delivers targeted ads.

? ISTbar/AUpdate ? spyware posing as a toolbar. Has been reported to display porn, pop-ups, and to hijack homepage and Internet searches.

? KeenValue ? an adware program that collects personal information and delivers advertisements.

? Internet Optimizer ? hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own site.

? Perfect Keylogger ? records all keystrokes (including personal information, passwords, etc), clicks and web sites visited.

? TIBS Dialer ? hijacks phone modem and redirects to pornography pay by the minute phone sites.

The following precautions are recommended in the fight against spyware: install Microsoft security patches, avoid downloading and using freeware; and disable ActiveX downloads in Internet Explorer. In addition, install at least one anti-spyware program, some experts actually recommend that you have two installed. For starters you can download one of the free spyware removal programs such as Spybot Search & Destroy or Ad-aware. There are also a few good anti-spyware programs on the market that proactively protect your computer (alert you before the spyware is installed). When purchasing an anti-spyware program you need to be sure it is from a reputable company as many of the anti-spyware programs available actually place spyware on your computer. They do this by offering a free scan, which places the spyware on your computer as it is scanning. Then they entice you to purchase the product to remove the spyware.

In conclusion, if you take a few precautions and install anti-spyware software on your system you should be well protected in the fight against spyware.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Smith is the webmaster of 1stSpywareRemoval.com

offerin g in depth information on spyware, anti-spyware reviews, news and free spyware scans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This article may be reproduced as long as the above resource box is included in its entirety.

---

Top 10 tips for Safe Internet Shopping

Over £5 billion pounds was spent on online shopping in... Read More

Identity Theft -- 10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Good Name!

Identity Theft is one of the most serious problems facing... Read More

Cyber Crooks Go Phishing

"Phishing," the latest craze among online evil-doers, has nothing to... Read More

The Saga of the Annoying Adware

When we think of adware, what comes to mind are... Read More

Protect Your Little Black Book

The movie Little Black Book features a young woman, Stacy,... Read More

A Basic Introduction To Spyware

Spyware is the most troublesome software to appear on the... Read More

What is Spyware?

The most frustrating part of having Spyware on your computer... Read More

Spyware Attacks! Windows Safe Mode is No Longer Safe

Many of us have run into an annoying and time-consuming... Read More

Is That Free Stuff Like An iPod Or Desktop Computer Really Free?

Have you seen the web site, www.freestuff.com? Or have you... Read More

What is Hacking? Are You a Hacker?

WHAT IS HACKING?Hacking, sometimes known as "computer crime" has only... Read More

40 Million People Hacked - YOU as Identity Theft Victim

Saturday, MasterCard blamed a vendor of ALL credit card providers... Read More

3 Simple Steps to Stay Safe from Spyware

There are several basic concepts to keep in mind when... Read More

The 5 Critical Steps to Protecting Your Computer on the Internet

Spyware, viruses and worms... oh my!If you are connected to... Read More

Traditional Antivirus Programs Useless Against New Unidentified Viruses!

Every now and then you can read about a new... Read More

Why Corporations Need to Worry About Phishing

Phishing is a relatively new form of online fraud that... Read More

Phishing - Learn To Identify It

Phishing: (fish'ing) (n.)This is when someone sends you an email... Read More

Make Money Online - Latest Scam Disclosed

Before we start, I want to make it clear that... Read More

Lottery Scam, What It is and how to Avoid It?

Internet scams and frauds are on the rise! The quantity... Read More

The Risk Of Electronic Fraud & Identity Theft

Electronic Fraud and Identity Theft Human beings are pretty... Read More

Spyware Removal

Spyware SolutionProbably Today's Biggest Computer Problem. You Suffer Without Knowing... Read More

How to Manage Your Username and Password The Easy and Secure Way

Have been an Internet user for more than 9 years,... Read More

Protecting Your Children On The Internet

If you are a parent, as am I, I think... Read More

How to Thwart the Barbarian Spyware!

Today,on most internet user's computers, we have the ability to... Read More

Hacking the Body Via PDA Wireless Device

First I would like to stress I am condoning the... Read More

Another Fine Mess!

I'm in the Anti-Spyware business, and I'm doing a lot... Read More

Corporate Security for Your Home Business

The words Corporate Security may conjure up images of a... Read More

Personal Firewalls - Secure Your Computer

There has not been a time in the history of... Read More

Watching the Watchers: Detection and Removal of Spyware

If spyware were a person and he set himself up... Read More

Hacked: Who Else Is Using Your Computer?

A friend called me one day and asked if I... Read More

Road Warrior At Risk: The Dangers Of Ad-Hoc Wireless Networking

Airport Menace: The Wireless Peeping Tom As a network... Read More

Make Money Online - Defend Against The Latest Scam

First, let's do a little recap'. As I stated in... Read More

Keeping Worms Out of Your Network...

No auntie Sookie, not earth worms, computer virus worms that... Read More

Dont Miss Information Because of Misinformation

It has been said that with the wealth of information,... Read More