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 â€" 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 â€" 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 â€" spyware posing as a toolbar. Has been reported to display porn, pop-ups, and to hijack homepage and Internet searches. • KeenValue â€" an adware program that collects personal information and delivers advertisements. • Internet Optimizer â€" hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own site. • Perfect Keylogger â€" records all keystrokes (including personal information, passwords, etc), clicks and web sites visited. • TIBS Dialer â€" 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 and 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 offering 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.