Spyware, adware and Trojans
What is Spyware/Adware?
Spyware is software that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge. It’s used by companies to produce pop-up advertisements on your computer, track the websites you visit and your Internet browsing habits or change the pages used by your Internet browser for searching. A sudden change of the page you see when you first start your Internet browser, search results that appear constantly when trying to get to websites, lots of pop-up advertisements appearing on your computer or your Internet browser not behaving properly are all tell-tale signs of Spyware or Adware.
What is a Trojan?
A Trojan is really just another name for a computer virus. But it’s a specific type of virus that can be used to remotely control or monitor your computer from another location. It can even be used to install other software without your knowledge, send e-mail or spy on your Internet connection and the information you type into websites. Trojans have also been used to target Internet banks and record your security codes, login details or passwords.
How did it get on my computer?
- Spyware and Adware can often be installed on your computer along with other software that you have downloaded from the Internet. E.g. ‘free’ software like certain browser toolbars, weather programs and screensavers might also install Adware onto your computer. In the 'License agreement' that you have to agree to when installing this software it will tell you that it is also going to install this extra software. The advertising companies pay the software creator to include their adverts in the software. Although the software is free to you, the creator will still earn a profit from the advertising. The pop-up adverts might then even install more software themselves! Whilst this doesn’t directly cause a risk to your security, it certainly invades your privacy and can also be very annoying!
- Trojans are a bit different, these are malicious viruses. They are a very big security risk and can get onto your computer in a variety of ways. They may be included in e-mails, in the e-mail itself or as an attachment. You can also be infected by visiting malicious websites, or though glitches in your computer software that allows the Trojan to infect you directly from the Internet.
How can I protect myself?
Your anti-virus software will detect Trojans and viruses. Just make sure that it’s up to date! However in order to detect and remove Spyware and Adware you need to install special anti-spyware software. It’s also important that you keep your computer’s operating system up to date as many spyware programs will use known security vulnerabilities to install themselves onto your computer. To be safe you should disable 'ActiveX' in your Internet browser for untrusted sites.
There are several companies that offer spyware removal tools. These include, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, Spybot Search and Destroy and Webroot SpySweeper. For more information on anti-spyware tools have a look at http://www.spychecker.com.
