“Of Mice and Megabytes Supplement”

ADWARE, SPYWARE, MALWARE
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Adware. Spyware. Malware. These intrusive programs, usually installed on your computer surreptitiously without your permission, are sometimes innocuous, often annoying, and other times worrisome. They are so widespread I’ll lay odds that some form of intrusion-ware is present on your computer.

But first, a little background. Adware (ADvertising softWARE) can track your ‘Net surfing and spending habits and is sometimes responsible for those bothersome pop-up ads. More nuisance than a threat, adware is prevalent in free software, typically programs that display advertisements during its usage. Services, too, advertised as gratis (such as popular music swapping sites) make their money through adware bundled into their software. Not surprisingly, many free games and utilities were created by advertising companies as a means of gathering user information.

Spyware (this term is sometimes used generically to include any type of tracking software) has gained popularity in businesses where companies want to know what the heck you’re up to. It’s also advertised as a child or spouse monitor (“Want to know who your partner is chatting with on-line?”), and is flat out a tool to spy on computer users by recording keystrokes, history, passwords, and other information.

Malware’s (MALicious softWARE) intent is to disrupt your computer’s functionality. “Page Hijackers” are a type of malware that’s used to change your browser’s Home page to one it wants to direct you to. Another form of malware are “dialers” that instruct your modem to disconnect from your ISP then dial a different number, often one that incurs charges to the user.

Trackware is insidious, installing itself -- and operating -- stealthily in the background. It is sometimes installed when users click on a misleading banner ad or it can be bundled with other software. Yet others take advantage of our reluctance to carefully read through that lengthy bit of text known as the End User License Agreement (EULA) that precedes software installations. I for one don’t read it choosing instead to hastily click the OK button. However, some EULAs blatantly disclose the fact that they can install anything they want, whenever they want, and without permission.

Scan and clean your system of trackingware by downloading “SpyBot - Search and Destroy,” (security.kolla.de) or “Ad-Aware” (www.lavasoft.de). Both are free and either can immunize your computer against future unwanted spyware, though, you’ll have to use the paid version of Ad-Aware for this capability.

A personal firewall is another useful tool in the fight to control tracking software since it monitors outgoing Internet traffic (i.e., adware sending information to a server).

PC Magazine (pcmag.com, search for “spyware it’s lurking on your computer”) has an excellent article about spyware. Also visit spychecker.com, spyware.com, tom-cat.com, spywareguide.com, and virgolamobile.50megs.com/spyware/spyware.htm for more information and for other spyware extractors. Some sites also have a list of known spyware-infested software.

And while you’re at it, read Jerry Campbell’s illuminating article (camtech2000.net/newsletters/a_new_spyware_tactic.htm) about a spyware remover, SpywareNuker, that itself could be spyware. At the very least, his unofficial findings raises serious questions.

Re-printed from the Rafu Shimpo, October 2003. Copyright©2003 Rafu Shimpo. All rights reserved.