General info on Adware/Spyware
What is Adware? Adware are programs which will, after installation, display advertisements. These come in two types, the first being used in shareware programs to 'pay' for development, the advertisements are integrated into the program. Here adware means advertised supported software. The second category is the one which causes trouble, this adware, provided by companies like gator, but also included in messenger plus! (don't check the box next to install with sponsors), give you advertisements at random times when online. You don't see the software is there, and when getting those ads, it can be hard to tell with which program the adware came. The last category can also be recognized by a ridicilous ammount of advertisements and pop-ups the user experiences. Now I'll continue explaining what spyware is and conclude with how you get rid of both.
What is Spyware? Spyware differs from Adware the only goal of spyware is to collect data about your surfing behaviour and report it to advertisers so they can target you with spam, customize their ads when you browse the web etc. Getting spyware and adware doesn't differ, you usually get it by one of the following:
- Installing software which has 'sponsors' included
- Installing software having 'third party applications' (adware/spyware). So read the license agreement closely
- Spyware/adware is mostly present in 'usefull' programs offered for free, offers 'too good to be true' and they usually are too good to be true
- Installing an script/choosing 'yes' when asked for confirmation on a site using scripts
- Installing the program unknowingly, some security holes in Internet explorer allow for quiet installation
- So keep in mind some basic surfing rules
How to get rid of adware and spyware:
- When you think you're infected go here and follow instructions
Programs confirmed containing spyware :
- Bearshare
- Bonzi Buddy
- Dope Wars
- Download Accelerator Pro (DAP)
- Errorguard
- Flashget (free)
- Grokster
- Kazaa
- Radlight
- Weatherbug
- Wildtangent (they mostly produce winamp and WMP plugins/games)