Saturday November 7 2009
Information and Technology Services
ITUAInformation Technology User Advocate at the University of Michigan
Your Rights & Responsibilities
Spam
File Sharing
E-Mail Groups & Listservs
Copyright
Viruses
Identity Theft
Scams
Network Security
ITUA Home
 ITUA

File Sharing

Getting More Than You Bargained For: Adware & Spyware

So you're running antivirus software and keeping it up-to-date. Excellent! Unfortunately, there's more bad stuff out there waiting to take control of your computer. Luckily, the fix for adware and spyware is free!

MACINTOSH USERS: Currently, there are no known adware or spyware programs that affect Macintosh computers.

What Are Adware & Spyware?

ADWARE are programs installed on your computer — with or without your knowledge — that agressively display advertisements and usually also track your computer use for the benefit of online advertisers. Marketscore is an especially bad combination of adware and SPYWARE, malicious software installed — unknown to you — on your computer. Spyware collects data from your computer (datamining) and sends it to people engaged in at least unethical or possibly illegal activity.

Think it can't happen to you? 80% of home computers contain adware or spyware, according to an October 2004 survey conducted by America Online (AOL) and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA).

Adware and spyware are also known as parasite software. The following online activities can put you and your computer at risk:

  • peer-to-peer file sharing from services including Kazaa, iMesh, and WeatherBug,

  • visiting websites that contain the malicious code — you don't have to download anything; just visiting is enough,

  • downloading freeware and shareware, such as games and utilities,

  • opening e-mail attachments,

  • using some legitimate online businesses; however, they must ask your permission prior to installing their adware.

Why Should I Care?

Like viruses, both can slow down your computer, and their effects range from annoying to real security issues, such as transmitting:

  • your credit card numbers and other personal data,

  • your online activity, including keystrokes and sites visited,

  • e-mail addresses stored on your computer.

What Are the Symptoms?

How do you determine if your computer has adware or spyware?

  • Your Internet browser has a new home page that you didn't assign.

  • Your browser's Favorites links include one(s) that you didn't create.

  • You get pop-up ads even when your browser isn't running or you are not connected to the Internet.

  • Your computer runs more slowly than usual, especially when you're browsing the Internet.

GET RID OF IT!

See Marketscore and Phishing for related information.