Spyware poses a growing threat to PCs
| • | How spyware gets on your PC and how to get it off |
By Doug Abrahms
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — When it was time to turn on her computer and check her e-mail, Jean Moore hesitated. Every time she tried, her machine slowed to a crawl.
"I was afraid to turn it on because I was afraid to cause more damage," said Moore of Indian Wells, Calif.
The problem was spyware, software put on your computer, often without your knowledge. The programs can send pop-up ads, install computer viruses or steal passwords to bank accounts.
Like junk e-mail, spyware has grown from an occasional annoyance for computer users to a growing hassle. It now makes up 12 percent of all customer-support calls to Dell Inc., the nation's largest maker of personal computers.
Scans this year of 1.5 million computers by Earthlink Inc., a major Internet service provider, found an average of 28 spyware programs on each computer. Many were harmless, but one in three computers contained malicious software, including ones that hijack home pages to porn sites, monitor keystrokes to collect personal data or redial Internet connections to expensive services that run up long-distance bills.
So far, federal authorities aren't keeping pace with spyware's rapid growth.
A bill introduced by Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif., last year would require spyware distributors to clearly notify computer users what information was being collected and increase penalties for malicious spyware. But the legislation has not cleared the House or Senate yet, and Congress is on break until September.
The Federal Trade Commission, a consumer protection agency, is looking into the problem, but says it is up to consumers to safeguard their computers.
Moore eventually paid $185 to a computer repairman, who had to reinstall her computer's operating software. Moore also added anti-spyware software, but there is no guarantee her computer won't be overwhelmed again.
"It's really annoying to feel like your computer has been invaded," Moore said.
Phil Boettge, a software engineer from Lumberton, N.J., was able to remove the spyware himself and add anti-spyware programs to his computer after he started getting eight pop-up ads a minute, some of it for pornography. But he's not happy about having to work so hard to prevent programs from being installed on his computer without his permission.
"It should be illegal," he said. "We have laws against intrusion and privacy in our homes but not over the phone lines."
It is illegal to plant viruses or illegal programs on the computers of unsuspecting consumers. Software viruses and Trojan horses, a hacker tool secretly installed on computers to gain access, are often written by teenagers looking to cause trouble or crooks looking to steal credit card numbers or other financial data.
A type of software called adware, on the other hand, is technically legal. Consumers usually consent to have it installed in exchange for free software or access to Web sites. It pops up ads when connected to the Internet and sometimes relays data back about your viewing habits. But it also can make a computer more vulnerable to viruses.
"It's an astonishingly gray area," said Roger Thompson, vice president of PestPatrol Inc., which makes anti-spyware programs. "I think they have a legitimate business, but they haven't gotten the model right — they're pissing off consumers."
PestPatrol started out writing software to block viruses, Trojan horses and other illegal programs. But the company has expanded to block adware as well because it was such a growing nuisance, he said.
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How spyware gets on your PC and how to get it off
Q: What is spyware?
A: A program that is loaded onto your computer, often without your knowledge or permission, that displays ads, monitors your Web surfing patterns or trashes your computer. These programs can come from Web sites that download music or offer free software. Many times you actually give your permission for this software to be loaded, under a long legal agreement that few read.
Q: How do I know if I have spyware on my computer?
A: You can run various tests to determine how many programs are on your machine and how malicious they are. More information can be found at: www.lavasoftusa.com, www.spywareinfo.com, or www.spywareonline.org.
Q: What do I do if I find spyware?
A: You can buy programs from PestPatrol, McAfee, Spybot and other companies that will remove spyware and prevent it from being loaded in the future. If spyware is drastically slowing down your computer, you might have to call a computer repair service.
Q: Will spyware ever just go away?
A: Unfortunately, no. New spyware programs force anti-spyware companies to constantly update their programs. Someday, anti-spyware programs might be integrated into larger software packages such as Microsoft Windows.
Q: Is the government doing anything about this problem?
A: Federal authorities chase criminal spyware cases. The Federal Trade Commission won a restraining order to stop a San Diego firm from sending pop-up ads to consumers every 10 minutes and then offering them software to block such ads for $25. But most spyware is technically legal and the FTC said it is up to consumers to protect themselves.
Q: Where can I complain?
A: You can file a complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov. Click on "File a Complaint."
