Posted on: Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Cyber security forces, software programs work to unmask spyware
By Edward C. Baig
USA Today
The spyware menace to PCs is mounting.
Spyware refers broadly to any program that surreptitiously shows up on your computer's hard drive to track and report back to some third party about your Web surfing and other PC activities. It often (but not always) piggybacks on free software you download.
The National Cyber Security Alliance, a coalition of online companies and government agencies, found last year that 91 percent of 120 U.S. consumers with broadband had computers infected with spyware.
Denise Garcia, an analyst for research firm GartnerG2, says the number of people expected to use ad-blocking software, including programs to help combat spyware, is more than 35 million, more than double last year's totals.
The anti-spyware forces are about to get a boost from America Online. It plans to bundle free spyware protections in a soon-to-arrive software upgrade. By default, AOL members will be able to have their systems scanned automatically for spyware once a week, though they can scan more frequently. Users will have the option to remove the spyware and will be told how severe the threat is. AOL follows the lead of ISP rival EarthLink.
Meanwhile, the leading anti-virus companies, Symantec (through Norton AntiVirus 2004) and McAfee are also targeting spyware. McAfee AntiSpyware promises to stop spyware before it is installed on your system. Several other companies sell (or offer free) spyware fighters, including Ad-aware, PestPatrol, Spybot — Search & Destroy, SpyCop and STOPzilla.
Probably the most common (and usually legit) flavor of spyware is called adware, which may result in those intrusive pop-ups. In most instances, your personal identity is kept anonymous. How do you get adware? It is usually ushered in with software you downloaded.
Programs sometimes dubbed "keyloggers" or snoopware log every keystroke and take periodic snapshots of your screen. These may be employed by people bent on stealing your identity, stealing your credit card numbers or destroying your reputation.
Snoop programs do serve legitimate constituencies. Parents may load them on a home machine to make sure Junior is avoiding trouble on the Net. And bosses may use them to monitor employees who work from home.
