How Profits Motivates Virus Creators

The motivation behind hackers has evolved noticeably over the last couple of years. Developing harmful viruses is less about “bragging rights” or satisfying the creator’s ego and is becoming more and more about generating profit or commercial return.

The destruction of data on your computer or corruption of programs you use is a common side effect and what people have traditionally associated with a computer virus. The reformatting of your computer “c: drive”, especially at work, and the loss of valuable data used to be an incredibly painful experience.

The widespread deployment of data back up solutions within companies to comply with legislation and other factors means less and less valuable data is now stored on your computer’s local hard drive. More importantly for the virus writer this attack does not generate much tangible profit so there is not much motivation to develop more sophisticated programs to counter improved anti virus applications and corporate network security.

However, there is profit for the virus writer in turning your computer into a spam distribution machine. “Spam” is email sent without the permission of the person receiving the message. Hackers gain control of your computer through a Trojan Horse which gives them the same access rights as the user. Once your computer is controlled by the hacker it becomes known as a “Zombie.” A group of zombie machines is known as a “botnet.”

By controlling a botnet a hacker can generate profit in a number of ways. The botnet can be used to exhort a ransom from a company by threatening launch a damaging “Distributed Denial of Service” (DDoS) attack against its web site. The botnet can also be hired out to other hackers.

The most common way of profiting from a botnet is to use it to send out spam email. According to the security software company Sophos over 50% of all spam email now originates from botnets. Hackers use spam email to drive traffic to pay per click advertising sites or distribute virus programs further. Using a zombie computer helps cover their tracks.

The drive for generating profit is clearly evident in a new form of virus dubbed “Ransomware” by security experts which started to appear in 2005. Ransomware, as the name suggests, holds data on your computer “hostage.” Files on your hard drive are encrypted with a password. The user is then contacted and asked to pay a ransom to release the file.

Here are some simple tips and strategies to help prevent your computer turning into a “Zombie.”

• Keep your computer up to date with the latest software patches for Windows and other Microsoft programs. Most viruses and other malware exploit vulnerabilities in widely used programs.
• Install a reputable anti virus program. Keep the definitions up to date and scan your computer regularly.
• Install a personal firewall or buy a router with a hardware firewall. Ideally you need a firewall solution which filters both incoming and outgoing traffic from your computer to the internet.
• Never open spam email or associated email attachments which is frequently used to distribute virus programs. Use a spam filter to help reduce the amount of spam you receive.

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How To Recognize Ebay Scams

Shopping and selling on eBay can be one of the most rewarding experiences on the Internet. However you need to be careful of scam artists who will try to take advantage of you through various types of fraud. If you do get scammed on eBay there are ways you can get your money back. However, it is very difficult to ever catch the fraud artist and it is a lot simpler if you can recognize and avoid frauds from the beginning.

One of the scams that are very common today is fake e-mails that appear to originate from eBay or PayPal or even your bank. Keep in mind that anybody can spoof any e-mail address and send an e-mail that appears to be from somebody else. It is even possible to spoof an e-mail coming from the president of the United States. So when you see any e-mail in your inbox that comes from eBay or PayPal and asks you to log in to confirm your password the chances are that this is a scam. E-mails that you receive of this type will have eBay letterheads or PayPal letterheads and will direct you to a link that appears to be eBay or PayPal. However, if you look closely at the bottom of your browser you’ll generally see that the domain these links point to is not actually an eBay or PayPal domain. It just looks like eBay’s web site, but it is actually a scam site asking you to confirm your password. Once you put in your username and password the fraud artist has it. One of the more popular tactics being used right now is to send a fake payment notification from PayPal suggesting that you have paid for something which you did not buy. The e-mail and includes a link right in the center that says “dispute this charge”, and once you click on that link you are taken to a page that looks like PayPal but is actually a fraudulent web site designed to get you to enter your username and password.

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself on eBay is to use PayPal for all transactions. PayPal is a wholly-owned subsidiary of eBay, and so transactions that are paid for via PayPal can be easily disputed. Since it is in eBay’s interest to maintain a secure shopping environment they are generally very quick to resolve disputes that originate by PayPal. If you buy an item and are not satisfied with it and feel like the seller did not deliver what he promised, it is far easier to dispute that transaction fee with PayPal because eBay can reverse the funds themselves. If you purchased by money order or credit card or some other payment method, eBay does not have the opportunity to reverse charges without going through a third-party.

Whether you are buying or selling items is a good idea to stick with PayPal. If you are selling items it is a good idea to only except PayPal as a payment option. The last thing you need is to get a bad check, or have your buyer dispute his credit card charge. If you have fulfilled your end of the seller’s bargain, then all you’ll need to do is prove that to PayPal and eBay without involving a third-party. Generally speaking, if a buyer is unhappy with a product that you sold and does not consider the product to be in the condition advertised, then you should demand that the product be returned before you issue a refund.

In order to sell on eBay effectively you need to learn how to use reserve pricing. One of the most common schemes on eBay is for someone using multiple accounts to place a low bid and a high bid simultaneously under different aliases. This ties up your auction at the high bid price and allows of the fraud to be carried out when the high bid buyer declines to pay and you are confronted with a low second bid. This scam is effective because the seller feels obligated to sell the item to the second-highest bidder once the auction has fallen through with the top bidder. Placing a reserve is essential to avoid this kind of scam so be sure to set a reserve price at the point where you would not sell the product for any less.

It is worthwhile to note right on your auction page that you reserve the right to back out of selling an item if you suspect fraud. While it is easy to get scammed as a buyer it is even easier to get scammed as a seller. Sellers generally have more experience and can recognize these scams, but you should be aware of the pitfalls of selling upfront before you start selling items on eBay.

EBay is a very safe and secure way to shop if you use it wisely and remain aware of how fraud occurs. It is important to always report suspicious activity directly to the eBay or PayPal. Since they have a vested interest in assuring that reliable transactions occur without fraud you can be sure that they will do their best to prevent illegal fraudulent activity.

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How To Shop Safely Online For Any Occasions

Here are several things to keep in mind when shopping online for any special occasions.

Pay with a Credit Card and Protect Your Passwords: Credit cards offer you the most protection as a consumer. Never send cash! If you pay by credit card, your transaction is protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. This limits your liability for any unauthorized charges
to only $50.

Understand the Return Policy: Determine the company�s refund and return policies before you place any order. Generally, any item that has been engraved or personalized in any way, will not qualify for the store�s Return Policy. Some countries don't have the same return policies as we do here in North America, so know where you shop and always read their return policy if has any.

Shop with Security: When online, look for a symbol of an unbroken key or padlock of the bottom of your Web browser window to ensure that your transmission is protected. Always enter the url manually to your browser instead of clicking links thru emails messages to ensure maximum security.

Print all Transaction Records: Make sure to print or save electronically any records related to your online transactions. This will help you keep track of shipping dates, shipping and handling fees, and other details of your transaction. Take as much info as possible including names, their title and phone numbers in case of
disputes.

File a Complaint
If you suspect the business may have broken the law, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can call the FTC toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov. or report it to your local Better Business Bureau.

Check the Site�s Privacy Policy: The company�s privacy policy should let you know what personal information the company is collecting, why, and how the information is going to be used. Be cautious if you're asked to supply personal information, such as your Social Security number or personal bank account information to conduct a transaction. When you shop online, you should never ever have to provide any sensitive information such as your Social Security Number, if they do, shop somewhere else.

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10 Steps to Reduce Your Risk of Identity Theft

You've probably heard about identity theft on television or read about it in the newspaper, and you may already be aware of the damage these crimes can cause victims and their families. What you may not know is how to protect yourself from these attacks. Below you'll find ten steps that can help you minimize your chances of becoming another identity theft statistic.

1. Invest in a shredder – Never throw anything away without shredding it first. Identity thieves will dig through dumpsters and trash bags looking for credit card receipts, voided checks, paid bills, credit card offers, and other items which provide them with your personal information.



2. Mail everything from the post office – Leaving your outgoing mail in or on your mailbox is an invitation to have it stolen by an identity thief. Not only can they get all of your personal information from the check, but they can even alter the check and cash it themselves. Instead, drop it by the post office or another mailbox..



3. Use a post office box – Incoming mail is also a target for identity thieves. Your bills, checks, even junk mail can be used by these thieves to steal your
   personal information. If you have a post office box, then your mail will be delivered safely to that box..



4. Have a non-published phone number – Some identity thieves will also use the telephone in an attempt to get your personal information. For example, one scam involved a caller telling a person he or she had won a government grant that was going to be directly deposited into their checking account. Of course, the caller needed the person's checking account number to deposit the money. If your phone number isn't available, then you won't be harassed by these calls..



5. Check your accounts weekly – If you don't already, you need to get in the habit of checking the balances of all your financial accounts on a weekly basis. Waiting for monthly statements isn't good enough because by then your account could have been completely drained..



6. Check your credit report yearly – Every year, you should request free copies of your credit report and check them for any errors, such as credit cards or loans you never took out. If you find out now that someone is using your identity, you can start correcting the problem before you need to use your own credit..



7. Memorize PIN numbers and passwords – Never write down your PIN numbers or passwords. No place is a safe place to keep these important pieces of information. Keep them in your memory so no one can steal them. Also, make them more complicated than an ordinary word or your birthday. It shouldn't be easy for anyone to guess..



8. Keep only basic information on checks – Your checks should only include basic information about you, such as your name and address. Your social security number should never be printed on your checks. If it is, then you're basically handing over the keys to your identity to any thief who comes in contact with your check..



9. Eliminate unwanted credit card offers – Those credit card offers you throw away can be used by identity thieves. They simply have to complete the application and change the address to have a card sent to them in your name. You should shred them, but you can also call 1-888-567-8688 or visit http://www.optoutprescreen.com to opt-out of the credit card offer mailing list so you'll stop receiving them..



10. Carry only necessities – Never carry anything in your purse or wallet that isn't necessary, such as extra deposit slips, social security cards, birth certificates, etc. The more personal information your purse or wallet contains the more valuable it will be to an identity thief if it is lost or stolen..


Although we only promised ten steps, we're throwing in an extra one to help you protect yourself even further.


11. Go electronic – Bank statements, most bills, and many other documents can all be viewed electronically so you never have to worry about them being stolen out of your mailbox or your trash. Contact your financial institution, credit card companies, and utility providers about the availability of this option. As an extra bonus, many of these businesses offer incentives to individuals who sign up for these electronic programs..

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How Fixing Broken Windows Can Decrease Click Fraud

There is a theory in law enforcement that goes something like this:

If someone breaks a window in a building, and it isn't fixed quickly, others will soon be broken. As the evidence of neglect builds, vandals will be more emboldened to break into the building and commit more vandalism and eventually destroy it completely.

If, on the other hand, that window is promptly fixed, it discourages further crime because it is clear that someone is watching the store.

Further, if instead of just fixing the window, you find the vandal and hold them accountable for it, a message goes out loud and clear: we're watching and you will get caught.

The problem with the broken windows theory is that it requires more than police action to put into practice. If the community isn't involved in the cleanup effort, the initiative fails. When the community is drawn in to help police the problems, to report them and to 'mind the store', so to speak, crime rates drop.

This theory can be extended to police nearly any venue where there is unacceptable behavior - including the problem of click fraud in the venue of PPC advertising. At the moment, the PPC industry is like a vacant building with nobody watching the store. It's easy to enter fraudulent clicks. It's even easier to get away with it. At the moment, a large percentage of advertisers leave the detection of fraudulent clicks up to the PPC provider - and the policy of most PPC providers is that they will provide refunds for proven click fraud upon request from the advertiser.

What happens when:

- The PPC provider's software detection methods don't catch the click fraud?
- The advertiser doesn't use fraud detection software?
- The advertiser can't back up the claim of click fraud?
- The major players in the industry refer to the problem as 'negligible'?

Simply put - the click fraudster gets away with it. The rewards are enormous - estimates put the amount of money lost to click fraud in the range of billions of dollars annually. But the loss to any individual advertiser is usually negligible, and even Google sees refunding money to advertisers as no more than the cost of doing business.

If we're ever going to put a dent in click fraud, three things have to happen.

1. Advertisers have to take responsibility for monitoring their own campaigns. If you don't know it's happening, you can't take steps to stop it.

2. Advertisers need to use the information they generate through their analytics to demand refunds from the PPC companies on a consistent basis. As long as the losses are minor compared to the profits for the PPC companies, their incentive for responding is limited.

3. Click fraud perpetrators have to be identified, actively pursued and penalized. Currently, modern techniques that use proxies and 'zombie networks' can make it almost impossible to identify and punish offenders.

Those are the three elements of the Broken Window theory that make it work - community action, official backing and action and penalizing perpetrators.

The first element in combating click fraud as a community is in getting click fraud prevention and tracking software into the hands of all advertisers. The difficulty of sifting through hundreds of pages of data to make comparisons and weed out patterns that signal click fraud is a daunting one for most companies.

Click fraud detection software makes it almost painless - but can be expensive. Other parts of the internet market have benefited from open sourcing of software to manage content, manipulate graphics, and create communities and process payments. An open offering of free click fraud prevention software will encourage advertisers to start monitoring their own logs and records and identify potential fraudulent clicks.

In addition, an open offering encourages others to modify and extend the software and make those extensions available to the community at large.

With those monitors in place, the second part of the equation becomes more possible. When it's easy for advertisers to identify and document fraudulent clicks on their campaigns, it becomes that much easier for them to demand refunds for those clicks. The third part is an outgrowth of creating a community that actively works to eliminate click fraud.

For the time being, click fraudsters are loose in a neighborhood of broken windows. With the right tools, we can begin to repair the windows and create a community that makes it nearly impossible to get away with their tactics.

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How to Prevent Identity Theft

Internet banking is a piece of cake for all those who know how to handle it. Free online bill-payment, the 'next day’ bank to bank funds transfer and much more, are some of its features that make your life so much easier. But, with this bliss you may also invite a serious trouble. One of the worst things that could happen to you is someone using your identity to borrow money from creditors and stealing money from your bank accounts. This is called Identity theft.

One would only need two pieces of your personal information to impersonate you: your date of birth (DOB) and your Social Security Number (SSN). Technically, these are the keys to your bank accounts, credit files, credit cards, health information and everything. No matter how fool proof banking might be these days you are ALWAYS at a risk of being a victim of Identity theft.

More Information at: www.ehow.com

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Spyware The Peeping Toms of the Web

While the internet is a great tool for research, or for just keeping in touch with e-mail or looking for a perfect gift, there is an annoying problem that is becoming increasingly dangerous for your computer. While everyone understands what a computer virus does, many people are still relatively unaware of the problem that is Spyware.

Spyware is another word for Advertising Supported software (Adware). There are several large media companies that place banner ads and pop-ups on certain web pages in exchange for a portion of the revenue from banner sales. This is the front for the more harmful Spyware that almost always comes along with it behind the scenes. While the banner placement may be a great concept, the downside is that the advertising companies also install tracking software on your system, which is continuously "calling home" and using your Internet connection to report on everything on your computer and everywhere you go, and then reports this information back to the source program. While every site you may visit may have a privacy policy about not sharing information, the fact remains that someone put a program on your PC that is sending non-stop information about you and your surfing habits to someone else.

Although Spyware is something that because of its very nature seems like it should be illegal, it actually is not, though there are obviously major privacy issues. Spyware also has a tendency to open your computer up to receiving more computer viruses, which is another reason why someone should look at removing any Spyware from their computer. Spyware detection and removal software often comes with security software like Norton or MacAfee, but there are also plenty of programs out there that exist for the specific purpose of finding and removing Spyware. Any detailed research will help you find programs that you can download to your computer in order to take care of these problems.

There is also the type of Spyware that can be intentionally downloaded to a computer. This type is most often used by parents or guardians to get a monthly report to find out all the various web sites people in their household have visited over the past month. In some Christian circles, a particular type of Spyware has become popular, where a certain group of friends will receive a monthly list of every web site visited in the past month, as an “accountability” thing. Otherwise, most Spyware is best removed from a computer as soon as it is found.

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Top 10 Virus on January 2009

Here are the top 10 Virus/Trojan on January 2008

1. Windx-Maxtrox

Display your desktop wallpaper after modified by the virus Windx-Maxtrox.Virus created with Visual Basic has a body the size of the original around 77Kb, without in-pack. The virus is suspected to originate from the strong North Sulawesi has an executable file infection capabilities. Precisely, it will infected program in the Program Files directory. Technical infection canny enough to avoid implementing it detection heuristic antivirus engine. Characteristics that can be recognized on the infected computer is changing the image of the desktop wallpaper images into animation.

2. Autoit variants

Most variants use Autoit folder icon in the typical virus impersonation.Ciri this one is made using a scripting automation. That if the compile into a executable file, which is also in-pack using UPX. And nearly 90% of all viruses and their variants autoit that we have, using similar folder icon in impersonation. This virus will also create an autorun.inf file at the time of the disk drive or flash drive.

3. Malingsi

The virus attacks the other virus Malingsi fat.Virus well with the size of 705,312 bytes is created using Visual Basic in the pack-use PECompact. It seems this virus is intended to attack another virus, this is seen from the message in the body. This virus breed and spread using intermediaries Personalization, which acts as a bot.

4. Recycler variants

File viruses hiding behind the false Recycle .Whom become typical of this virus is a technique, how it spread. Of all the variants that we have, how that is done the same, namely masquerade as Recycle Bin. For example the virus attacks the flash disk. In the flash disk of the victim will be the folder with the name of Recycler in which there is a folder using the name of alpha numeric example “S-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013″ with the icon is similar to the Recycle Bin icon. If this folder, click on or accessed from the Explorer, the file the virus will not be visible. To view them, you can go to command prompt with the command “dir / a”.

5. Fdshield

The name used by Fdshield time spread.Virus made using Delphi language using this icon that resembles the Internet Explorer. Has a file size of 553,472 bytes, without in-pack. One thing the light of this virus is of the name used when spread, labeled “17 + + & Confidential Sexs Women artists Indonesia (foto2_kamera tersembunyi_liputan). Exe”. For users who do not careful - careful, will take the file is an HTML file. If you see in the directory C: \ Windows \ System32, the mother found a file with the name “rundl32.exe”. Do not be deceived again! That is not part of the Windows files, but it really is a file virus. Note the letter “L” is just one. And now see in the Schedule Task, have a new job with the name “Windows FD Shield” which will execute the virus file at the time that he has set.

6. Purwo variant

Message delivered creator.One more new variants, Purwo.C, still created using Visual Basic, with the body size of about 56KB, without the pure-pack. This virus uses Word document icon similar property MsOffice to deceive potential victims. When he infected create a folder with the name “Purwokerto Under Cover” of the hidden attributes, and contain a file called “KoruptorPurwokerto.exe” on each drive that he find. In the folder C: \ Windows \ System32 \ file system also have windowss.exe, and in the C: \ Windows \ javaa \ service.exe. At the time it will show a black screen that contains the text of the message from the author. And be careful, this virus will also remove some of the files belong to you that he met.

7.Formalin

File properties Formalin.Icon virus that is used by this virus resembles the withdrawal folder, and it is created using Visual Basic. On Formalin.D, the file size of 18,432 bytes, with the condition of the pack using UPX. The virus creates a folder “disguise” with names such as seepage problems UAN and UAS, My Completed Downloads, Picture Wallpaper, Crack Program, don’t opened !,Ensurt Data (dont’ removed), and others. At the infected computer, Internet Explorer in the caption will be changed to “Your computer has been infected Formalin virus.” He also tries to disable “safe-mode” with how to remove some registry related. And in the file properties of the virus, the property description in the version information will have any posts such as “Kasian dch loe”.

8. Raider.vbs variant

Raider habits virus body has up-to-encryption.Virus if this type of VBScript, its file opened with Notepad, not a lot of strings that can be read as in most encryption. This has become a habit in every variant. Typically, the Registry, it will provide a key to making the new HKLM \ Software with the same name as the name on the computer name, with its contents as a string value is the name of the virus, Raider, and the date the first time the computer is infected.

9. Autorunme variant

Virus Autorunme hide the Recycle Bin folder that is not a production dibuatnya.Virus local programmers use this pack PECompact. He does not have the icon, only the icon from the standard Windows applications. infected time, he tried to embed the file on the parent directory C: \ Windows \ System with the name and msvc32s.exe with hidden and system attributes, and create new autorun in registry with the name “Windows msvc Control Centers.” The virus can spread through the data storage media such as flash disks can also be spread through Instant Messaging application. In the flash disk, it will make the Recycle Bin folder imitation that contains files with the name autorunme.exe, and direct autorun.inf file to run the virus. So when a user plug and play their flash disk drive and access is, the virus will be active.

10. Rieysha variant

Sma-Virus Found Rieysha variants of Rieysha again, this time with the name Rieysha-high school. Like previous variants, it is still possible to use Visual Basic. This time around the size of 104KB, with the icon that resembles a file Real Media Player. Menginfeksi time, it will create a duplicate file exe, mp3, doc, and replaced with a 3gp himself. In addition, there are at least 2 pieces of virus files on the root drive, with the name “sma3gp.exe” and “CeritaSeru.vbs”.

Source: bibeh.com

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Safe and Secure Online Payments with SSL Certificates

The seamless world of the Internet has broken open the physical barriers that existed across regions on the Globe. Today, therefore, you could be sitting in Munich and buying goodies from Seoul. Very convenient, and thrilling. But, when you pay for your goodies and swipe you’re Credit Card, are you sure, you are paying only for what you paid for? Chances are your Credit Card Information traverses through alien territory into the wrong pair of hands. The result, the next morning, you will find your Bank account eroded or emptied? Not a situation that most of us can afford or enjoy.

How do we then transact on the Internet and yet safeguard our hard earned monies from those Electronic pirates? The answer is relatively simple. Every time you choose to buy product or services through web-sites, before entering your Credit Card and other personal information look for information on whether the payment gateway is secured. Informed customers would always prefer to transact their business through secure sites and this will automatically bring in more business to Websites secured through SSL certificates from well known providers.


Payment gateways are secured through SSL or Secured Socket Layer. When you enter your personal and or Credit Card information into a secure site, an encrypted public key is created. This is termed as a handshake to authenticate safe transaction. The unique encryption method which gets established in the process will have a unique session key. This process protects theft of valuable data and only the transaction that you intend to complete is processed.

SSL certification has been found to be very reliable across, Internet users and also among the customers. These certificates are issued by a reliable and trusted authority, the Certificate Authority. The web-site through which you are attempting to transact business carries signs of the agency which has issued the SSL certificates. There are other similar agencies too, which offer these SSL certifications. When you click on the sign, the details of the certifying agency are displayed.

When you click on such secured domains, your system generates a SSL handshake which is accessed by the web-site server. The unique encryption method employed then allows a secure transaction to go through.

Why all this bother?

When you are transacting valuable business or even sending across precious data, it is necessary to route them through secure servers which have the seal of security such as an SSL certificate. In the absence of this Security, it would compare with sending a snail mail in a transparent envelope.

For E-Commerce and other Web-site owners, the SSL certification acts as a stamp of credibility and assurance of safety to their valuable customers.

For the Service Providers and other Vendors/Merchants in the Internet world, exhibiting their site security sign – a reputed one at that, not only assures the customer that the information he parts with will be securely handled, but also separates them from the crowd. Informed customers would always prefer to transact their business through secure sites and this will automatically bring in more business to Websites secured through SSL certificates from well known providers.

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The Home Computer User’s Guide to Spyware

As with the computer virus, spyware can be broken down into a number of different categories. Most users are familiar with the term “adware” which refers to software which serves annoying ads. There are however a number of other spyware variants you should be aware of.

To begin with it is important to have a clear definition of spyware. This will also help us understand why the term is commonly used to encompass a number of different variants. Spyware is a program, usually installed without your knowledge, which records what you do on your computer and then shares it with its creator.

The information which the spyware program collects can vary from the websites you visit to log-in and passwords for your online banking site. The sharing of your personal information with a third party is why spyware in its purest form is labelled as a malicious threat and clearly is a major privacy issue.

Adware is the second mostly commonly used term. Adware is designed to display adverts relevant you, commonly based on your surfing habits, to generate Pay-Per-Click advertising revenue or sales through affiliate links. Adware is commonly bundled with free software by developers instead of charging a price.

The malicious nature of adware can vary enormously. At one of the scale, adverts are displayed in a non-intrusive manner in a window within the free program you have downloaded. When the program is not running, ads are not displayed. At the other end of the scale, a user could find their desktop overwhelmed as the adware program spews out multiple pop up ads in a very aggressive manner. Whilst it may be possible to believe the former is not transmitting personal data to a third party, it is difficult to expect the later not to.

The adware issue is further complicated by marketing companies who do not like their software being labelled “spyware.” These marketing companies generate millions of dollars of income often via recognised brand name clients. So to avoid legal issue security companies refer to this software as PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).

Browser hijackers are another aggressive form of spyware. They attack important browser settings like your default homepage which your browser loads when you start the program. Hackers direct you to sites which generate revenue for them like the Russian website “Cool Web Search”. Browser hijackers can also insert sites into your bookmarks. They also can cause your browser to crash and stop working completely and are typically difficult to remove.

Key Loggers capture all your key strokes into a DLL file which the creator retrieves. Software key loggers are often bundled with a Trojan Virus which gives the creator access to your computer.

Here are some tips and strategies to fight the different types of spyware.
- Keep Windows XP and ALL your web browsers (including Internet Explorer and FireFox) up to date with the latest patches.
- Install a reputable anti-spyware program like Webroot Spy Sweeper or PC Tools Spyware Doctor. Run frequent scans and keep the definitions up to date.
- Install a reputable anti-virus program like Norton Anti-Virus or McAfee VirusScan. Run frequent scans and keep the definitions up to date.
- Install a firewall which manages both inbound and outbound connections. Top personal firewall software picks include Zone Labs’s Zone Alarm and Norton Personal Firewall. Alternatively purchase a router with a hardware firewall.
- Avoid downloading free software programs including screensavers and weather toolbars.
- Avoid know high spyware risk area on the internet including illegal music sharing sites, Peer-to-Peer programs, free game download sites and adult sites.

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