What are Computer Spyware Programs?
Introduction
Computer Spyware is software that, once it's on your system, starts spying on you in various ways. Typically taking on the appearance of software you might like and use, spyware is generally downloaded from the internet and installed onto your computer. Once installed on your computer, the malicious "spyware" will record what you do, websites you visit, information you enter in to forms, information about your computer, and send all the information it gathers back to a marketing company.
Technical Information
Many years ago in the early 90's, some companies like alladvantage.com, excite.com and others would pay you to install software on your PC that enabled them to monitor your computer habits. Companies have now realized that they don't have to pay you anything, they just find a way to have you install their software without you knowing that it is monitoring you. This is now called spyware.
Typical spyware tends to do the following:
- Make your system less responsive and more prone to crashing. This is because it is constantly running in the background, sending information back and forth via the internet. Spyware programs use precious system resources and steal bandwidth from your internet connection.
- Monitors your general internet habits. This can be particularly dangerous as can record your usernames and passwords for secure sites such as banking.
- May be bundled with Trojans. This means that once you get one piece of spyware in your system it will often get other pieces and install them without your knowledge or consent.
Common Computer Spyware Programs
We regularly get questions about computer spyware from our users. Some of them are surprised when we tell them the names of common pieces of spyware, they had no idea some of the things they had downloaded were actually causing problems with their computers. In order to help educate computer users and keep their systems clean we have compiled a list of common spyware programs that most users will see on the internet.
You can check to see if you have them on your computer by looking in the add/remove programs list, they can usually be found there.
Hotbar
InternetOptimizer
ISTBar / AUpdate
KaZaA
Lop.com / LOP
Media Access
NaviSearch
n-Case
New.net
nLite
Port Scanner 1.1
PurityScan
SearchAssistant
ShopAtHome Agent (SAHAgent)
SideFind
TIBS
Trojan-Downloader.Win32.Qoologic.g
Websearch Toolbar
Win-dh
WinTools
XXXToolbar
180Search Assistant
abxtoolbar
Advanced KEYLOGGER
Advanced Remote Info
AntivirusGold
BearShare
BetterInternet
BlazeFind
BrowserPal
Cashback
Clocksync
CoolWebSearch
Dashbar
Date Manager
D-Helper web driver
Ebates Moe Money Maker
Elitetoolbar
ErrorGuard
Ezula
Gator / GAIN
HomeSearchAssistant
Method of Infection
Infection occurs with the consent of the victim when visiting a website and giving permission to download and open.
Detection
Reputable anti-spyware programs and even some anti-virus software will detect most known spyware objects. Some spyware is even identified as a virus (such as Bloodhound). If you believe you have spyware that is not being detected, you can have a technician verify and remove it from your system.
Removal
When infected with one of these Spyware programs it should be removed properly and with care to prevent any damage to the system. Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability. Most of these programs embed themselves in several different places in your computer. In order to properly get rid of this spyware it must be removed from all locations in a particular order.
Caution - running spyware removal programs before taking the proper steps can create greater damage.
It is also important to note that there is no single piece of software on the market that can detect and remove all spyware.
Beware - some of the spyware removal programs on the market today are actually putting MORE spyware on your machine. These programs are called Rogue Anti-Spyware.
Summary
Spyware is software that monitors your internet behaviour and reports that information back to where you received it from or related companies.
support.com experts are trained in removing all of these computer spyware threats and restoring system stability.
