Why does your computer keep getting overloaded with pop-up advertising and spyware? Here are three primary reasons:
1) Surfing pornography related web sites. Just don’t do it.
2) Surfing for free games and other free software. This includes the free search bars. Most free software is sponsored by “adware” – software that allows them to display adverting on your computer. To make this type of advertising more effective they install “spyware” on your computer to learn about your surfing habits. If they know what types of sites you visit, they can better target you with ads you might be interested in. The basic idea seems harmless, unfortunately, the spyware either is or can be used to collect additional information from your system, to download other programs without your knowledge, and in the worst case, to capture keystrokes that can then be searched for credit card numbers and other critical information, leading to identity theft.
3) Surfing for “cheat codes” or “craks”. The idea of most games is to conquer various levels, and the big competition amongst kids is to see who is at the highest level. If they get stumped by a certain level, they can get “cheat codes” that let them get past that hurdle and move onto the next level. Similar, but illegal, are “craks” – various methods of pirating software. Some craks are programs that will generate a keycode for a specific name or user, others are the actual serial numbers that people have made available to the public. The danger lays in the fact that most sites the offer cheat codes and craks are sponsored by pornography. A youngster may go looking for a simple cheat code, and be inundated by pornography related pop-ups. In some cases, they may see a pop-up that tells them to “click here” to download a program that will stop all these pop-ups. Unfortunately, that program is not what it says, it actually downloads more spyware onto the system and then the user is bombarded by even more pop-ups, even if they aren’t connected to the internet.
There are several free programs you can download and run on your system that will help minimize the risks. The most important step you can take though, is education! Educate your children on the risks of the internet, and on the types of sites they need to stay away from. For cheat codes, they should stick to the books that they can buy. At least then they can see exactly what they are getting. For craks and pornography – just don’t do it! For other things, like freebies, it’s best to check with a known and trusted authority, someone who can check it out safely and let them know if it’s worthwhile.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/adaware.html
This program searches the system for known data-mining, aggressive advertising, and tracking components. It then lists the results and offers to remove or quarantine the components. Updates are available regularly, so always check for updates before scanning.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/spybot.html
This program searches for many known spyware and adware components. It also offers an “immunization” feature, which will block many components so they cannot get into your system. Updates are regularly available, so be sure to check for updates before scanning.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/spysweeper.html
This program detects and removes many traces of spyware including Trojans, adware, keyloggers, and other system monitoring programs. This program can also run in the background to monitor your system, watching for incoming spyware and browser hijackers, warning you of any intrusion.
http://www.spychecker.com/program/spywareblaster.html
This program doesn’t scan and clean like the others, but rather it prevents many items from being installed in the first place by disabling many options within your browser and operating system that can be exploited by malicious software.
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
This utility is used to remove specific viruses. It is NOT an antivirus program! This is only to be used in the instance of an infection and your normal methods do not remove the virus.
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
This site will scan your system for viruses, and includes many Trojans. Not all Trojans are picked up by the popular antivirus programs, so if you are experiencing problems with your computer, but can still get online, this should be your very first stop. In many cases it will find Trojans that are in files that cannot be cleaned, and in most cases, these can be deleted. However, always check with a known and trusted authority first!
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html
This program will check the system registry for all installed browser add-ons, buttons, startup items, etc., and then allows you to select the items for removal. This is an advanced program and should only be used under the direction of an expert. However, it is a good idea to have this program, as you can save the results to a log file which can then be emailed to an expert for review.
Be sure to turn on the firewall that is built into Windows XP. This firewall only blocks incoming traffic, but it is better than not having one at all. This applies to dial-up users as well as high-speed! Better still, consider a third-party firewall such as ZoneAlarm, which will not only block incoming traffic, but also stop programs on your system from going outward without your permission.
Make sure you have a reputable antivirus program installed on your computer, and that you are checking daily for new updates to the “dat files.” These are the files that help it to recognize new viruses and protect you from them. My personal recommendation is for EZ Antivirus: http://www.my-etrust.com/ however, there are others that also come highly recommended. If you want to discuss pros and cons of various programs, just ask me!
This type of program will allow you to block access to certain types of web sites, such as those with adult content. I personally am not experienced with any of them, so ask other parents what they are using and why they like it or don’t like it.
Within IE, you can actually customize your security settings to help stop some of these intrusions. Under Tools, Internet Options, Advanced, you can uncheck these two options:
Here are two links with more information about customizing IE’s security levels:
Remember also to keep your operating system up to date with any new critical updates. This is especially important for users of Windows XP.
Another area that I’ve recently learned that is popular with teens and also puts your system at great risk for viruses and spyware is called “blogging.” This is site where people post personal diaries, journals, etc.
When installing any software, be sure to read each of the screens carefully. Many will have options to install additional software, such as search bars, etc., that are selected by default. Take your time and turn these options off to save a few more headaches.
Some chat programs may install programs that bring in pop-up ads, and just being on chat can open the door for a variety of problems, such as viruses, Trojans, and spyware. In addition, if people are swapping files via chat without caution, this too will put them at risk.
© 2004 The Computer Counselor. The document was created as joint effort by myself and other members of Experts-Exchange. My gratitude to those who have offered their selfless support and advice! Permission to copy and distribute the contents of this document, in its entirety or in part, in any medium for any purpose and without fee or royalty is hereby granted provided that you include a link to the original document. Thanks!