Spyware Blockers

The spyware Conficker worm (a/k/a DownAdUp) is a particularly difficult worm to deal with, and a new version is set to wreak havoc next Wednesday, April 1. The latest version Downadup/Conficker C, is programmed to download an update on April 1, but no one yet knows what the April Fool’s Day download might contain.

What Is Conficker

The Conficker worm first debuted on the PC scene last Fall. Good estimates are hard to come by, but some experts believe that as many as three million computers may have been infected with the worm or its variants since its introduction. Initially, DownAdUp was designed to distribute rogue anti-malware software or software uninstaller type programs– you know, the kind that tells you that you have an infection and offers to fix it for you, too?

Victims who fell for the scam lost not only the $20 that the mystery malware was asking for, but also lost their credit card information. They did get malware that was programmed to download an update of some sort on December 1, however that download was discovered and stopped.

DownAdUp (Conficker) isn’t your typical spyware/malware combo. Variants of the worm – three known ones to date – all have different purposes. The first, discussed earlier, was a malware distributor. The second version was designed with security in mind – its own security, that is. The program attempted to obfuscate the destination sites set up to collect the skimmed and scammed information.

What Does The Latest Variant Do?

The latest variant is even more impressive: its goal is to disable your anti-virus protection. That, by itself, is a leap forward in terms of this malware’s aggressiveness. Your best protection on April 1 is to be ready for whatever Conficker/DownAdUp has in store. Your computer can’t be harmed if it isn’t infected, so your first goal should be to make sure your computer doesn’t have a Conficker infection.

Spyware Doctor is the number one anti-spyware tool on the market today. In addition to finding and removing Conficker and tons of other noxious malware, Spyware Doctor is one of the few spyware removal tools on the market today that can prevent a malware infection from happening in the first place.

Don’t tolerate Conficker’s nonsense on April Fools Day or any other day. Protect your computer and your personal information from Conficker and a host of other malware applications by loading Spyware Doctor today. Find out for yourself why Spyware Doctor is the number one spyware removal tool on the market today!

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A new survey by the American Consumer Institute shows that despite the increase in online security threats, fewer consumers feel threatened by potential malicious online activities. Sixty three percent of respondents in the telephone survey said that they were concerned about viruses, spam and identity theft, but this figure represents a lower level of concern than was expressed in the 2008 survey by the same group.

Identity theft remained the number one concern of consumers, but just slightly fewer than half said that spyware was a significant concern to them. This figure has increased slightly from last year’s survey. Unfortunately, many consumers still do not recognize that spyware is one of the major routes to identity theft.

Rogue Web sites, compromised legitimate sites and malicious advertising links that can hijack a browser session are all routes to new spyware infections. Spyware can be used to observe browsing habits, trick users into purchasing useless software, steal credit card information, account information and passwords to sensitive sites like online banking facilities.

No Decline In Actual Security Threat

There is no actual reduced threat from spyware. In fact, quite the opposite is occurring. In what appears to be a dangerous trend, however, consumers are becoming complacent or are failing to recognize the real danger that spyware poses to their online security.

Fortunately, Spyware Doctor, the world’s number one spyware removal tool, is better than ever at identifying, disabling and preventing spyware infections. Spyware Doctor has won numerous awards from recognized leaders in the industry. PC Week, PC Advisor, PC Magazine and CNET all have given Spyware Doctor their highest awards.

Spyware Doctor Is Up To The Task

Real time tests show that Spyware Doctor can identify spyware infection attempts before they do any damage to your computer. Spyware Doctor also outperforms other spyware removal tools, whether the threat is well-known or brand new. Millions of users around the world rely on Spyware Doctor to keep their PCs clean and free of spyware, malware and annoying adware.

Don’t fall victim to keyloggers that record your passwords, account information and browsing habits. Don’t allow malicious Trojans onto your system that could compromise your safety and turn your computer into a spam or virus distribution tool for an unauthorized third party. Get Spyware Doctor and protect your privacy and your assets from the prying eyes of thieves.

Spyware Doctor is among the best protection your money can buy! Find out why so many people entrust their computer to Spyware Doctor.

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How could there be good money in writing software that no one wants? When the software you’re writing is spyware, you can make a very good living. A new report from Finjan’s Malicious Code Research Center say they’ve found data to suggest that scammers operating in Eastern Europe get about $0.10 for each person their software successfully redirects to a rogue Web site. In the space of slightly more than two weeks, the security firm says that 1.8 million users were redirected to the rogue site, meaning that the scammers collected a cool profit of about $180,000. Good money if you can make it.

There’s Big Money In Spyware

What’s worse than that, somewhere between seven and 12 percent of the redirected visitors paid an additional $50 for useless, rogue anti-spyware software. Now keep in mind that these visitors were redirected from legitimate Web sites, perhaps through ads planted on the sites or bogus comments on blogs. Even more sinister techniques involving hacking could have been used to compromise the sites.

The scammers also use search engine optimization techniques to make the compromised sites and the target rogue site appear high in the search engine results for particular keywords and phrases. These techniques led even more unsuspecting victims to the rogue sites directly from the search engine results.

Spyware is big business, and the more the scammers can distribute, the better off they’ll live. How can you prevent yourself from becoming a victim? You can’t control which sites get compromised, and you may not even know that you’re visiting a compromised site, but you can get the protection you need to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Spyware Doctor offers real-time protection against spyware and malware infections. Once installed on your computer, Spyware Doctor keeps track of what you download and prevents you from installing infected and suspicious files. That’s the kind of protection you need day in and day out.

Spyware Doctor has been downloaded by millions of PC users who want to keep their computers free from noxious malware. Spyware Doctor has been tested independently and has proven itself time and time again. No other program has won as many awards and distinctions from industry experts. Spyware Doctor is the number one spyware removal tool on the market today for a reason. It finds the malware that other spyware removal tools leave behind. Choose Spyware Doctor for the cleanest clean you can get!

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The Federal Trade Commission has issued warnings to consumers regarding the sharp uptick in the number of scams related to federal bailout funds. The FTC says that consumers are being misled to believe that they can receive bailout funds by participating in a grant program. They’re also being infected with spyware and other malware at rogue Web sites.

According to the FTC, most scams aim to collect personal information that can later be used to steal that person’s identity. Other scams try to entice users to visit phony “government” web sites that upload spyware and other malware to the user’s computer. Of particular concern to the FTC are emails and Web sites that promise to deposit stimulus funds into the victim’s bank account. After providing the requested bank information, the victim’s accounts are drained instead.

Still other scams include those that offer “business kits” or “grant kits” that are sent to the applicant for a nominal processing fee. In the fine print, however, these sites indicate that the user is signing up for recurring monthly charges of $50-$100 for access to an “online resource center.” According to the FTC, a consumer could be on the hook for more than $1,000 each year as the result of signing up for one of these fraudulent schemes.

What Should You Do If You Get Taken?

If you’ve been taken advantage of by schemes like this, your first recourse is through your credit card issuer. If the charges are being made violate the merchant agreement made between your credit card company and the scammer, you can get your funds returned. Follow the procedure the issuer provides to dispute the bogus charges.

If your computer gets infected with spyware or other malware, your first recourse should be Spyware Doctor. Spyware Doctor can be installed on your computer in just minutes, and is the most well-recognized and respected spyware removal tool available today. Spyware Doctor has won a large number of awards and has been downloaded by millions of users who swear by the protection it offers.

Spyware Doctor doesn’t just clean up the mess that these nasty spyware packages leave behind. It offers real-time protection from spyware infections to prevent your computer from being infected in the first place. Web surfing can be fun and entertaining. It can also allow you to take advantage of services offered by vendors all over the world, but it can also put you at risk. Eliminate your risk of being infected with some of today’s nastiest malware by making sure Spyware Doctor protects your computer.

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In a word, yes, you can avoid adware. Adware and its malcontent cousin, spyware aren’t a given, even in today’s computing environment. To avoid adware, however, you need to establish good habits that will help you escape adware infections.

Yes You Can!

Exactly what do you need to do? First, you need to acknowledge that adware and spyware are real, and that they’re more than simple nuisances. These types of software are dangerous to your personal information, your personal security and the security of others in the computing world. If you acknowledge that your computer can be infected, (don’t worry, it can), you can begin to take the steps you need to take to protect yourself, your computer and others whom you might come in contact with while connected to the Internet and other networks.

Once you’ve acknowledged that infection is possible, take steps to limit your negative exposure to this malware. For starters, install anti-virus and anti-spyware software like Spyware Doctor on your computer. Make sure that you have the current version and update these software packages regularly. Also don’t make the assumption that a single spyware package offers full protection, Most don’t. Spyware Doctor is the recognized leader in anti-spyware software, and in rigorous tests, it found spyware infections that other products left behind.

Limit your visits to unknown Web sites. If you’re still not sure, don’t visit the site. Also keep in mind that familiar sites can be hijacked, even for short periods of time. If a favorite site changes appearance or behavior suddenly, scan your computer carefully for signs of infection. Understand that advertising – even those ads placed by Google – can lead to infected sites. Be very careful about following links in advertising.

If you like to download files (music, videos, shareware, etc,) stick to trusted sites. Normally, download sites will scan files for infections, but that’s not always the case. Worse, files you want to download can also be bundled with unwanted malware, spyware and adware. Choose downloads carefully. If you’re evaluating an application, try downloading directly from the manufacturer, instead of picking up the file from a download site. Note any odd behavior from your computer after downloading a file or application.

Keep Tabs On What Is Running

Scan your computer regularly and note any odd files. Periodically, check the Task Manager to see what’s running on your computer, particularly if you notice that your computer isn’t behaving properly. If you find some unrecognized program there, use the Task Manager to halt the suspect program and do some research on what the application is. Keep your Spyware Doctor and anti-virus software updated at all times. New malware crops up each day. While some programs can be discovered easily, malware authors are very inventive.

A little extra caution can go a long way toward helping you avoid nasty and prolonged malware infections.
Photo Credit: Thomas Hawk