Spyware Blockers

If you have a computer that’s used by a number of family members, or your family includes teenagers or college-aged students, you may be at added risk for spyware infections from Kazaa, a popular file-sharing program. A recent study of the program caused Computer Associates to name Kazaa as the number one spyware threat on the Internet right now.

Slow Traffic Ahead

While many file-sharing users appreciate Kazaa’s finer qualities, the program also makes an extraordinary number of registry entries and slows computer performance significantly. Computer Associates calls Kazaa the greatest threat because of the number of copies that have been downloaded – more than 200 million to date.

The company says that Kazaa and other popular file-sharing programs are bundled with adware or spyware. These bundles create extra directories and registry entries, and consume computer resources in a way that significantly impacts the performance of the computer. In addition, shared files may deposit additional adware, spyware, or back-door kits on the computer over time. While CA singled out Kazaa for the number one distinction, the company does say that file-sharing programs, in general, pose an unacceptable security risk and should be removed from computers.

TopText by Ezula was the second biggest threat on CA’s list. Ezula/TopText bills itself as a “personal Internet reference and simplification tool” but most security watchdog groups bill it as spyware. Ezula claims not to collect, share or sell information but most experts agree that the program falls into the spyware category. Kazaa often loads Ezula/TopText – another reason to keep both programs off of your computers.

Spyware, adware and other malware have many routes into your computer. Most often, you enable this malicious software to get access to your computer inadvertently. Free software is plentiful on the Internet, and there are many valuable free programs available today. Among them, however, are malicious software, altered versions of known software and seemingly innocent software that poses a significant security threat.

Don’t leave your computer unprotected, and don’t leave it under-protected either. Before you download any free software, research it to see if it has the potential to bring unwanted adware or spyware along with it. Before you load software on your computer, make sure your anti-malware and anti-spyware software is up-to-date. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that your computer is protected because it came with anti-virus software. (If you haven’t been downloading regular definitions and keeping your A/V products updated, you’re not safe!) If you’re looking for effective spyware protection, look no farther than XoftSpy SE from SpywareBlockers.org.

Photo Credit: Mike Fox