Spyware Blockers

2008 saw the end of a long saga for one classroom teacher in Connecticut which underscores the importance of having adequate adware protection on computers. Julie Amero pleaded guilty in November 2008 to a single misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct and surrendered her teaching credentials. Along with the guilty plea, Amero was ordered to pay a $100 fine.

Less than two years earlier, Amero had been found guilty of four felony pornography counts and faced a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison for allegedly allowing students in her Connecticut classroom to view pornographic images on her computer while she used the Internet. Amero had testified that the images simply “appeared” on her computer and she did not know what to do. The incident took place in 2004.

After reading of her conviction, Alex Eckelberry, a computer security expert, offered to perform a forensic analysis of the computer in question. Eckelberry’s 2007 report, which has not yet been made public, caused the judge to set aside Amero’s conviction and order a new trial.

Among Eckelberry’s findings were that the school did not have a valid anti-virus software license, and that adware disguised as a Halloween-themed screen saver was loaded onto the computer about a week prior to the incident. The report cited additional evidence of an adware/malware infection, based on settings on the computer which had been changed.

Ultimately, the report concluded, the teacher was not responsible for the adware infection and could not have known that the computer was infected. Mrs. Amero chose to settle the case with a guilty plea in order to spare herself the trauma of a second trial.

Could This Have Been Avoided?

In a simple word, yes. Amero’s case illustrates the pressing need for adware protection on personal computers. In the workplace, employers can be held liable for creating a hostile environment when pornographic images appear on employees’ computers. In the classroom or even at home, children can be exposed to adult material indiscriminately.

Beyond simple offense, adware, spyware and similar malware can create security and privacy issues for users. Identifying information, like account numbers, user names and passwords can be captured and exposed to third parties. These programs can also cause severe performance degradations that can bring an otherwise productive employee to a virtual standstill.

Effective Adware Protection Is Available

You don’t have to put up with a semi-functional computer that displays annoying or offensive advertising. You don’t have to worry about the security of your personal and financial information.

Instead, you can rely on the protection that XoftSpy SE offers. XoftSpy SE detects adware, malware, spyware and Trojan software by matching suspicious programs to its database of more than 40,000 known malware products. New signatures are added constantly, meaning that you receive up-to-date protection from even the latest, most dangerous and most offensive malware on the market today.

Don’t risk your personal and financial safety, and don’t expose your employees or co-workers, family members or friends to offensive and dangerous materials. Stop malware infections before they start by loading XoftSpy SE onto your computer today!

Photo Credit: Steve Woods