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

A new report issued by the Secure Computing Corporation shows some positives and negatives for 2008 and analyzed the formation of new computer security threats. While the company has seen a decrease in the volume of spam being reported and a decrease in the incidence of “zombie” attacks, it reports that spyware and associated malware pose a growing threat for home users.

Among the company’s findings are that Swizzor and related malware variants made up more than 30 percent of all new malware in the second quarter of 2008. In addition, the company found that Zbot spyware and malware variants continued to pose a significant threat to unprotected computers. Zbot is especially dangerous because it steals users’ sensitive information and establishes an unauthorized or backdoor connection to an infected computer. The unauthorized access allows the computer to be used for purposes other than what the owner intended.

Secure Computing says that the growth of “blended attacks” – those that use more than one malicious program or approach to take control of a computer – are on the rise. Consumers must be vigilant when it comes to providing adequate protection for their computers. This vigilance will not only protect the consumer’s computer, but will also slow the spread of these malicious software packages to other vulnerable computers.

Protecting Your Computer

To protect a computer, it is important to remember that many different computer services require protection. Protection that covers email and Web surfing is better than those that simply scan emails for possible threats or those that protect only against malicious Web sites.

Malware and spyware authors are clever and their approaches are becoming more sophisticated over time. Being wary of social engineering techniques – e-cards or email from friends, Web-based advertising, free downloadables, etc., will improve a user’s odds of avoiding malware and spyware. Protecting financial information is critical. Most malware authors do what they do for financial gain of some type.

What can you do to protect your computer? First, make sure that your operating system is patched regularly. Most Trojans and other malware take advantage of known flaws in the operating system to gain control of a computer. Second, download and use excellent spyware protection, like XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org. Update your spyware software regularly and check your system carefully. Many people choose to load more than one anti-spyware package on their computers for added protection. Third, be aware that spyware-infected copies of legitimate software do exist. If you find that you can download expensive software for “free” there’s a good bet that you’re getting more than just the software package.

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According to one source, XoftSpy SE is one of more than 500 legitimate anti-spyware products on the market today. Despite the abundance of spyware and malware detection software, consumers are still unable to protect themselves from the most malicious threats. This failure isn’t because the spyware products aren’t working. Rather, most users fail to understand the threat spyware poses, and its increasingly dangerous intentions.

What’s In Your Wallet?

Credit card theft, bank theft and identity theft are becoming the primary goals of spyware producers. Adware was initially designed to pop up advertisements and generate revenue for the adware company. The model itself isn’t very valuable to businesses. After all, can you really expect to generate a lot of business by annoying your prospective customers to death?

The ease with which adware could be created and loaded onto computers drove software producers to take more bold steps. Spyware could target advertising to a user based on his or her browsing habits. That’s somewhat more useful than just a random blast of ads, but that approach opened the door to even more bold steps. If the software could monitor a user’s browsing habits, it could also monitor other online activities, too.

Certain spyware programs are designed to capture and relay information about a user. For example, spyware can capture keystrokes or screen information if the user visits a particular site. If the particular site happens to be a banking site, or a credit card site, a user’s identity and bank accounts could easily be compromised. Less sensitive information like screen names could be subjected to password attacks, and once a password is gained, the user’s account could be manipulated or even emptied.

Spyware has become progressively more dangerous over time. It’s gone from being annoying to being a primary vehicle for identity theft. While some banks and credit cards may offer protection against online theft, these measures are usually reactive. They may mitigate the damage that has been done by the identity theft, but they don’t do anything to cure the original infection.

Most spyware is too stealthy for users to notice. If you assume that your computer will begin reacting badly or behaving oddly when it is infected with spyware, you could be in for a real surprise. Most users don’t consider spyware a threat because they don’t know when, how or how long their computer has been infected. They have no idea what kind of personal information has been captured and/or forwarded to another party and because their computer is behaving normally, they assume they’re not infected.

Don’t take chances with your computer. Download XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org today.

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According to a report in USA Today, a private detective says that spyware sales on his Web site are going through the roof. The software is designed to root out cheating spouses, and Jimmie Mesis says his sales are up 20% in the weeks leading up to February 14.

GPS tracking devices are big this year. These little devices attach to a vehicle and report the location of the car using a Web interface. Sales of computer-based spyware are up 141% as Valentine’s Day approaches. These software packages monitor incoming and outgoing email, Webcam activity and other devices that might reveal a cheating heart. Mesis attributes the increase in sales to a sour economy. Fewer people can afford the services of a private investigator, so they want to do their own research.

Spyware Isn’t Just Limited To Valentine’s Day

The love of your life may or may not be watching what you’re doing online, but it’s a good bet that someone is. Tens of thousands of spyware packages are making the rounds. While many spyware packages require that the user download them, sometimes spyware infections can be traced to visiting infected Web sites or following compromised links.

Your personal information, email, address books, browsing habits, credit card information and personal information can be placed at risk by this malware. Often, these software packages take the information they find and report it to a third party, who then uses the information to steal your identity.

XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org can help you detect and disable spyware that has been loaded onto your computer or that is disguised as some other type of software. At the Spywareblockers.org Web site, you can test your computer to see if you have a spyware infection, or if your computer is harboring other dangerous malware.

XoftSpy SE can detect thousands of threats using its extensive database of known threats and vulnerabilities. The product is updated regularly so you can be sure that your spyware/malware protection is up to date. Say goodbye to harmful Trojans, worms, viruses, and spyware. Eliminate annoying adware that pops up unwanted or offensive advertising on your computer and slows its performance to a crawl. Keep your personal information safe from the prying eyes of hackers, and maintain control of your computer.

With XoftSpy SE, you decide how often you want to scan your computer for dangerous malware. New malware infections arrive every day. Are you ready to defend your turf?

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Yes, it’s true. Many malware producers are making their living on creating both a problem and its solution. Malware masquerading as anti-spyware software is nothing new, but the number of people who are getting burned by rogue anti-spyware software is growing.

Anti-spyware software may have all of the characteristics of the spyware you’re trying to get rid of. It promises to do something you want. It preys upon unsuspecting consumers. It looks completely legitimate. It may even be freely downloadable.

Rogue Anti-Spyware Poses A Big Problem

What does rogue anti-spyware do? The same things that regular spyware does. Its effect may range from trying to make you believe (falsely) you have spyware loaded on your computer and need additional (usually worthless) products. It can also download all kinds of adware, Trojans and other malware that the rogue program can then “discover” and “fix.” (Or not.)

The rogue anti-spyware program relies on the fact that many people don’t differentiate between anti-spyware products, assuming instead that all anti-spyware programs are equally capable. It also relies on our seemingly innate desire to get something for nothing.

So how big is the rogue anti-spyware problem? Big and growing. Analysts believe that there are hundreds of rogue anti-spyware programs in the open right now. The fact remains that no matter how strongly consumers are warned about “free downloads” some users won’t carefully research these software packages before downloading them to their computers.

You need anti-spyware protection you can trust. XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org is an excellent tool for ridding your computer of existing spyware and malware, and preventing infections from occurring in the futire. XoftSpy SE relies on a comprehensive database of known malware, adware and spyware programs and their numerous variants to find, disable and remove these bad actors from your computing environment. Once your environment is clean, XoftSpy SE keeps working to make sure your computer stays that way.

You control XoftSpy SE and how often your system is checked and cleaned. XoftSpy SE also works amicably with other spyware and malware removal programs to provide a blanket of protection over your computer. With XoftSpy SE, you can rest easier knowing that your computer, your surfing habits and your personal information will remain secure, even if you inadvertently visit a compromised Web site or download a malicious application.

Don’t rely on luck. Choose your anti-spyware software carefully. Look no farther than Spywareblockers.org for the real protection you need to surf safely.

Photo Credit: Marcos Papapopolus