Spyware Blockers

Malware designers are clever and spend a great deal of their design time trying to figure out how to avoid detection. From the perspective of efficiency, designs that evade the most popular malware are going to be the most successful. Users, after all, tend to think that all malware protection is created equal, and once you have an anti-malware suite on your computer, you’re set for life.

Not so. Many thoughtful users run multiple malware protection programs on their computers. This strategic approach provides multiple layers of protection and increases the chances that a malware infection will be recognized and stopped by at least one of the resident anti-malware programs. Further, multiple malware programs that identify the same threat confirm the existence of malware on the host computer. Sometimes, discovering that you have a problem is half the battle.

XoftSpy SE Provides An Added Level Of Protection

XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org works well with other anti-malware and anti-virus programs. You don’t need to choose between malware protection products, and having a second (or even third) application that checks your computer regularly can help you spot and solve problems that clever malware designers hope you never find.

XoftSpy SE uses a database with nearly one-quarter million spyware and variant signatures to detect and disable or prevent malware from taking up residence on your computer. XoftSpy SE doesn’t interfere with any programs (other than malware) on your computer.

XoftSpy SE lets you choose how often your computer is scanned for noxious adware, spyware and malware that can put your computer, your private data, your family, or your employees at risk. The product is updated regularly, so you can be certain that your computer is protected against even the newest Trojans, keyloggers, worms, rootkits and other nasty, unauthorized software that may otherwise find itself on your computer.

XoftSpy SE runs quietly in the background, watching over your computer and preventing others from watching what you’re doing. With XoftSpy SE, your browsing is safe and secure, free from the prying eyes of third parties who are after your account information, passwords, credit card numbers, Social Security number and other valuable data you store on your computer.

XoftSpy SE also frees you from putting up with unwanted advertising streams for products you don’t want and didn’t ask for. It protects your family computer from malware that children may unknowingly download, too. Don’t take chances with your computer security. Even if malware protection is already on your computer, add a second layer of security with XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org.

Adware can be more than just an annoying nuisance. It can be difficult to get rid of, impossible to control and it can load your computer with unwanted, irrelevant and just plain offensive advertising. The loading cycle for the ads can slow the performance of your computer, and frequently, adware is accompanied by other malicious software that observes your browsing habits, reports your private information to third parties and occupies space on your computer that you didn’t authorize and don’t want to give up.

Where does adware come from and how does it get onto your computer? While some people liken adware to a virus, it’s technically not viral. You download Adware onto your computer. You may not know or understand that you’re loading this annoying software. It may be bundled with another software package that you like or want. Unfortunately, when you load the program you want, you also get the one you don’t want.

The information about adware may or may not be buried in user agreements or terms of service. You might pick up adware from visiting a compromised Web site, clicking on an advertisement or following a link that comes to you in an email from a friend. In the past, adware authors may have relied solely on their “product” to get you to download and install it. These days, many adware companies aren’t asking; adware is simply loaded onto your computer, whether you like it or not.

One such example of “bundled” adware is Messenger Plus! Live, an add-on software package that extends the function of Windows Live Messenger. The software allows users to customize their copy of Windows Live Messenger with sounds, colors and even self-programmed adjustments to the software. It also comes bundled with adware that serves up ad after ad after ad.

For the adult user, this advertising tsunami can be annoying and difficult to disable, but Messenger Plus! Live has a special appeal to teenage users. These users are bombarded with ads for credit cards, online gambling sites and other products that are normally reserved for adults.

If you have children in your home, or you work in an environment where children are present, you have to protect your computers from this kind of assault. Spywareblockers.org offers XoftSpy SE, an excellent anti-spyware, -malware and –adware program that can detect and remove existing infections and protect your computer from additional threats. You control the behavior of XoftSpy SE and the level of protection you get.

Photo Credit: Liewcf, via Flickr

If you like playing online games, (and many people do), you could be putting yourself in a position to pick up more than just a little entertainment online. Gaming sites are becoming a growth area for malware and other security threats. The newer threats are sophisticated and are designed to draw in unsuspecting users.

Gaming and Malware Make A Great Combination

The profile of the game threat falls neatly in line with historical malware/spyware/adware campaigns that attempted to get users to download free “utilities” that were nothing more than adware or malware clients. The new approach relies on people’s desire to get something “good” for little or no cost. Adware and other malware masquerades as a game client, and people willingly load this malicious software on their computers.

The malware can provide the authors with usernames, passwords, and virtual and real assets that reside on the victim’s computer. Malware game clients typically contain Trojan programming that is designed to identify and steal user information. They attract users to the game site using paid advertising like banner ads, or embedded links in blog comments, discussion boards and other user-generated content.

Don’t assume that only illegitimate games are the target of malware authors. Legitimate gaming portals, like World of Warcraft, are plum targets for malware creators. By getting a user’s WoW account information, hackers can steal game assets that a user has accumulated or created through gameplay. These assets are then sold to other gamers who are willing to pay real cash for the virtual assets. The theft happens quickly and once the virtual assets are gone, they’re gone.

On the surface, it may not seem like a big deal, but if you’ve put your own time, effort and money into playing the games, and pay for access to gaming sites, you don’t want to compromise your gaming accounts.

Effective malware protection is a requirement if you participate in online gaming. You need to protect your computer and your gaming accounts from malware that is designed to rob you of the assets you’ve built or acquired while playing the game. Save your reliance on luck for the game itself. Don’t rely on luck to keep your computer clean and safe. Use XoftSpy SE from Spywareblockers.org to detect, remove and prevent malware infections on your computer. XoftSpy SE can help you stay safe online in online gaming environments/ It can protect the assets you’ve built and preserve your enjoyment of the online games you play.

Photo Credit: NeoDaVe, via Flickr

If you think you can rely on Google to help you identify malware sites, you’re mistaken. Over the weekend, an unfortunate update to some of the company’s malware-tracking algorithms meant that all search results conducted for about an hour on Saturday morning were flagged with malware warnings. The mistake was a human error and was corrected within an hour, but the exercise underlines the importance of having independent malware protection on your computer.

First, human error was indeed responsible for the unfortunate incident. In this case, the error was relatively easy to correct. Google’s explanation of the mishap sheds some light on how the company identifies malware sites. Basically, Google uses a combination of software and human observation to locate likely malware sites.

Flagging And Blacklisting Sites Won’t Offer Malware Protection

Flagging and blacklisting malware sites aren’t the answers, though. Malware can come from anywhere; frequently it comes from legitimate sites that have been compromised. No one sets up a malware site with an eye toward the future. The goal in malware is “here today, gone tomorrow.” This approach helps the malware distributors stay ahead of companies like Google that rely – even in part – on blacklisting.

Adequate malware protection needs to be much better than this. Preventing visits to malware sites is only one portion of what malware protection has to do. Discovering malware that’s already loaded on the computer is key. Disabling keyloggers, spyware, adware and other malware is also important. Cleaning up the mess that these nasty applications leave behind is critical, and so is making sure that these programs don’t get reloaded.

XoftSpy SE does all of this, relying on proven effective technology to locate, disable and remove a wide variety of existing malware, and identify threats before they can do damage to your computer. XoftSpy SE can also detect malware that has been “seeded” into legitimate programs, and identify legitimate programs that perform functions that pose a security risk to your computer.

XoftSpy SE from SpywareBlockers.org helps you maintain a safe, clean computing environment. It improves the performance of your computer and prevents malware from doing damage to your system, or using your computer without your consent. Your personal information will stay safe with XoftSpy SE. XoftSpy SE uses a database of nearly one-quarter million known spyware, adware and malware applications and their variants to identify new malware threats and protect you against known ones.

Maintaining a clean computer requires multiple approaches to security. Anti-spyware software like XoftSpy SE should be part of your security plan.

Photo Credit: Lachlan Hardy

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed Wednesday, January 28 2009 California Data Privacy Day. The move is designed to draw attention to California’s Office of Privacy Protection (COPP), the first such state governmental office in the nation, and to raise awareness about adware, spyware and malicious software.

The COPP was created to help consumers deal with the flood of spyware, adware and malicious software making the rounds today. One of the office’s resources is a downloadable informational presentation that provides information about the importance of using firewalls, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and patching computer operating systems and applications to prevent becoming a target of a malicious attack.

The creation of yet another state bureaucracy doesn’t seem to warrant a second look, but this is an extremely significant event. Why? It is recognition on a state level that computer security and data privacy are worth protecting, and also that they are in danger. What’s more notable is that the State of California, the most populus state in the country, is leading the way.

Malicious software, like spyware and adware, has risen to the level of public policy. The threat that spyware poses is real. The consequences are borne by a growing number of citizens who are turning to their state governments for help.

What’s at stake?

We’re dealing with more than just an annoyance. We’re dealing with identity theft. That property is being misappropriated and misused by people both inside and outside of the US for their own personal gain. In the mean time, innocent victims are left to clean up the mess, which can take months.

Once a thief has your identity, he may also have access to your bank and credit accounts, online accounts you may have with merchants, accounts you may use for work or school. A thief can gain access to your computer and use it without your knowledge or consent to attack other computers, send spam, or attempt to trick your friends and acquaintances into falling victim as well.

Adware, spyware and malware are much, much more than simple nuisances. They need to be discovered and removed before they damage your computer, your identity and your security.

If you’re not using anti-spyware software on your computer, there’s a good chance that your computer is already infected. Everything you do, everything you type into your computer, and every Web site you visit may be tracked. Your most sensitive information may be recorded and used against you. Is that really what you want?

Photo Credit: Ric e Ette