In part II, we discussed web browsers and email. Now we'll delve into the world of spyware.
Anti-Spyware software
If you do much web surfing, you will most likely encounter some spyware. Spyware is a bit difficult to pin down exactly what all it does. In its most harmless state it allows websites to track your comings and goings through the use of cookies. More insidiously, it can log your keystrokes and mouse movements in order to get your logins and passwords. Some spyware can be installed as activeX objects downloaded from websites and installed via IE. Spyware is considered to be a threat almost equal to that of viruses. You can have the most obscure password ever conceived, but if a program is logging your keystrokes and then sending them back to some central repository, you are still just as vulnerable as if you had a simple password. There doesn't seem to be a single solution that covers all the varied ways spyware can be on your machine. Microsoft offers a beta of their anti-spyware offering, but again, you need XP. Unfortunately, it seems to be necessary to have a couple of solutions installed in order to be completely safe. Here are some options that I have tried:
- Spybot Search & Destroy - although I have seen this one crash after its been on a computer for a while. Not only that, but it has a downloadable database that you only get once unless you sign up for a subscription.
- HijackThis - I've tried it, but the main thing it seems to do is scan your registry and give you feedback on possible spyware entries.
- Ad-aware - Scans cookies, memory objects, and files for possible spyware. It doesn't have a scheduler or any sort of installed protection that would warn you about possible spyware being installed. It does have this option, but you have to pay for it.
- SpywareBlaster - This one doesn't scan for possible spyware. Instead, it has a downloadable database of known spyware sites and activeX controls. It installs protection to stop both IE and Firefox from acquiring spyware in the form of cookies, websites, activeX controls and even flash objects.
- BHODemon - It takes year another approach to spyware. It allows the user to control Browser Helper Objects. A good example of one is the Google Toolbar, which provides search capabilities and a popup blocker for IE. (A good choice as well.)
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