Who is your computer talking to?

[Peppermint]

A bit more about the feature on BBC Watchdog.

Spyware is a little programme that loads onto your computer from pop ups.

Some of it tracks your usage and reports it to it's master.

Some of it dials very expensive premium rate numbers (usually 09**) without your permission and can cost you thousands.

Some of it redirects your whole internet access time through a premium number.

I downloaded a freeware programme called Adware from Downloads.com.
when I first ran it I'd got 80+ tracking and datamining bugs hiding in my hard drive.

Macafee virus scanner also finds the autodialing ones.

It's more of a problem for Dial up connections but if you have broadband and say a fax connection through a phone line it can happen to you.

Yes you are liable for the charges. Though if you contact ICSTUS I think thats the initials, they can tell you how to legally suspend payment.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Tom,

Try downloading Spybot search and destroy, it will let close a lot of the holes and delete the information returned by spyware.

Andavagoodweekend.



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day again Tom,

Take a look at

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://members.cowtown.net/beansoup/mylinks.htm>http://members.cowtown.net/beansoup/mylinks.htm</A>

for more interesting security information and downloads.

Andavagoodweekend.



<hr width=100% size=1> Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[LPW]

Here is the adware website:

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

I've been using it for ages, and unlike other bits of spyware removal software, it actually works!!!
Best of all, its free!!!!! That must be a first for a decent piece of software!

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[MainlySteam]

In case of any confusion and despite your claims to the contrary, Spybot works (have used both it and Adaware and I personally prefer Spybot) and it is also as free as Adaware.

John

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[ubuysa]

Now, now boys and girls, let's not get too exited about this. So called spyware are just cookies collecting data about what sites you visit and which pages you look at. It's used mostly for marketing purposes and the vast majority of it is harmless if a tad intrusive. You really don't need a spyware remover, all you need to do is manage your cookies. You can safely delete ALL cookies anytime you like, the worst that will happen is that you'll have to login to sites like this every time.

Another anoyance (and the subject of the Watchdog programme) are popups, again they're mostly harmless, though annoying, provided you never download anything offered by these popups. This is how the Watchdog users got infected, not via spyware. If you run Microsoft IE go to http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/default.jsp. This lets you manage your popups and cookies automatically. You can even delete all cookies automatically when you close the browser (as I do). It's more stabe than IE as well. Note that installing Netscape's browser doesn't prevent you using IE, you can use them both if you want.

To stay fairly safe you just need to do four simple things:

1. Get a good virus checker, keep it up to date and run it regularly (most let you setup a schedule).

2. Never open an email attachment unless you are absolutely certain you know who sent it.

3. Never download anything from a popup, or from any other website unless you know what it is you're downloading.

4. Take regular backups especially of your personal data (photographs, documents etec.). Appliactions can always be reinstalled, personal data cannot.

Tony Cross

<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.

 

[MainlySteam]

Sorry, Have been around too long to get excited. Some say that I don't suffer fools gladly though but I would not say that of myself.

Among other things Spybot claims (and lists) Trojans, Browser Hijackers, Keyloggers, etc that it identifies and removes. Whether it does or not I do not know - for me it has either worked and got rid of them or else I have never had any such intrusions that put it to the test. I am sure other applications claim the same.

So, perhaps you, as the apparant authority, would like to advise the Spybot people on our behalf that they make claims about their product's capabilities that are non existant and that a dump of cookies is just as effective. Please let me know the outcome so that I can join the class action should they have been stretching the truth a little.

Looking forward to your keen assistance on this.

John


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[Neraida]

It won't be able to make calls to premium numbers if you use broadband, ISP's are starting to offer it at the same monthly price as dial up anyway (with far less bandwidth, but more kbps than dial up).

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/postlist.pl?Cat=&Board=wanted>Stuff Wanted </A>

 

[DeeGee]

I think you are missing even more important than the virus checker - use windows update, preferably automatic. Viruses exploit the holes identified by the security updates - so keep updated.

You should have 'Windows Update' under your start button, depending on your OS.

<hr width=100% size=1>Black Sugar - the sweetest of all

 

[pandroid]

I'm not sure that Adware/Spybot is going to spot everything, including trojans that install themselves as bits of Windows. Certainly deleting cookies aint going to fix it all. One extra level of protection is to run something like Zonealarm, (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.zonelabs.com>http://www.zonelabs.com</A>) which genuinely detects false outgoing connections. Its all freeware.

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[MainlySteam]

Yes, I completely agree pandroid.

They are just one part of a wider strategy to avoid problems - DeeGee's comment on regularly updating Windows is also very relevant in my view.

I have computers on the internet almost all the time, and periodically leave a server running connected and unattended for my remote access over the internet for weeks at a time while we are away and have never had an intrusion or other noxious problem yet. And that even though clients with whom we are regularly exchanging mail and files periodically alert us they are having temporary problems themselves.

I have to say we do more to take care than just deleting cookies.

John

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[Benbow]

But have you looked at your server logs ? I bet you will see almost constant attempts to hack your system. Mostly totally brainless and mostly assuming a microsoft system (I run linux) but sobering nontheless.

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[Mirelle]

Thank heaven for that!

The thought of my PC dialing a premium number whilst my back was turned was worrying me!


























<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Mirelle]

Thank heaven for that!

The thought of my PC dialing a premium number whilst my back was turned was worrying me!


























<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[Peppermint]

Re: The only point I\'d make is

I never download anything from Pop ups. But I've had a couple of these dialers trying to get my modem going.

So hows that work then?

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[boatless]

Unless you also have a dial-up modem connected for fax/phone use. As I do!

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[boatless]

Zonealarm is good, but far better to use a NAT router if you're upgrading to adsl. I have Zonealarm, but no attempt at intrusion has ever got through the router.

ps If anyone is interested, I've been trying various AV products recently. BitDefender has won by some distance. fwiw

<hr width=100% size=1>my opinion is complete rubbish, probably.

 

[Neraida]

yes

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[david_e]

There is another forum, run equally as well as this one, where lots of experts are on hand to help. It also has a list of free downloads to tackle problems like these, visit it at; http://www.webuser.co.uk/cgi-bin/forums/wwwthreads.pl

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[ubuysa]

My word, you do have a short chain don't you? And where in my post did I claim to be the apparent authority??

Spybot I've never used, but Adware I have, and it never found anything other than cookies. Ever. Perhaps, as you say, that's because I've never had any other intrusions (I do run a firewall).

I agree that running Windows update and installing a firewall (like ZoneAlarm) are good suggestions, but I stand by my main points that basic management and simple common sense can prevent most problems of this type.

Tony Cross


<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.