If you have Norton Anti Virus, do you have reason to have 100% peace of mind? I know I worry constantly about computer viruses. I know too many people and more than one company who have lost one or more computers to a bad and incurable virus. I worried so much, in fact, that I have done a great deal of research on anti virus software, how it works, and whether or not the major providers like Norton Anti Virus give me reason to rest easy when it comes to the threat of viruses to my hard drive and privacy.

What is important when you talk about anti virus software, whether it be a big company like Norton Anti Virus or not, is for you to know how they work. As you likely are aware, computer viruses can come from any number of places, but are usually brought into your computer via either an email attachment or going to a website with an infected server. Either way, getting a virus on your computer can spell doom for your hard drive. So how does the software from companies like Norton Anti Virus work? You may not be quite so confident in your computer’s safety once you find out. Bare in mind, though, that currently this is the best way we have of combating viruses.

For example, Norton Anti Virus, which is owned by Symantec, is widely considered to be the best anti virus software available for home users. Basically, the software is working off of a list of known viruses and it is watching for them while you work on your computer. It scans each and every file that you download, intentionally or not, and then checks it against a list of viruses. If it finds one, it goes to work repairing the file, quarantining the file, or deleting it. However, even with Norton Anti Virus, you are not 100% safe from virus infestation. You see, the list of viruses the company has is based on ones they find on their own, or users like you send them after they have been infected. So, there is always a chance that you will get a virus and be the first one to be infected by it. You will have no idea about the virus until something is wrong with your computer and you report it to Norton Anti Virus. They will then, likely, have you send them the suspected file so they
The truth is that Norton Anti Virus is not perfect, in fact no anti virus software is.

Because of the constantly changing nature of viruses and the creativity of those who make them, there will likely never be a best answer to the problem. No, you can not rest with 100% peace just because you have Norton Anti Virus on your computer with all of the updates. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it, just that you still need to be careful. Be aware of what files you are downloading, what attachments you are opening, and even from whom emails you look at are sent. Keep your anti virus software [http://www.newyorksocialist.com/category/computing-news/] up to date and use precautions and you will give yourself the best chance of surviving the virus storm on the internet.

If you would like to find more of my personal articles on computer software [http://www.nanortonantivirustips.info] please check out my technology website [http://www.navnortonantivirustips.info]!

There are more than forty mobile phone viruses and threats that have been reported. Apparently, these viruses can badly damage your phone and can cause it to be of no use at all. Therefore, getting an anti-virus is vital to keep your mobile running well and efficient.

Zebra Virus Cleaner
One of the most effective anti-viruses that you can implement on your mobile phone is the Zebra Virus Cleaner for Symbian OS Smart Phone. This is a dependable anti-virus software that can protect your mobile from being assaulted by malevolent programs. Zebra Virus Cleaner can identify and clean rootkits, Lasco, Cabir, Skulls, plus nearly a thousand of viruses including Trojans and worms from your smart phone. It also provides security for all your personal files and information. Zebra Virus Cleaner scans quickly and gets rid of viruses completely in real time, easy to adopt and has a friendly feature. The users can set the time to scan and update automatically.

The Kaspersky Anti-Virus
With the growing recognition of smart phones and communicators, your phones may not be safe from malicious programs that were increasing both in numbers and variety. The Kaspersky Anti-Virus is the appropriate and reliable solution that will keep your mobile phones from such programs that affect the mobile platforms. It was developed and combined the latest technology of the Kasperky Lab technologies, experts in the antivirus field. Their solution offers competent armor for your smart phone and personal files.

Commander Mobile Anti-Virus
One of the most effective defends against mobile phones harmful content, unwanted messages and malfunctioning applications is the Commander Mobile Anti-Virus. With this anti-virus, you can scan both the principal memory and memory cards, thus providing an absolute and prompt protection. It can detect viruses such as Cabir and thoroughly remove them from the system. All files are automatically inspected when they are copied, synchronized, modified, saved, or downloaded. This will definitely put off corruption of your mobile phone files.

F-Secure Mobile Anti-virus
F-Secure Mobile Anti-virus is uncomplicated to adopt and does not need excess device resources or pointless user interaction. By design, it examines all files both in the device and on the memory cards. When a corrupted file is found, it is directly isolated to protect all the other data in the system. When the data connection is applied for emails and web browsing, the anti-virus database is updated unnoticeable in the background. F-Secure anti-virus also safeguards mobile computing by bringing together an integrated anti-virus and firewall. This platform makes available a remedy and automated security thru real time. The F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus scans both the incoming and outgoing internet packets to thwart malicious, unsafe, or possibly destructive packets. F-Secure is also uncomplicated to apply.

These mobile software anti-viruses help us to stay composed and prepared for the attacks of malicious programs that can virtually impair the system of our phones. The defenses that they build into the network layer are the most valuable system of protection. In selecting mobile antivirus solution, look for the one that supports your device as well as its operating system. Also, the anti-virus software should be trouble-free to use, has over the air updates and a real time virus scanning and should scan all attachments for viruses. Although anti-viruses may significantly decelerate your mobile phone but it is beyond doubt the best protection.

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Virus has been a great threat to internet users. Protecting yourself from this destructive program is a basic necessity for internet users even if you are just checking your e-mail.

You cannot avoid viruses because sooner or later you will have one. What’s important is that have the knowledge about viruses and how to use Anti Virus protection. You can take precautionary measures to protect your computer. Also, you will know what to do if your computer got infected with a virus. Allow me to give you some advice about having Anti Virus Protection.

Educate yourself about Viruses.

Having basic knowledge about viruses would help you in easily solving the problems brought about by a virus. This way you know the ways you can get a virus, signs of having a virus, different types of viruses, what it does to your computer and how it can damage your files.

Be careful when online.

They say that prevention is better than cure. Although, the chances of getting a virus is very high, it is still suggested that you are careful when surfing websites, downloading files from email or web and installing programs. Some programs may look very attractive but they can be dangerous to your computer. Taking precautionary measures will result into minimal chances of your computer being infected with a Virus.

Make a smart decision.

There are Anti Virus softwares which you can download for free such as AVG, Panda etc. But there are also some which you need to buy before you can use them. Compare their advantages and disadvantages. You may be getting a free anti virus protection but it does not satisfy your needs. Or you may decide purchasing one but you are on a tight budget. Think of what you need from an anti virus protection, get information on the prospect software, make a comparison and then decide which one to download or purchase.

Know your Anti Virus Protection.

Once you have installed an Anti Virus program, ensure that you know the basic information regarding the software. Read the manual or user guide as a starter. Then use the internet to look for other helpful information about the anti virus protection. Furthermore, you can seek assistance from the Customer Service of the software provider if available.

Regularly Perform Virus Scan.

Depending on your anti virus settings, you can do a quick scan everyday just to ensure that your computer is clean from any viruses. A full scan is not recommended as an everyday online habit specifically if you do a lot of things when online. A full scan is very slow because it will check all the files on your computer. While a quick scan will just check the important sectors on your computer.

Always update your Anti Virus Protection.

Everyday, a new virus is being introduced. Thus, it is important that your anti virus software is updated so that it can detect and repair the newest virus. Some anti virus programs have automatic update functionality. This means that every time you have internet connection, your anti virus program will be updated. But if yours does not have that setting, then you may need to run an update regularly.

There is no need to worry too much about viruses because there are just some things you need to know and do to ensure that your computer is safe and secure. Have enough knowledge about viruses and anti virus protection to have a safer online experience.

Dave Poon is an accomplished writer who specializes in the latest in Internet Safety. For more information regarding Anti Virus Protection [http://www.bye-bye-spam.com/anti_virus_protection.php] please drop by at [http://www.bye-bye-spam.com/]

Spyware – this is one of the biggest threats to security and privacy in the internet today. Spyware intrude, break and enter our computers and pose a great threat especially with more malicious spywares. Leaving a home or business computer unprotected from spyware is just like leaving the front door open to intruders. The internet was not designed with security checks in place, that is why spywares have spread unchecked and now pose a big threat to the security and privacy of millions of internet users all over the world. Roughly 90% of computers today are infected or are vulnerable to spyware. It is more important more than ever to make sure spyware protection is in place in the form of spyware removers.

To combat spyware, it is important to understand what a spyware is. The term spyware covers a wide variety of malicious software that is designed to intercept or take partial control of the operation of a computer without the informed consent of the owner or user. The term spyware implies software that stealthily keeps an eye on the user; however, it has come to refer to software that undermines a computer’s operation without the owner or user knowing it. Spyware, adware and other malware will exploit the vulnerability of a computer usually for commercial purposes.

Spyware programs embed themselves into the computer and monitor the user’s internet browsing activities, spy on confidential information such as credit card info, send annoying pop-up advertisements and slow down your computer’s performance. Other consequences of spyware infestation include hijacked browsers resulting to reset home pages, changed search results, spam emails, toolbars added to the browser without consent and many more. In such cases, a spyware remover is necessary to clean up the system from all spyware programs and hidden malware.

A spyware remover is a necessary and worthwhile investment to keep any computer system free from spyware programs that could wreak havoc in it. Every computer must be well equipped to combat spyware and its effects. As the threat of spyware worsens, there is a variety of techniques available to counteract it. Spyware removers and other anti-spyware programs are available that help stem the threat of spywares. These spyware removers are designed to remove or block spyware. There are a number of spyware removers available, some are free while others require payment.

Some of the most popular spyware removers include Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware SE and Spybot – Search and Destroy. These spyware removers are effective tools for removing and intercepting spyware programs. Microsoft has also offered its own spyware remover dubbed Windows AntiSpyware Beta, which is currently released as a free download for users of Windows XP, Windows 2000 and 2003. Anti-virus firms have also introduced spyware remover functions in their respective products.

There are two ways in which a spyware remover can combat spyware. Real time protection prevents spyware from being installed. Scanning and removal inspects the contents of the computer’s files and removes files and entries, which match a list of known spywares. Most spyware removers today combine the two approaches. Spyware remover, just like anti-virus software require regular updates of its database of threats as new spyware programs are released all the time. The best spyware program protects the computer from any intrusive spyware and prevents it from being installed as well as keeps the system free from any trace of spyware programs.

For more information about spyware and security software, click on Security Software.

You are at your computer, checking out software on EBay. The computer is really sluggish, and you are not running anything else. You click on a link, and BLAM you are redirected to a search page you’ve never heard of and the “back” button won’t work.

You’ve got Spyware! Just what is “Spyware?” The word brings to mind exploding pens and shoe phones. In fact, software makers have struggled to define what spyware is, and is not.

The Anti-Spyware Coalition, a group of companies that include EarthLink, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard, have recently published a document that defines spyware as such: “Spyware impairs users control over material changes that affect their user experience, privacy or system security; use of their system resources, including what programs are installed on their computers; or collection, use and distribution of their personal or otherwise sensitive information”

In simpler terms, spyware “spies” the software on your computer, personal information, what web pages you look at, and in some cases, usernames and passwords. Ugh.

The first spyware distribution was in 1999, and is attributed to a popular freeware program called “Elf Bowling.” Many users found to their dismay that this “harmless game,” was sending information to the creators, Nsoft. This spawned the first anti-spyware program in the year 2000.

Now, both spyware and anti-spyware programs are too numerous to count.

There are several types of software that fall under the generic description of spyware. Let’s look at a few, and what they do.

Adware – adware is an application that displays advertising banners. The reason this is criticized is that it can send information back to the company, who then “targets” you with specific banners based on the web pages you’ve opened. This is different from clicking on a banner for more information. This program sneaks in the “back door,” not “advertising” its presence. Please note that the word “AdWare” is a trademark of AdWare Systems, an honest software company. They are not a part of adware, just share the unfortunate name.

Key loggers are just that. They collect the keystrokes you make, like logging into your bank account, and send it to the hacker. Now he has your account number, user name, and password.

Hijackers and Toolbars are another form of spyware. Hijackers take over your browser, opening pages you don’t want, and preventing you from opening ones you need – like a site that tells you how to get rid of them. Toolbars are the same sort of thing. Now, you may want to have a toolbar like Yahoo or Google on your browser. They can make searches easier, and may have popup or ad blockers. The malware forms of these try to look like them, but they have completely different motives.

Malware is a generic term for “malicious” software. These programs don’t just collect information; they are out to get your computer. Technically, these are not spyware, but a brief explanation seems to be in order. Malware spreads itself through the computer, changing files, making copies to send, even erasing the hard drive. Virus’ and worms are a part of this group.

Other malware programs are “Trojan Horse, or Backdoor.” These hide quietly in your computer until you connect to the internet. Then they creep around your browser, “reporting in” to the owner, who then uses your computer “address” to send out virus’s, malware, and spam. Some hackers link several computers to send so much nonsense information to a particular web site that it is overwhelmed, causing it to shut down.

How does spyware end up on your computer? You’re not going to like this . . . but most likely you loaded it on yourself! Wait! Before we get nasty letters, let us explain. Remember those “smileys” you downloaded last week? How about the cute cursor the nine year old picked? Most of these “free” programs have spyware attached, or imbedded in them. Even Adobe Reader loads a “Yahoo search bar” when you update the reader.

Remember when you installed the program and that gray box popped up with a thousand lines of small print? Did you read it? I doubt anyone does. The spyware distributor counts on that. If you do manage to slog through the legalese, and stuff only advanced programmers would know (or care about), there will be a few innocuous lines, something along the lines of: “this program will collect information to better your enjoyment of this program,” or “a web search toolbar will be added to your browser.” When you click on the “accept” button to install the software, you have also agreed to the spyware program.

Another way is when a box pops up claiming to be legitimate software needed to view the site properly, or that it is an update. It only has a “yes” button, implying that you are required to allow the download. These are copying legitimate updates from places like Microsoft, or Macromedia.

Just what is spyware going to do to your computer? Anything you can do, he can do better. It is an executable that can record keystrokes, read your files, watch your word processing program, change your home page, add and delete files, read your cookies (with personal info), then “phone home” with the info. Some spyware will crash your browser if you try to uninstall it. Others may “pretend” to be uninstalled, but they wait until your back is turned to load itself back on your system.

You don’t know how the stuff was loaded on your computer, but it is causing all kinds of problems. The computer is running slower, certain programs are not working, and on occasion, you see the dreaded “blue screen of death.” (crash). Don’t worry, you are not alone According to an October 2004 study by America Online and the National Cyber-Security Alliance, 80% of surveyed users’ computers had some form of spyware, with an average of 93 spyware components per computer. 89% of surveyed users with spyware reported that they did not know of its presence, and 95% reported that they had not given permission for it to be installed.

Now what do you do? There are several good “spyware removal” programs out there. But be warned! There are also a number of programs that claim to be anti-spyware that do not work, or worse add more spyware to your system! A good resource for “suspect” spyware is the list at:
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm They have a list of over 200 programs that claim to take care of spyware, but may not do what they claim.

Once you get your computer “clean,” how do you avoid getting “dirty” again? There are firewalls and programs designed to watch for known spyware. When you register, the “known spyware” definitions can be updated on a regular basis.

You could use a browser other than Internet Explorer (most spyware exploits problems here). This writer loves Mozilla Firefox – it’s free at http://www.mozilla.org

Our lawmakers are doing their best to stem the tide of spyware/malware. For example, in Washington State, USA, it is illegal for anyone other than the owner/operator of a computer to install software that alters web browser settings, monitors keystrokes, or disables computer security software.

The Gibson Research Corporation, [http://www.grc.com], has several free fixes to “plug holes” in Internet Explorer’s security.

There is hope. In 2005, NY Attorney General Eliot Spitzer brought suit against Intermix Media, Inc. Intermix’s spyware program spread by drive-by download (loaded without permission), and installed itself in such a way it was very difficult to remove. Intermix settled for $7.5 million dollars.

Spyware is here to stay. Your best bet is to be informed – know the tricks used by spyware to load itself. Use a firewall or spyware blocker program. Most important, understand exactly what that new program will install on your innocent computer.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mike Christy is the owner of http://www.spywarecenter.info which is a free information site providing the latest Spyware news and instructions on how to remove Spyware from your computer.

What is Spyware

If your computer runs slower than normal, or you are constantly bombarded with popup ads, then your system probably has spyware installed. Spyware is a software that runs on your computer, and can do many types of things. Spyware can come in the form of a tracking cookie that informs its creator of which websites that you visit, or it can be a software that gets installed that serves popup ads to your computer to try to get you to visit other websites. Spyware can also be a software that gets installed to keep track of your keystrokes, which is called a keylogger. A keylogger is able to monitor every keystroke on your keyboard, and yes, this does mean that it can get your password to log into your bank account or other critical data. No matter what the spyware’s purpose really is, the bottom line is that at the very least it will cause you countless hours of frustration and slow downs on your computer, but more than likely it’s purpose is to sucker you into purchasing things that you don’t need, or stealing financial data from you.

How Did I Get Spyware

Spyware can come to you by many different ways. It can come in the form of a tracking cookie simply by visiting a simple website. Most cookies are perfectly safe, and are not spyware. The most common way to receive spyware is by clicking on a popup ad that is telling you that you have spyware and that you must click their link to get rid of it. When you click this link, it can be maliciously installing spyware onto your computer. Another way to receive spyware is by visiting a site that installs an activeX control onto your machine automatically and without your knowledge. You can also pick up spyware and viruses if you download programs through Peer to Peer (P2P) software or file sharing networks if someone has altered those programs to be packaged with spyware. Another method that is becoming more common is that people are writing programs that say that they are for blocking popup ads or for blocking and removing spyware, and not known to you is that they are really installing more spyware. Popup blocker programs are a great tool, but just make sure that the software is from a reputable company. No matter where the spyware comes from, the most important thing is to be sure to get rid of it.

How Do I Remove Spyware

There are many different programs that you can buy that can detect and remove spyware. Norton Antivirus, PestPatrol, SpyCop, and SpySweeper are some of the best ones on the market. There are also some spyware removers that are free, but they are not up to date, and they will not get rid of all of your spyware. Some of the free spyware removers will even actually install more spyware on your computer.

Once you have the spyware remover software, run a complete scan on your system. The programs will be able to locate and delete most instances of spyware that is on your system. Sometimes the software will have parts of the program that are in use at the time of the scan, and they will require a reboot in order to remove the files from memory, and then another complete scan should be run to clean up any remaining files. You should also empty the recycle bin to delete any traces of the spyware that you may have deleted into the recycle bin so that the future scans will not pick up these files as well. If you are on a computer that has multiple profiles, you may have multiple “recycler” files in which you must remove files from.

What If The Spyware Won’t Go Away

Sometimes spyware is a little more difficult to get rid of. These types will require special attention. After a spyware scan, write down the names of all of the spyware that just will not go away. Go to a reputable site like PestPatrol or Symantec and look up the spyware to find the manual removal instructions. Sometimes the removal instructions will require you to boot your computer into safe mode so that only required system resources start up with the computer, which may enable you to remove the spyware programs that will not remove with a normal scan because those spyware files were in use during a normal boot up.

The manual removal instructions may also include other items like manual deletion of files, manual changing or deletion of registry keys, or un-registering system dll (dynamic link library) files.

How Do I Register or Un-Register A System DLL File

To un-register a dll file you need to click on the Start button. Then click Run. Type regsvr32 -u (ie: regsvr32 -u C:WINDOWSsystem32xceedzip.dll)

To register a dll file you need to click on the Start button. Then click Run. regsvr32 (ie: regsvr32 C:WINDOWSsystem32xceedzip.dll)

Finnishing Up

Once you finnish with the manual instructions you should reboot your computer, and run another complete system spyware scan. Once you have finally performed a complete system spyware scan and no spyware was found, then you will probably want to perform some preventative maintenance on your comptuer to help to restore your system to the full speeds that you had before the spyware intrusion.

How Can I Prevent Myself From Getting Spyware

Do not click on popup advertisements. Never download anything that you are not sure of. Do not click on links in an email that is not from a known trusted source. Perform regular spyware and virus scans on a weekly basis or whatever time frame works best for you. Warn other users of your computer of these same preventative measures, and your computer will provide you with years of fun and useful experiences.

Mike Mendenhall is the CEO of Simplified Office Solutions, Inc.
info@simplifiedofficesolutions.com

http://www.simplifiedofficesolutions.com/

“Spyware” is no longer simply a nuisance to enterprises. It is estimated that 90% of desktop PCs are infected with some form of “Spyware” (Source : US National Cyber Security Alliance). According to Gartner between 20 and 40% of enterprise helpdesk calls are now related to unwanted “Spyware” programs.

There are different classes or types of “Spyware”. These are summarised below.
· Tracking Cookies. Cookies are text files saved by the browser that allow tracking of user activity on a website. Users typically allow cookies as some sites won’t work without them or they are useful in that they store information about personal preferences, IP addresses, login information, user options and date and time stamp of the last time the site was visited. Cookies may also contain any information provided by a user during a particular visit – including any personal information provided in the course of completing forms. Cookies are at the most benign end of the “Spyware” spectrum.

· Adware. This form of “Spyware” is responsible for generating the by now familiar pop-up, pop-under, banner, floating and animated advertising seen whilst surfing the web. Adware typically uses advanced scripting that manipulates the browser by exploiting flaws in Java, ActiveX, the operating system and the browser itself. Adware may collect information for cookies and report information directly to sites on the Internet. On clicking-through ads additional cookies or utilities may be installed silently. Some adware makes changes to browser settings – resetting the homepage for example – or to the user system (including Windows registry changes). Often clicking on ‘No’ or ‘Cancel’ buttons within the advert result in the same code executing as if the user had clicked on ‘Yes’ or ‘OK’. Adware is the greyest area of “Spyware” – some Adware certainly should be considered as malicious ‘malware’.

· Scumware. Scumware modifies the contents of a web page adding hypertext links and alternative text. Scumware can also position competitive ads over the originals. Scumware can also install hidden or background processes and services and should therefore be considered as malware.

· Malware. Originally malware referred to viruses, worms and Trojan horses. The term also applies to the more disruptive forms of “Spyware”. Such programs might enable third parties to take control of microphones and web cams installed on a particular client, make changes to browser and systems settings, launch Web activity even when all browser sessions are shut down, install hidden or background processes and services. Keyloggers fall into this category. Malware is the most damaging of all types of “Spyware” from a risk perspective. It should be noted that this form of “Spyware” is increasingly being spread through Instant Messaging applications.

1.1 Different Variants, Different Risks
The different types of “Spyware” present different risks to enterprises. Cookies raise privacy concerns but are relatively low risk.

Adware can begin to impact heavily on productivity. Orthus are aware of several instances where close to 200 different pieces of Adware were present on a single client degrading performance to the point where the client was unusable. In addition to user productivity, productivity is affected through increased help desk calls and the time spent by help desk staff in cleaning up or re-building infected machines – which in turn further impacts user productivity whilst the infected machines are unavailable.

The risk of data leakage – of both personal and corporate information – is a very real threat with the most malicious type of “Spyware”.

Mitigating the Risk
The main technologies available to mitigate against the risks associated with “Spyware” within the enterprise environment are discussed below.

Mitigation techniques are two-tiered or two-part – at the gateway and at the desktop level.

Desktop Protection
At the desktop or client there are notably three technologies available to mitigate against the risks posed by “Spyware”. These are personal firewalls, dedicated anti-spyware programs, and traditional desktop anti-virus (AV) tools.

AV
In some respects forms of “Spyware” strongly resemble viruses. They are uniquely identifiable, can be detected by scanning the client machine and are sometimes packaged as a set of files that can be removed to clean up the infected system. However many forms of “Spyware” do not reside on disk as persistent files – such as hostile ActiveX and Java applets. The motives, delivery mechanisms and often the removal of “Spyware” is different however from the protocols followed for viruses and worms.

“Spyware” is also different in that there is no one definition agreed on what constitutes “Spyware”. Some programs that might be classed as “Spyware” – such as Microsoft’s Windows Update Notifications – are useful, disclose their tracking capabilities, do not disrupt desktop operation impacting user productivity, and are distributed by responsible companies. “Spyware” therefore needs to be classified and identified by the actions it performs and the level of risk – complicating detection and removal, as the users must be given a choice over what is permitted.
AV vendors – notably Trend Micro, McAfee and Symantec – already have software that is very good at scanning files before they execute. The software also has mature enterprise management suites and the vendors have support teams in place to handle enterprise customers’ needs.

Independent reviews and tests show repeatedly that AV tools are not as good at catching “Spyware” as dedicated anti-spyware programs. Whilst AV tools may detect 99% of viruses this number falls considerably to perhaps 70% – when considering “Spyware” programs.

Using the next releases of desktop AV tools to protect desktops against “Spyware” is extremely attractive to enterprises. There is no need to deploy yet another software agent on every machine within the desktop population, there is no need to monitor yet another ‘console’. AV already incorporates the management features that enterprises require – such as ‘headless operation’ and centralised reporting. Enterprises achieve greater consistency with standardisation on a smaller number of vendors, leading ultimately to cost efficiencies.

Dedicated Anti-Spyware Programs
There is an ever-increasing list of dedicated anti-spyware programs available from vendors including Ad-Aware from LavaSoft which is the most popular product with some 128 million downloads to date. Other notable products include SpyBot Search and Destroy, CounterSpy and Spyware Eliminator. Microsoft has also entered the market with Windows Antispyware following their acquisition of Giant Company Software.

Whilst dedicated anti-spyware programs are more effective today at detecting and removing Spyware than AV products this will change over the forthcoming quarters. Most of the dedicated anti-spyware offerings are available as free downloads aimed at consumers / individual users and not at large enterprises. Site licensing is rarely available for example. Some of the emerging vendors have enterprise offerings on their roadmaps. However these companies are small, lack corporate / financial stability in some cases, and typically do not have the support teams and infrastructure in place to handle large enterprise customers.

Orthus are of the view that many standalone dedicated anti-spyware programs will cease to exist in the relatively near future and the dedicated anti-spyware market will not be significant in years to come as established vendors offer integrated AV/anti-spyware/personal firewall products.

Personal Firewalls
Just as AV tools now include some “Spyware” protection so many of the personal firewalls available offer a level of protection as well. These include McAfee, Check Point and Internet Security Systems (ISS) with the release of Proventia Desktop in March 2005. Sygate is following a similar path to Check Point and ISS.

Personal firewalls are recommended for particularly mobile clients that are regularly taken outside of the corporate perimeter and used to access corporate systems from DSL connections in the home and public WLAN hotspots, where typically direct Internet access is also allowed. They are also recommended for fixed desktop and mobile clients in smaller locations where there is little or no gateway level protection in place and where again direct Internet access is available from those locations.

Gateway Protection
Desktop protection is only half of the story when it comes to “Spyware” protection. Gateway level protection is also available.

Blue Coat offer a range of proxy appliances that, in conjunction with popular URL filtering solutions, offer a strong defence against “Spyware”. “Spyware” often secretly installs via “drive-by” installers, which install “Spyware” in the background without any user interaction. Blue Coat combats this with anti-spyware policy controls that inspect, filter and block web content associated with “Spyware” installation software. This preventive approach is critical when “Spyware” originates from an unknown web site – not yet categorised within URL filtering solutions – and when there is no known signature available to detect the malicious program.

Gateway protection incorporating a strong URL filtering solution is particularly good in preventing programs on infected systems from sending information back to “Spyware” sites, mitigating against the productivity impact of Adware but also the more serious privacy and data leakage concerns associated with more malicious code. URL filtering solutions also offer some protection from infection in the first place by preventing users from visiting known infected sites.

Gateway solutions typically incorporate logging and reporting features that can be used to identify infected systems thus facilitating a targeted “Spyware” clean-up periodically. This capability is also useful to target mobile clients (notebook PCs) that are not protected with Personal Firewalls that become infected whilst outside the corporate perimeter.

Recommendations
In light of the above Orthus suggest that enterprises take the following approach to mitigating the risks posed by “Spyware” today :

* deploy gateway “Spyware” protection to prevent back-channel communication by infected systems augmented with a leading URL filtering solution.

* use granular reporting capabilities from gateway solutions to identify infected systems and choose a dedicated anti-spyware tool to clean-up infected systems on a case-by-case / ad hoc basis.

* do not deploy dedicated anti-spyware programs across the desktop population – instead wait for AV vendors to add strong anti-spyware capabilities in future releases.

* force remote office branch office based systems to access the Internet via the corporate gateway (where gateway anti-spyware protection exists).

* for remote and mobile clients, in addition to AV, install a recognised personal firewall to increase protection.

Penny Reyes is an analyst at Orthus limited (http://www.orthus.com). Orthus is a leading provider of information risk professional services, helping orgnisations globally to measure, minimise and manage the information risks they face. Orthus provide end to end services for clients to comprehensivly address risk in their environments including Insider Threats, addressing issues including data leakage, sabotage and fraud; External Threats (http://www.orthus.com/dr_overview.htm) including wireless security, penetration testing, virtualisation security, vulnerability management and Secure Software Development Life-Cycle; Supply Chain Threats including securing cloud services and data processed by third parties; and Legal and Regulatory challenges including Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (DSS).

Is your computer chugging along with a much reduced speed, and is it getting very difficult for you to log on to your favorite web page? Is your computer hard disk producing a lot of unnecessary noise that appears strange to you while running? If the answers are Yes to these questions, then you are probably the unfortunate victim of spyware infection!

Being infected by spyware can be a disaster because the performance of your computer is greatly reduced. Worst, spyware can include keyloggers, adware, trojans, browser hijackers, malware, adware and viruses.

In this article I will explain some of the most important factors you must consider when choosing an anti spyware software or a spyware removal software and the effectiveness of using free anti spyware removal programs available on the internet.

Free Anti Spyware versus Paid Anti Spyware Programs

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First, can I rely on a free anti spyware or a free adware remover software?

There are two main free spyware remover software available widely on the internet. One is a spybot that can identify spyware, and the other is an adware remover. They are pretty good in capturing most spyware that are commonly found on the internet. Note that I mention “most spyware”, not ALL the spyware. In fact, to prove this to myself, I performed an experiment.

When my computer showed signs of distress, and started to produce a lot of weird noises from the hard disk, I knew I have had some form of spyware lodged in my computer. I ran the first spybot anti spyware and that removed several spyware, some tracking cookies, a trojan and an attempt at a possible browser hijacking.

In order to determine whether all the spyware were removed, I ran the second free software program which was an adware removal software. I was not surprised to see that there were more undiscovered spyware and even a registry key modification performed without my knowledge.

Next I ran the third anti spyware which was a paid anti spyware software.This paid software captured another three more spyware which consisted of tracking cookies and a trojan left unidentified after running the two most popular free anti spyware program on the internet.

This simple experiment showed that the free spybot spyware remover and the free adware remover failed to completely remove all the common spyware. In my estimation, the two free anti spyware programs could identify and remove around 70% of the common spyware and adware when used one after the other, whereas a paid anti spyware program had to be run to ensure complete removal of all the spyware and adware.

Superior Features of Paid Anti Spyware Programs

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What separates a paid anti spyware program from a free spyware detector and removal program? The most important difference is that of the identification and removal algorithms and the constant updates to the anti spyware definitions that you can get from the paid anti spyware programs. Most Paid solutions post updates, almost daily, of the newly discovered spyware released into the internet to ensure their software is always up to date and effective against newly discovered spyware, keyloggers, malware, tojans and browser hijacking attempts.

You also get better support services from these paid spyware suppliers. An anti spyware software is of no use to you if you encounter a technical issue and you cannot get technical support readily to provide you with help on your problem.

Thirdly, when looking for a paid solution, you will also look at their customer service. This can be easily checked by looking at the comments and reviews of other users of the anti spyware program. A paid software company that provides superior customer service suggests that the company is serious about its reputation and its business, and will not be folding up their business anytime leaving you without any updates or customer service. In contrast, I have known of many freeware that are released without technical and customer support.

Unless your computer security, confidentiality and privacy is of no serious concern to you, you will need an anti spyware software that possesses a superior algorithm to identify and remove all the malware that lodges on your computer online. Having a paid anti spyware that updates frequently with superior technical and customer support will provide you with peace of mind that your computer is secured against malware, spyware, keyloggers, browser hijacking and also identify theft.

Be sure to read Part 2 of this article where I’ll show you the best anti spyware program to protect your computer against malicious spyware activity and how you can uncover hidden malware in your computer instantly.
Click Here For Part #2 [http://1anti-spyware.blogspot.com] or visit [http://1anti-spyware.blogspot.com]