Symptoms of spyware

Below are just a few symptoms that may reveal that you have spyware operating on your computer.

Sluggish computer: If you've noticed that your PC has had a serious drop in its responsiveness lately, it could mean that spyware is draining its computing power.
New "favorites": spyware will often add "favorites" of its own to your browser's favorites' folder. If you notice an unusual number of new favorites and are not sure how they got there, spyware may be to blame.
Fishy pop-up ads: Pop-up ads from spyware software are designed to look like they've been served up by the legitimate Web site you're visiting. As a result, you may not recognize them as a symptom of infection. There's no way to be sure, but if the contents of the ads seem strange -- or if you're getting pop-up ads when you're not even surfing the Internet -- it's very likely that they are being served up by spyware software.
Change of your default home page: One of the oldest spyware tricks is to automatically change your Web browser's default or start-up home page. This is the Web page that appears when you start your browser or click the "home" button.
Unauthorized 1-900 number charges: If your phone bill charges you for 1-900 phone calls you didn't make, you may have fallen victim to a particularly devious form of spyware. These programs will hang-up your normal Internet connection and instruct your computer to dial a 1-900 number -- silently.

Examples of Devious Spyware

How does spyware get on my computer in the first place?

Example: A computer user sees an Internet advertisement for SomeProgram. She clicks on the ad and is sent to a page that pops up a window asking if she wants to download SomeProgram. The user clicks "no," but SomeProgram is surreptitiously downloaded and installed anyway.
Example: In this case, a computer user sees an ad for AnotherProgram, and clicks on it. She is sent to a page that immediately pops up a window asking if she wants to download AnotherProgram. The user clicks "no." An identical window pops up as soon as she declines, however, and repeats until the user gets frustrated and clicks "yes."

What are some examples of the worst spyware functions?

Example: In this common case, a computer user goes to a Web page, www.acompany.com. The page then opens another page running a java script. When the user closes www.acompany.com, the java script remains and covertly resets the user's home page. The java script is written such that any time the user attempts to reset his home page, the program automatically resets it again so the user cannot reset his home page to what it was before the hijacking took place.
Example: Here, a computer user downloads a software package, Footloose 3.1, that will allow her to share files over the Internet using a peer-to-peer sharing site. Among the programs in the software package is a hidden dialer application, GreatCharges.exe, that was not mentioned in any advertisements, software licenses, or consumer notices associated with the package. The dialer application is not an integral part of the file-sharing software package, but is included anyway. (This tactic is sometimes referred to as bundling.) When the user opens her Web browser after installation of software package, the dialer opens in a hidden window, turns off the sound of the user's computer, and calls a phone number without her permission. The charges for the calls made by the hidden dialer appear on the user's phone bill at the end of the month.

Why can't I get rid of the spyware once I've found it?

Example: In this example, a computer user has downloaded "New Game: Return to Hades" from the Internet, but now wants to remove the game program from the computer because he fears it might be spyware. "New Game" does not have an uninstall program or instructions and does not show up in the standard feature in the user's operating system that removes unwanted programs (assuming this feature exists in the operating system). The user's attempts to otherwise delete it are met by confusing prompts from "New Game" with misrepresentative statements that deleting the program will make all future operations unstable.
Example: Here, a computer user has downloaded Program 2.0. He thought it would be a helpful program, but it has turned out to be spyware. Now he wants to remove Program 2.0 from the computer. Program 2.0 appears in the standard feature in the user's operating system that removes unwanted programs, but when he utilizes the "remove" option, a component of Program 2.0 remains behind. The next time the user connects to the Internet, this component re-downloads the remainder of Program 2.0 and reinstalls it.

Spyware Prevention

Prevention is the key to protecting yourself from spyware. If you have recently cleaned your computer of unwanted spyware, review the tips below to keep it that way. While these tips will help you prevent spyware, they are also examples of good habits that will help protect your privacy and security while online.

Read any popup window VERY carefully, and close it properly if it looks suspicious. If a suspicious window or advertisement pops up on your screen that you suspect could be an attempt to fool you into installing a spyware program, click the “X” in the upper right corner of the window to close it instead of clicking on the “No” or “Decline” button (often these buttons will only open another window in an attempt to annoy you into accepting the product, or the “Decline” button may actually be the “Accept” button in disguise). If you still can’t close the window, or others pop up to replace it, then shut down the computer and restart it.
Be skeptical about installing strange or free software: Make sure you know what EXACTLY is being installed onto your computer when you download applications off the Internet. Use the custom install option -- if offered -- to see the programs that will be placed on your computer with the downloaded application. spyware is often bundled with many free software downloads. Make sure you know what's in a package of software before you install it. Many of the file sharing or peer-to-peer music sharing programs include spyware in the installation package.
Pay attention to security warnings: "Security Warning" screens alert users to new software being installed from Web pages they visit. This software can include ActiveX controls and other executable files. You should not blindly accept such "Active-X" software installations; and be sure you trust the company installing the software. Here is a sample of a "Security Warning" screen that seeks a user’s permission to install the software:

Just because the company's "identity" is verified, it does not mean that you should blindly trust content from them. Carefully read the license agreement or privacy disclosure if one is provided (clicking on the software name may cause these to be displayed). Often these documents will tell you what the software will do when it executes, such as sharing your personal data with a third party or displaying targeted advertisements. If you are uncomfortable with what the software might do or you are unsure about the company, you should decline the installation. Also, make sure the "Security Warning" screen links to an end user license agreement or other description of what you're getting. Please notice that our sample "Security Warning" screen does not have one.
Read the end user licensing agreement: Almost all legitimate software installations will include an end user licensing agreement (EULA) that includes a lot of information. You should make a habit of reading these EULAs. Ideally, they should tell you exactly what they intend to install on your machine and the limitations to your use of the software. If the EULA is hard to find, or if the documentation is unreasonably difficult to read and understand, then you should think twice before agreeing to install the software.

Practice basic computer security hygiene: As a general matter, there are some basic security precautions you should take to protect your computer from hackers, thieves and cyber-terrorists. Following the three security tips below will help prevent all manner of programs from infecting your computer:

Always use anti-virus software: And keep the software up to date. Over 500 new viruses are discovered each month. You are not just protecting yourself when using virus software, but also others you communicate with.
Always use a firewall: A firewall is an "internal lock" for information on your computer. Many newer computer operating systems (like Windows XP) already have firewalls installed, you just have to turn them on. There are many other firewalls available to download or purchase that help you secure your computer.
Keep your Windows operating system up to date: You should always make sure that the Windows operating system on your computer is up to date with the latest security patches. Use the “Windows Update” shortcut in your programs menu to install the latest updates (NOTE: If you suspect your system is already infected with spyware, it is NOT recommended that you install any security updates - you should have the system cleaned first).

Read the Web site privacy policy: Although sometimes very lengthy, the privacy policy describes what information the business collects about you and how it is used. Learn more about reading a privacy policy.
Use Tools to Remove spyware: Learn about tools that can remove spyware if you think it may have been installed on your computer.

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