Click Here
for more articles |
|
|
Adware: How to BeatSneakiest Software |
by:
Joel Walsh |
Promoters of adware, software that shows advertising onuser's computer, use some cunning tricks to get you to install their software on your machine.
Here's what to look out for.
Adware is, by definition, something reasonable people do not want on their computers. That's why malware can't just come out and ask people to install it.
Often,computer owner is completely unaware of it being installed. But not always.
When adware doesn't want to sneak in throughopen window, it will try to trick you into letting it in throughfront door. Don't think you could be
tricked? Don't be so sure until you've checked out these most common ways people have been tricked into allowing malware to be installed on their machines.
Adware Installation Trick one: Piggybacking
• How it works: malware may come bundled withlegitimate piece of softwareuser actually wants, such asgame or emoticon. The malware is
merely labeled "companion software," without any indication of what it will do.
• How to fight it: be very suspicious of any software that comes bundled with other software. Don't installed software that comes bundled with other
software unless you know everything thatbundled software does. After all, ifbundled program has anything to do withprogram you actually want,
why couldn'tsoftware developer just get both programs' functionalities intosingle piece of software? Software developers are now very sensitive to
malware concerns and will providelengthy explanation of just whybundled software is necessary, incases when they actually do need to use bundled
software.
Adware Installation Trick two: Bait and Switch
• How it works: since people are getting more and more suspicious of bundled software,malware's developers may simply label it as valuable
software, for instance,browser plugin that supposedly accelerates web browsing (but in reality only shows ads).
• How to fight it: again,suspicious mind is useful in avoiding malware. Ask yourself some questions:
o What will this software actually do? Malware often comes with very fuzzy claims attached. Sure, it says it will improve your browsing experience,
but how? Often, this improved browsing experience just meansbrowsing experience with more advertising.
o Ifsoftware is so great, why is it being given away free? Most commonly, software is only given out free in two cases: if it's OpenSource
(designed bycommunity of developers and not proprietary--OpenSource software is always clearly labeled as such); or simplycome-on forfuller-featured
version ofsoftware. If neither case is true, there'sreal chancesoftware is financed by adware.
Adware Installation Trick three: Outright Lying
• How it works: malware may even be labeled as something else entirely, such aswell-known piece of software orcrucial component ofcomputer
operating system.
• How to fight it: this istrickiest malware of all, and requires extreme caution. You do not want to start deleting any of your program files,
much less your system registry entries, unless you're absolutely sure it's malware. Plenty of overzealous parasite hunters have shot their own machines to
bits this way. This is one case where you want to be usinganti-spyware program, and preferablysecond anti-spyware program to providesecond
opinion.
Getting Rid of Adware
Adware is so tricky that trying to uninstall it by yourself could be liketrip intoMatrix. Luckily, there are good anti-spyware programs that tackle
adware as well--after all many adware programs are also spyware since they monitor your internet usage.
True, it may feel like adding insult to injury to have to install more software to get rid of software you never meant to install infirst place. But
sometimes you just have to fight fire with fire.
Aboutauthor:
Aboutauthor: Joel Walsh has writtencompanion article on stealth tactics used by adware: http://www.spyware-refuge.com?%twozerovirus%twozeroprotection[Publish
this article on your website! Requirement: live link for above URL/web address w/ link text/anchor text: "virus protection" OR leave this bracketed message
intact.]
Circulated by Article Emporium
|
|
