i386
Captain
- Joined
- Aug 24, 2004
- Messages
- 3,548
Motivation
Spyware/Adware/Malware is really about one thing. Money. We as consumers are constantly having our habits studied by marketing types so they can sell us more stuff.
So what are these things doing on my computer? Essentially this:
1. Monitoring the web sites you go to.
2. Sending this information back to marketing companies to either use or sell. Information collected from various sources can be collected and merged into larger databases. If you understand the technology, it's pretty scary.
3. Strategically popping up ads for things they think you might buy based on the information they've collected.
How does this crap get on my computer?
1. Bait. You download a game, screensaver, wallpaper, porn etc... And you get something with it you didn't bargain for.
2. Exploiting MS Internet Explorer. This is a big one. There are features of Internet Explorer that can be exploited to get bad stuff onto your computer without you knowing. In some cases, all you have to do is go to a web site.
3. Fear tactics. Sites will claim that there is some immediate threat to your computer and by downloading their program or letting them scan your computer you can fix the problem.
4. Click Trickery. Things pop up that are made to look as if it's a message from Windows and not the web site you're at. Animated images that appear to be a game embedded in the page. The unsuspecting visitor think's she's about to play a friendly game of whack the chicken with a hammer and ends up not playing a game but on some other web site.
How do I avoid it?
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS try to figure out the motives of the site before you do anything.
1. Bait. This normally comes in the form of some sort of free stuff. Often these sites will be obnoxious and filled with popping up, blinking, scrolling and doing everything imaginable to get your attention. This is because they're DESPERATE to get whatever crap they have onto your computer. Sites that generally have just have something free do not display this behavior. It costs a lot of money to make those eye catching sites. Often the sites with good free stuff are not so fancy. We love our wallpapers. Be aware that wallpapers are just image files like .jpg or .bmp images. It's that simple. You don't need to install any software to get wallpapers. If they try to pull that on you, it's more than likely a trick. All you need to do is right-click a picture to set it as your wallpaper. If there's anything else involved they have ulterior motives. Screensavers. We love 'em, but they're often bundled with spyware. Again, try to discern the motives of the site. Try to tell if they're desperate for you to get what they're offering.
2. Exploiting Internet Explorer. I'm not going to stop preaching this. It's your choice, but I recommend you don't use it. Use Firefox or some other alternative. They are not perfect (nothing is) but they don't have nearly as many problems as IE and they have better features too.
*** Some sites are made with proprietary Microsoft technologies and will only work with IE. You are more likely to run into this problem at work than at home. You can still use IE to access these sites.
3. Fear Tactics. This one's easy. If some site is telling you you're infected with something you need to be asking yourself this: How the heck do they know what's on my computer? There's only 2 answers I can come up with. They really don't know and are trying to scare you. They have illegally obtained information from your computer (highly unlikely). In either case you don't want anything to do with them.
4. Click Trickery. These vermin will do anything to get you to their site. Don't fall prey to their tricks. Consider the motives. Watch your mouse pointer as you hover over things. The pointer changes when it hovers over a link. For example you see a yes button and a no button in a "window" but your mouse changes when it's over the window itself. There is no button! Clicking anywhere will take you to another page. If they've got to trick you to get you there, don't expect them to suddenly get honest once you're there. When you mouse over ANY link, before you click it look at the name of the site. It will show up at the bottom of your browser window. Often you can make an intelligent assessment of the site's intent just by looking at the name. Do the same when clicking results from search engines. If you're on a site that has such trickery, you really shouldn't patronize that site either.
-= BONUS =-
SPAM. If you're the type that must read every email you get at least do this. If the subject doesn't have anything to do with the message itself you are being deceived. Do not go to their site. And NEVER NEVER NEVER buy anything from them. Spam is effective because someone DOES buy their crap. Don't support companies that use deception to lure you to their site.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS try to figure out the motives of the site before you do anything.
I don't use any anti-spyware utilities on my computer. I don't have spyware.
Good judgement is the best defense you have. Learn to figure out the motives and you'll be well on your way to having a better experience online.
Spyware/Adware/Malware is really about one thing. Money. We as consumers are constantly having our habits studied by marketing types so they can sell us more stuff.
So what are these things doing on my computer? Essentially this:
1. Monitoring the web sites you go to.
2. Sending this information back to marketing companies to either use or sell. Information collected from various sources can be collected and merged into larger databases. If you understand the technology, it's pretty scary.
3. Strategically popping up ads for things they think you might buy based on the information they've collected.
How does this crap get on my computer?
1. Bait. You download a game, screensaver, wallpaper, porn etc... And you get something with it you didn't bargain for.
2. Exploiting MS Internet Explorer. This is a big one. There are features of Internet Explorer that can be exploited to get bad stuff onto your computer without you knowing. In some cases, all you have to do is go to a web site.
3. Fear tactics. Sites will claim that there is some immediate threat to your computer and by downloading their program or letting them scan your computer you can fix the problem.
4. Click Trickery. Things pop up that are made to look as if it's a message from Windows and not the web site you're at. Animated images that appear to be a game embedded in the page. The unsuspecting visitor think's she's about to play a friendly game of whack the chicken with a hammer and ends up not playing a game but on some other web site.
How do I avoid it?
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS try to figure out the motives of the site before you do anything.
1. Bait. This normally comes in the form of some sort of free stuff. Often these sites will be obnoxious and filled with popping up, blinking, scrolling and doing everything imaginable to get your attention. This is because they're DESPERATE to get whatever crap they have onto your computer. Sites that generally have just have something free do not display this behavior. It costs a lot of money to make those eye catching sites. Often the sites with good free stuff are not so fancy. We love our wallpapers. Be aware that wallpapers are just image files like .jpg or .bmp images. It's that simple. You don't need to install any software to get wallpapers. If they try to pull that on you, it's more than likely a trick. All you need to do is right-click a picture to set it as your wallpaper. If there's anything else involved they have ulterior motives. Screensavers. We love 'em, but they're often bundled with spyware. Again, try to discern the motives of the site. Try to tell if they're desperate for you to get what they're offering.
2. Exploiting Internet Explorer. I'm not going to stop preaching this. It's your choice, but I recommend you don't use it. Use Firefox or some other alternative. They are not perfect (nothing is) but they don't have nearly as many problems as IE and they have better features too.
*** Some sites are made with proprietary Microsoft technologies and will only work with IE. You are more likely to run into this problem at work than at home. You can still use IE to access these sites.
3. Fear Tactics. This one's easy. If some site is telling you you're infected with something you need to be asking yourself this: How the heck do they know what's on my computer? There's only 2 answers I can come up with. They really don't know and are trying to scare you. They have illegally obtained information from your computer (highly unlikely). In either case you don't want anything to do with them.
4. Click Trickery. These vermin will do anything to get you to their site. Don't fall prey to their tricks. Consider the motives. Watch your mouse pointer as you hover over things. The pointer changes when it hovers over a link. For example you see a yes button and a no button in a "window" but your mouse changes when it's over the window itself. There is no button! Clicking anywhere will take you to another page. If they've got to trick you to get you there, don't expect them to suddenly get honest once you're there. When you mouse over ANY link, before you click it look at the name of the site. It will show up at the bottom of your browser window. Often you can make an intelligent assessment of the site's intent just by looking at the name. Do the same when clicking results from search engines. If you're on a site that has such trickery, you really shouldn't patronize that site either.
-= BONUS =-
SPAM. If you're the type that must read every email you get at least do this. If the subject doesn't have anything to do with the message itself you are being deceived. Do not go to their site. And NEVER NEVER NEVER buy anything from them. Spam is effective because someone DOES buy their crap. Don't support companies that use deception to lure you to their site.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS try to figure out the motives of the site before you do anything.
I don't use any anti-spyware utilities on my computer. I don't have spyware.
Good judgement is the best defense you have. Learn to figure out the motives and you'll be well on your way to having a better experience online.
