Spyware/Adware/Virus are all a nasty problem.
Here at Lightspeed Technologies our engineers have developed a relatively quick and thorough method of fixing computers damaged by Spyware/Adware/Virus and adding software to prevent future attacks. We pride ourseleves on being able to clean a machine where others can't. For more insight into why you should have your computer checked please read below, and remember "We're only here to help."
Spyware—programs that install themselves on users’ computers without their knowledge—is a widespread and growing problem. According to a 2009 Harris Poll, 92percent of IT managers report that spyware has infected their organizations, with anaverage of 52 percent of workstations affected; 78 percent indicated that such infections are on the increase. Spyware can be used by hackers and identity thieves to record sensitive information, such as user names, passwords, and credit card numbers, or to steal sensitive company information. Information theft is one of the largest security challenges for businesses, and is the most financially damaging. However, most spyware is simply adware—programs typically bundled with freeware or shareware with the “spy” being a marketer collecting information, derived from cookies and URL history, about buying and surfing habits. Spyware and adware share the ability to record keystrokes and possibly send data to Webservers, posing a serious security and privacy risk. Antispyware solutions on the market today are based on passive, reactive detection, and are not able to deal with this growing problem. LightSpeed Agents offer a proactive approach to help protect against both spyware and adware infections, maintain system integrity, and provide defense for computers. LightSpeed Technology combats infections in two ways: first, by preventing spyware programs from initially being installed; and if already installed, by preventing the spyware from executing and carrying out malicious behaviors, such as reading and relaying sensitive information.
Spyware or Adware?Understanding the differences between spyware and adware is important. The goal of spyware is to steal users’ information or money without their knowledge; adware intends to convince users to part with their money. Adware behaviors are generally much more noticeable—your computer suddenly starts sprouting pop-up ads or redirecting your search engine—while spyware is designed to go undetected, acting stealthily in the background. Both spyware and adware employ similar tactics to install and take control of your computer.
SpywareSpyware originated in legitimate programs marketed to parents in the 1990s to monitor their children’s online activities and to employers wishing to monitor employee computer use. Many of these programs touted “remote installation” as a feature—the ability to install without having physical access to the monitored computer. Today, hackers and identity thieves are increasingly developing and exploiting spyware programs that enable them to record sensitive information, such as: · User names· Passwords · Credit card numbers · Social Security numbers · Corporate secrets · Home addresses · Personal phone numbers · Viewed URLs · Screen shots · Information relayed to “spy servers” Spyware is designed to install remotely without a user’s knowledge. When true spyware is installed on a computer, the spy can see everything the user is doing—where the user surfs, what the user types, and the content of documents on the user’s screen. Some spyware includes a Trojan program (virus) that enables the spy to take complete control of the user’s computer. Other potential spyware/adware behaviors include: · Monitoring keystrokes · Scanning hard drive files · Snooping on other applications, such as chat programs or word processors · Installing other spyware programs · Reading cookies · Changing the default home page · Launching upon startup and staying resident in memory · Connecting to the Internet · Dialing a phone number · Transmitting URLs viewed · Sniffing network traffic · Installing remote administration tools · Installing a Trojan to take over computer control · Adding files, folders, cookies, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), and registry entries.
AdwareAdware, more common than spyware, consists of marketing programs bundled with freeware that is designed to deliver pop-up ads to users’ computers, and that may redirect users to a search engine from which adware developers get a commission. Users may willingly and knowingly accept adware on to their computer, viewing it as a small price to pay in exchange for the benefits of using a certain program, such as receiving freestock quotes, weather updates, or traffic reports. Some adware is designed to track surfing habits for market research purposes; however, most of today’s legitimate adware developers defend themselves by noting that they no longer monitor and record user activities, and therefore pose no security or privacy threat. Certain adware has been labeled scumware because it incorporates disreputable practices, such as installation of dialer programs that make expensive international and toll calls via users’ computers, or it extorts users by charging them to remove the offending program. While largely innocuous, the potential impact of adware on an organization should not be underrated. Dell recently reported that up to 47 percent of its technical support calls were related to spyware/adware issues. Repeated pop-up ads, hijacked browsers, and redirects to adware search engines frustrate business users. Poorly designed adware can tax CPU resources, introduce vulnerabilities, affect system performance, and cause error messages, system freezes, and crashes. Once installed, adware is difficult to remove. Sometimes removal is impossible, as the offending culprit often invites more adware to install itself. The ideal solution allows administrators to prevent installation, or enables employees to continue safely using freeware and shareware while preventing the bundled adware to execute and wreak havoc on system stability and integrity.
How Spyware and Adware Are InstalledMost adware is accidentally or deliberately downloaded along with freeware, such as screen savers, games, weather and stock tickers, or file-sharing software. Freeware is supported by revenue from the adware. While users can avoid adware by reading the fineprint on any legal licensing agreement before consenting to download a program, many programs rely on “social engineering,” pestering users with repeated download screens until they finally click “yes” to accept the software. Spyware is sometimes rigged to install even if the user clicks “no”. (When in doubt press alt+F4 to close current window and don't click on anything.) Adware vendors and hackers exploit “drive-by downloading” via active content code to secretly install intrusive programs when a Web page or e-mail message is viewed. Simply blocking suspect sites is ineffective—the freedom, anonymity, and growth of the Web lead to the proliferation of hundreds of new spyware sites. In the Harris survey, only six percent of users reported surfing to sites suspected of containing spyware, and yet 92 percent of IT managers indicated their companies had been infected. Spyware is designed to be installed without the users’ knowledge or consent, and spyware programmers are becoming increasingly clever about their spyware delivery systems. Educating users on safe surfing practices and on carefully reading licensing agreements is critical, but these practices alone cannot solve the problem.
Limitations of Spyware Detection and Removal ToolsBecause most spyware is not delivered via e-mail, antivirus products are ineffective at detection. Spyware detection tools work essentially on the same principles as antivirus technology—they use signatures, pattern matching, and known file names to detect the presence of spyware on a computer. Spyware detection technologies share the same critical flaw as other traditional information security technologies—they are passive and reactive. Because these solutions are predicated on signature detection, even when they are efficiently installed and administered, new and mutating spyware attacks will still cause damage to network resources and files on individual machines. No single detection tool seems to be able to detect all spyware. Product reviewers often advise that more than one detection tool be used, so that if one product misses a certain spyware program, the other might pick it up. Just as in the antivirus world, antispyware developers find themselves with ongoing support issues: · A constant signature update race to keep pace with spyware writers · Keeping signatures current · A high level of false positives · Failure to catch new (day-zero) and evolving spyware programs. Spyware and adware eradication tools help determine what has infected the program, and can prevent infection in the first place. Prevention is vastly preferable— cleanup can be a long and involved process. Many spyware programs are persistent, designed to reinstall themselves once removed, to maintain multiple spyware programs simultaneously, and even to thwart detection by antispyware products. Spyware can be nearly impossible to remove. For example, some programs are designed to make thousands of entries to the Windows registry, requiring an almost never available amount of sophisticated IT support to check and repair registry information. Contact LightSpeed Technologies if you need any help with slow or corrupted computers. "We can help!" 330-936-3990 for Scott or 330-417-6705 for Kevin.
