A Computing Concern - Spyware & Adware

Spyware and Adware on Windows PCs have been implicated in countless calls to our Computer Help Desk since the beginning of the fall semester. Computer problems have included system slowdown, Illegal Operation errors, browser crashes, and even the "Blue Screen Of Death". While normal system stability will sometimes return when the interfering software is deleted, many PCs have to be re-imaged -- certainly an inconvenience to the user and a concern to our busy CIT Staff. While these covert applications are a phenomenon of the Windows world, it is important for Macintosh users to be aware of this issue as well since it has increasingly become a problem in technology classrooms and public workstations.

Spyware & Adware is typically downloaded and installed as an "add-on" to other freeware or shareware that the user is trying to install. Frequently, users are not even aware that these applications are now on their machines. Please keep in mind that the installation of non-work related applications on campus workstations is prohibited by the campus Acceptable Use Policy.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a generic term describing software whose purpose is to collect demographic and usage information (name, email address, web site visits) from your computer, usually for advertising and marketing purposes. The term is also used to describe software that 'sneaks' onto the system and performs activities hidden to the user. Spyware applications are usually bundled as a hidden component in mis-labeled "freeware" and shareware applications downloaded from the Internet. These modules are almost always installed on the system without your knowledge, suggesting that spyware companies know how users feel about such software. They figure that the best or only way to ensure its widespread use is to prevent the end-user from discovering it.

As much as current spyware modules do to steal away users' privacy, they have the potential to do even more. A Spyware application exists as an independent, executable program on your system, and has the capability to do anything any program can do. This includes monitoring keystrokes, arbitrarily scanning files on your hard drive, snooping on other applications such as word-processors and chat programs, reading your Internet cookies, changing your default homepage, interfacing with your default Web browser to determine what Web sites you are visiting, and monitoring various aspects of your behavior. These programs will "phone home" from time to time to report this information back to the spyware's author. It can even notify the spyware company of any attempts to modify or remove it from the system. All the information obtained by the spyware can be used by the spyware author for marketing purposes, or sold to other companies for a profit.

What is Adware?

Adware is advertising supported software, although most people use the term Spyware and Adware interchangeably. It is software that is downloaded from the web to generate banner advertisements that create revenue for the company. Like Spyware, Adware will usually install components on your computer that will send marketing information back to "Command Central" whenever you are online. Unlike Spyware, Adware contains a disclosure statement telling you that they will be using your information. That's why it's important to read the privacy policy when downloading any freeware. Be aware that a disclosure statement such as the following can be buried deep in the legalize.

"By becoming an End-User, you hereby agree that TransCom may share with other parties both aggregate information and limited individual information gathered during your use of TransCom's BeeLine and/or the Internet."

How do these products affect my PC?

Many Adware applications install separate advertising components on your system. These components will download ads and waste system resources--even if you're not using the original software that installed them. Often these components remain installed and continue to function even after the associated application has been uninstalled! Some Adware companies have even gone so far as to create "Advertising Trojan Horses", virus-like software programs that stealthily install themselves on your computer to perform unwanted advertising functions and violate your privacy whether you've installed the advertising-supported software or not. These applications make connections to other servers on the Internet, consume precious network bandwidth, and may compromise the security of your data.

How can I detect Spyware & Adware?

There are many products available today that are able to detect and delete Spyware and Adware on your computer. Our Computer Help Desk has used several methods to detect and remove these applications: 1) Run detection and removal software such as Ad-Aware 2) Delete the user's Internet cookies 3) Refresh the user's profile. When these methods fail, the machine must be re-imaged so that the entire hard drive is erased and all software must be reinstalled.

For Home Users

Home users may want to explore products available for detection and removal of Adware and Spyware by visiting the following web sites. Note: Do not use any of these products on campus computers; instead please call our campus help desk if you have a problem with ads and popups.

Spyware Checker is a web site with almost a thousand software titles in their database that will tell you if the freeware that you're considering installing is spyware or not. You just type in the software you'd like to download and the site will tell you if it's Spyware.

Another good resource to start with is Spyware Info, which includes recommendations for all sorts of software products that concern Internet privacy.