Reminder About Being Careful While Online
First there were pop-up messages and then there were pop-up blocking tools. Then there was adware that again displayed pop-up messages by circumventing blockers, which naturally led to adware blocking and removal tools. Now, there are reports of fake anti-adware tools that again display unwanted advertisements and more.
The thing to learn from this progression is that Internet users must always be wary while they are online. For years there has been a struggle between groups who look to abuse the power of the Internet for profit and those who are trying to make the Internet a safe place for users to communicate, learn, or conduct business. These opposing forces have been locked in a cycle of act and react as each one tries to stay a step ahead of the other. The result is that Internet users are constantly being introduced to new tricks to fool them, new methods to foil the tricksters, updated tricks, and further revised methods.
The fake anti-spyware tool mentioned above is a prime example of this cycle. Adware programs that display unwanted pop-up advertising and alter browser settings exploded onto the scene, prompting a response in the online security community in the form of adware and spyware blocking tools. These tools help Internet users detect the presence of adware or spyware programs on their computer, assist in the sometimes difficult removal of these programs from their computers, and depending on the program, actively work to prevent the installation of adware and spyware. Not to be outdone, however, some unscrupulous advertisers have taken to peddling false anti-adware programs.
According to an article written by Paul F. Robert of eWEEK.com titled “Spyware-Removal Program Tagged as a Trap”, one of the false anti-spyware programs that have been discovered has two methods for duping users. One version of the software has been redesigned simply as an adware program and users who download and run the software are bombarded with pop-up windows. The original free version, although not an adware program, still attempts to make a profit using underhanded means. According to security experts who tested the original version of the product on a computer that was free of any adware or spyware, the program displayed a list of infections on the computer. The number of false-positives led the experts to conclude that the free version is merely a ploy to get users to pay for the full version at a price of $59.95 per year. (You can view the entire contents of the article by browsing to www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1821134,00.asp.)
As mentioned in previous articles, protecting yourself from these sorts of threats and scams requires a level of diligence on your part. Aside from making sure that you keep your operating system and anti-virus software updated, you must also be careful about which email attachments you open and which programs you download to your computer. Returning to the adware example above, this means that if you need an anti-adware program, you should properly research a program before installing it. To find software, visit sites that you know to be reputable or seek out the advice of people in the know. For example, by visiting the page www.microsoft.com/spyware or by searching for the term “adware” on the Microsoft homepage (www.microsoft.com) and digging a little bit, it is possible to find three good anti-spyware programs. Microsoft provides one and the other two are from independent companies.
The Internet is a resource without comparison and by practicing proper care, users can take advantage of the wonders it provides. If you have any questions about this or any other letter, please post a comment.
