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spyware

Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. On the Internet (where it is sometimes called a spybot or tracking software), spyware is programming that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program.

Data collecting programs that are installed with the user's knowledge are not, properly speaking, spyware, if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. However, spyware is often installed without the user's consent, as a drive-by download, or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive pop-up window. adware, software designed to serve advertising, can usually be thought of as spyware as well because it almost invariably includes components for tracking and reporting user information.

The cookie is a well-known mechanism for storing information about an Internet user on their own computer. However, the existence of cookies and their use is generally not concealed from users, who can also disallow access to cookie information. Nevertheless, to the extent that a Web site stores information about you in a cookie that you don't know about, the cookie mechanism could be considered a form of spyware.

Spyware is part of an overall public concern about privacy on the Internet.

adware

1) Generically, adware (spelled all lower case) is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for adware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps to hold down the cost for the user.

Adware has been criticized because it usually includes code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge. This practice has been dubbed spyware and has prompted an outcry from computer security and privacy advocates, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center .

Noted privacy software expert Steve Gibson of Gibson Research explains: "Spyware is any software (that) employs a user's Internet connection in the background (the so-called 'backchannel') without their knowledge or explicit permission. Silent background use of an Internet 'backchannel' connection must be preceded by a complete and truthful disclosure of proposed backchannel usage, followed by the receipt of explicit, informed consent for such use. Any software communicating across the Internet absent of these elements is guilty of information theft and is properly and rightfully termed: Spyware."

A number of software applications, including Ad-Aware and OptOut (by Gibson's company), are available as freeware to help computer users search for and remove suspected spyware programs.

2) AdWare is also a registered trademark that belongs to AdWare Systems, Inc. AdWare Systems builds accounting and media buying systems for the advertising industry and has no connection to pop-up advertising, spyware, or other invasive forms of online advertising.

 

 List of Malware Categories

Adware

Category:

Adware

Explanation:

Program that creates advertisments on your Pc.
Note that many websites have their own advertising, unrelated to adware.

Official definition:
"Adware is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. The authors of these applications include additional code that delivers the ads, which can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen. The justification for adware is that it helps recover programming development cost and helps to hold down the cost for the user.
Adware has been criticized for occasionally including code that tracks a user's personal information and passes it on to third parties, without the user's authorization or knowledge."

 

Browser Hijacker

Category:

Browser Hijacker

Explanation:

Program that changes some settings in your browser.

Commonly:
- Changing your "search" page to pass all searches to a certain pay-per-search site
- Changing your default home page to the company page (most of often porn sites)
- Transmitting URLs viewed toward the company server

 

Browser Plugin

Category:

Browser Plugin

Explanation:

This category contains mostly dubious browser plugins such as "Search Assistant"s, toolbars etc. that have been known to transmit user data to their creators.

 

Bundled Software

Category:

Bundled Software

Explanation:

Bundled software is any software that is included, in addition, with other software. The bundled software is usually described in the EUL or license agreement - usually not at the time of downloading. A popular example is Peer to Peer software that bundles additional software with their application in order to offset cost of giving the software away for free.

 

Commercial Keylogger

Category:

Commercial Keylogger

Explanation:

Program designed to monitor user activity. May be used with or without consent.
Because it is sold commercially, most anti-virus vendors do not detect it.

 

Commercial Network Management Tool

Category:

Commercial Network Management Tool

Explanation:

Tools of this kind are mostly used in (large) corporations. They can log network traffic passively (sniffing) or examine the logs of proxies etc. Nothing is installed on the individual computers, the software runs on a central server, They can only log things that pass thru the network, not local things like entered passwords, keystrokes or screenshots.

 

Dialer

Category:

Dialer

Explanation:

A program that (secretly) changes your dialup connection setting so that instead of calling your local internet provider, your Pc calls some very expensive 0900 or international phone number.

 

Generic Malware

Category:

Generic Malware

Explanation:

Generic category for all unwanted software that secretly executes unwanted actions

 

Remote Adminstration Tool

Category:

Remote Adminstration Tool

Explanation:

A tool that is intended to be used by network administrators to remotely control a PC on the network, usually for support or inventory purposes.
Due to the nature of the program, the possibility exists to be exploited for spying purposes.

 

Trojan

Category:

Trojan

Explanation:

A hacker tool that is secretly installed on your Pc and that allows the attacker to get almost complete over your computer.

 

Virus

Category:

Virus

Explanation:

Malware that spreads itself automatically by infesting other files on your Pc

Official description:
"Software which attaches to other software. A boot virus inserts its code into the boot record or master boot record of a disk, so that when the machine boots from that disk, the virus code is executed. A file virus inserts its code into an executable file, so that when that file is executed, the virus is executed as well. A macro virus attaches itself to documents like Word or Excell."

 

Worm

Category:

Worm

Explanation:

Virus-like program that spreads automatically to other computers, by sending itself out by email or by any other means.

Official description:
"A program that propagates itself by attacking other machines and copying itself to them. Both worms and viruses are self-replicating code that travels from machine to machine by various means. Both worms and viruses have, as their first objective, merely propagation. Both can be destructive, depending on what payload, if any, they have been given. But there are some differences: worms may replace files, but do not insert themselves into files. In contrast, viruses insert themselves in files, but do not replace them."

Implications

Theft of usernames & passwords

Lost network bandwidth

Help desk overhead

Damaged files

Vague complaints

OS instability/rebuilds

Restoration from backups

Lost worker productivity

Spyware Statistics

PestPatrol

78,000 spyware programs

Last year

500 new Trojans

500 new keyloggers

1,287 new adware apps

40 burrowers

Webroot Software

80% of PCs infected (does not include cookies)

Vocabulary

Stealware – a mechanism which credits another web site for an ad visitation that resulted in a purchase

Web bug – email/browser delivered data that can be used to track recipients

Drive-by-download – the act of getting infected via visiting a site or opening email

Burrower – an application that embeds itself into the OS

Tickler – mini-programs that reinstall deleted files

 

 

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© Riel LaFontaine 2004
Grand Forks County Information Systems