Spyware
1. Introduction Has your computer ever worked so slowly that you cannot sit still and keep your temper any more but switch the machine off? Spyware may be to blame.
The first recorded use of the term spyware occurred in 1994, referring to spying equipment such as tiny cameras. In early 2000, a scientist named Steve Gibson realized that advertising software had been installed on his system, and he suspected that the software was stealing his personal information. Since then, spyware has been defined as software applications were designed to monitor and report computer user activities remotely (WikiPedia).
It is estimated that spyware has been installed on over 85% of personal computers (Farrow, 2003). A recent survey by an Internet Service Provider found an average of 28 spyware items installed per computer (Thompson, 2003). A November 2004 study by AOL and the National Cyber-Security Alliance showed that, 80% of surveyed users ' computers had some forms of spyware, with an average of 93 spyware components per computer. 89% of surveyed users with spyware reported that they did not know of its presence, and 95% reported that they had not given permission for the installation of the spyware (America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 2004). As a matter of fact, it is obvious that we are facing one of the most dangerous threats from the Internet and knowing how to prevent computers from being infected spyware is essential. This paper, with the purpose of providing computer users with basic knowledge of spyware, analyses different aspects of spyware, including the definition, ways to infects computers, effects and solutions to get rid of it.
2. Definition of Spyware There are many ways to define what spyware is. According to Susannah Fox (2005, p.2), Associate Director of Pew Internet & American Life Project, spyware is “a software that is placed secretly on a computer in order to track a user’s behaviour and
The first recorded use of the term spyware occurred in 1994, referring to spying equipment such as tiny cameras. In early 2000, a scientist named Steve Gibson realized that advertising software had been installed on his system, and he suspected that the software was stealing his personal information. Since then, spyware has been defined as software applications were designed to monitor and report computer user activities remotely (WikiPedia).
It is estimated that spyware has been installed on over 85% of personal computers (Farrow, 2003). A recent survey by an Internet Service Provider found an average of 28 spyware items installed per computer (Thompson, 2003). A November 2004 study by AOL and the National Cyber-Security Alliance showed that, 80% of surveyed users ' computers had some forms of spyware, with an average of 93 spyware components per computer. 89% of surveyed users with spyware reported that they did not know of its presence, and 95% reported that they had not given permission for the installation of the spyware (America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 2004). As a matter of fact, it is obvious that we are facing one of the most dangerous threats from the Internet and knowing how to prevent computers from being infected spyware is essential. This paper, with the purpose of providing computer users with basic knowledge of spyware, analyses different aspects of spyware, including the definition, ways to infects computers, effects and solutions to get rid of it.
2. Definition of Spyware There are many ways to define what spyware is. According to Susannah Fox (2005, p.2), Associate Director of Pew Internet & American Life Project, spyware is “a software that is placed secretly on a computer in order to track a user’s behaviour and
References: America Online and the National Cyber Security Alliance, 2004: “AOL/NCSA Online Safety Study” Available at URL: http://www.staysafeonline.info/pdf/safety_study_v04.pdf (Accessed 25 April 2006) Coustan, D. (1998): How stuff works: How spyware work Available at URL: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/spyware.htm (Accessed 27 April 2006) Farrow, R p. 52 Federal Trade Commission, 2005, "Monitoring Software on Your PC: (Accessed 28 April 2006) Fox, S (Accessed 20 April 2006) Thompson, R Available at URL: http://www.iwar.org.uk/comsec/resources/consumerrisk/Thompson1799.htm (Accessed 29 April 2006) Available at URL: http://anti-spyware-review.toptenreviews.com (Accessed 25 April 2006) (Accessed 25 April 2006)