Who's Watching you? Spy-Bots, Malware, Drive-By-Downloads and Other Pesty Net Junk

If you think your PC is safe with just a virus checker, think again. We found over 500 tracking applications (spyware, malware (malicious software) and cookies) on one of our client's PCs. At best, these things just track your on-line movements without effecting your PC. At worst, these malicious applications eat up CPU processing power and track your search habits, your web browsing habits and in our client's case, resulted in having to completely reload the OS.

How to Assess Your PC's Vulnerability.

If you have a PC at home which is connected to the Internet (especially if you have an 'always on' DSL or broadband connection) check out these links.

First, check and remove spyware and malware (malicious software) with this utility: http://www.safer-networking.org/

Next scan your PC for areas where hackers can access your system: http://securitymetrics.com/portscan.adp

(Oh, and don't use this free service from a work or school PC as it may violate your work or schools Terms of Service or Acceptable Use Policy)

How to Protect Yourself.

After you have removed the spyware and malware, Searchbot's run the immunize feature. This will prevent future junk from installing on your PC. And don't forget to run the update for spyware application.

If your scan reveals that you are vulnerable to hackers, and this will become painfully obvious when you run the scan, you should get some sort of firewall (hardware or software).

I'd recommend ISS's Blackice Firewall and IDS (Intrusion Detection System) available here as a software solution:

http://blackice.iss.net/

Or purchase a router/firewall as a hardware solution:

http://www.netgear.com

Alternately, if you have Windows XP and don't want to shell out extra bucks for security, use Microsoft's built in firewall: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/networking/icf.asp
to get basic protection.

New! Microsoft is now offering a beta of their spyware prevention and removal tool. Microsoft's Spyware Tool is here.

It should go without saying but you should also run an anti-virus application. I've taken the belt and suspender approach to virus and security protection and use all four methods! If you have a Mac, I'd recommend the hardware solution for the firewall.

Finally, I would recommend using an a service which help protect your privacy on line. Anonymizer is such a service and is one of the leaders in internet identity protection providing, computer privacy, anonymous web surfing, email, proxy servers, anti spyware utilities, and anti virus programs.

Hope this helps. If you have any PC questions, drop us a line at support@sitetex.com.

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