Spyware

Viruses and Virus Hoaxes!

What is a Virus?

'Virus' is a popular term for a number of rogue computer programs more technically known as Worms or Trojans.  The Trojan, like the famous wooden horse, is an innocent looking file or email attachment which contains a program which can damage a user's computer.  It must be stressed that they do not physically damage the computer, but can delete or corrupt other files on the computer, even to the extent of completely stopping the computer or 'crashing'.

In addition to Viruses are Virus Hoaxes, which are nearly as common.  In this case the user receives a message, often from a friend (soon to become an ex-friend!), who sends a warning about an alleged virus.  They usually give instructions about how to check for the virus and what to do when you find it.  If the user follows the instructions they end up removing a genuine file from their computer.  To add insult to injury the last instruction is to email all their friends with the same warning.

Because Microsoft is by far the largest supplier of software, any weakness in their software will be targeted by the idiots who generate viruses.  This means that most of these problems occur in Microsoft products.  'Fixes' or 'patches' are regularly published by Microsoft, allowing the user to update his or her PC to avoid the problems.  They are available from the Microsoft website.  Unfortunately very few users bother to do this and as a result the viruses spread.

In common with many biological viruses, they are most common in the winter, just after all those new computers and new users after Christmas.

How do I recognise a hoax from a real virus warning ?

• Can I be sure that the person sending the message would not be fooled by a hoax?
  
• What is the message asking me to do?

Unless the message really does come from your ISP or a very experienced computer user, then assume it is a hoax.  There is one virus circulating which pretends to come from Microsoft as a warning message, many people were caught by this in the Spring of 2002.  A more convincing version has been circulating recently.  Microsoft and other large computer industry giants do not email the public.

Genuine virus warnings do not tell you to delete files from your computer (removing a virus is much more complicated than that).  Most genuine virus messages will direct you to a website for further information.  Be careful with that too, since the website may be a trick to catch you with a virus.  Only go to a well known Anti-Virus Software company.

The biggest give away for hoaxes is if it contains a phrase along the lines of "Mail this message to all in your address book" - If it says that, then you know it is a hoax - delete it at once and forget it.

G.T.S.

Spyware

Just like a virus these programs can be downloaded or passed to your computer without you knowing. (Not necessarily illegally).  Again just like a virus, they can do untold damage to your health, wealth and your PC, but unlike viruses, anti-virus programs don't detect them because they aren't viruses!

These are actual programs that are designed to do a job just like any other application running on a PC, difference here is that you may not know they are there and certainly cannot control them!

Spyware is not, in its own right, illegal.  It is a program initially designed for marketing companies and the like to gain general information that might be useful to them for those reasons.  Most legit companies that use this style will disclose the information that they acquire and store.  Unfortunately, not all see it or use it that way.

Spyware in its legal format is normally passed on by downloading free software, or receiving it from a friend or using some of these peer-to-peer file transfer sites that are around these days.  These types of download are normally coupled to a licence agreement that you have to agree to before download is complete.  Nothing bad except somewhere in the small print of the agreement is a bit that states that you also agree to allow information to be passed onto the company.  Problem here is you do not know what information is being sent and what it's going to be used for and who else might receive it.  Spyware companies actually pay for this extra little program to be included in the main download!  Nothing illegal and your fault for not reading the agreement!  Most information collected is harmless and mostly used for marketing and advertising purposes.  But that's where the legal bit ends!

Now if I was to say, PC running slow, crashes all the time, locks up a lot, keeps getting pop-up ads all the time, lost data and someone else is using my Ebay account and buying things with it, what would you say is the cause?

Well, could be a lot of reasons, but one big reason could be these little guys below:

Adware, Spyware and Malware to name three!  All programs so won't be detected as viruses and two can do major damage in a lot of ways!

Adware; This type of program is the kind that generally pops up adverts on your computer screen on regular occasions regardless of what you are actually doing.  Very annoying and difficult to know where they are coming from and do not need you to be connect to the Internet in order to work.  A bad form of these though can hijack links to web pages and take you to a completely different web site than where you wanted to be.  These will probably just be more advertising or links to other sites, but if it happens on regular occasions, very annoying indeed.  The worst pop up or advertise porn so be aware!

Spyware; Yes we talked about this earlier, but how about if I told you they can be programmed to get any and all information, not just for legit purposes!  They can also collect and send your more personal information and details such a ID and passwords and credit card information to third parties involved in identity theft etc.  Spyware can scan files, listen in on live chat programs like MSN, and send your personal pictures to someone else and even read cookies!  Just a few examples of what they can get. Basically these are designed to steal information and pass it on, any and all!

Malware; Short for Malicious software and as the name suggests, designed purely for maximum damage.  These programs, similar to Spyware cannot only log your keystrokes and reveal passwords and ID's like Spyware, but can allow hackers into your system and seriously disrupt the running of your PC.  Acting like a virus, they can also badly use up system resources such as memory, CPU time and hard drive capacity.  This often results in freezing and crashing of applications and the operating system.  They even have the capability of deleting files and wiping total hard drives!  Not a nice visitor to have on your system and often come from roots of the hacker and the like.

All these can be got from not only free downloads, but from pop ups on web sites, email and false virus detection programs that suddenly pop up stating that you might have a virus and click here for a free scan, just as examples.  Basically, if it looks suspicious and you didn't expect it, don't click it, delete it or close it!

How do I scan and get rid of these uninvited guests?

Here are two links to free programs on the market that will detect and erase or quarantine these beasties:

Adaware (see the spelling difference, but is fully legit as a anti-X-ware application): http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?part=dl-ad-aware&subj=dl&tag=top5

Windows Defender XP: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D

Windows Defender now comes as standard on the new MS Vista operating systems.

Summary

Bottom line:- run a good anti-virus program that's regularly updated, run one of the above programs, make sure your firewall is on and use common sense when something turns up that you are not expecting.  Finally, although I think this is a catch 22 situation, dammed if you do, dammed if you don't, make sure your operating system has all the latest updates installed.

With thanks to Stuart Lock.