Spyware and Adware

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Spyware and Adware

• How to spot it and get rid of it!

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Definitions

• Virus
• A virus is a piece of computer code that attaches
  itself to a program or file so it can spread from
  computer to computer, infecting as it travels.
  Viruses can damage your software, your hardware,
  and your files.
• Worm
• A worm generally spreads without user action and
  distributes complete copies (possibly modified)
  of itself across networks. A worm can consume
  memory or network bandwidth, thus causing a
  computer to stop responding.

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Definitions (cont)

• Spyware
• Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering
  information about a person or organization
  without their knowledge. It Can overload your
  system and shutdown other services.
• Tojan Horse
• Computer program that appears to be useful
  software, but instead compromises your security
  and causes a lot of damage.

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How Do We Get Them

• Opening Email
• Visiting Web Sites
• Installing Software
• Just having a Computer on a Network

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How Do You Protect Yourself

• Educate Yourself
• AntiVirus Programs
• Patching and Updating
• AntiSpyware Programs

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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples
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Some Spyware Examples

• Other Names that you might see are

Anything that asks you for something that you did
not request could be spyware!
Drive Shield BearShare Kaxaa Morpheus WildTangent
Games Added Toolbars Free SceenSaver
Anything Spam Blocker Utility Free Desktop
Wallpaper
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Education

• Dont open emails that looks fishy
• Dont visit bad websites
• Only install software from Trusted vendors
• Scan files before opening them
• Visit websites like Microsoft to get informed of
  new security alerts.

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AntiVirus Programs

• We use Avg AntiVirus
• It should be installed on all systems on campus.
• It is also available for personal use at home.
• You can download the latest version at
• www.grisoft.com

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Patching and Updating

• One of the best things that you can do to protect
  your system is to Patch it.
• Most people believe that their system got
  infected because of a failed AntiVirus product,
  but they are wrong.
• Most infected systems become infected because of
  poorly patched systems.
• Patching is a simple, easy, and free way to
  protect your system.

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How you patch a system

• To do it manually, use the windows update Icon on
  your start menu.
• To do it automatically right click on My Compter,
  select properties and then choose Automatic
  Updates tab then select Automatic- 300am

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AntiSpyware Programs

• Spyware is typically placed on your system by
  visiting websites and installing software.
• Typical signs that you have spyware
• You have a lot of popup windows when visiting the
  web or just logging on to your system.
• Your homepage has changed to a different site.
• You notice a major drop in system performance.
• Your antispyware or antivirus utility stops
  working.
• You go to search for things and your search page
  has changed.
• New Items appear in your favorites.
• In many cases there are no signs and it is
  running silently recording your actions.

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Protect Yourself from Spyware

• Use a popup blocker like Google Toolbar, or the
  one that comes with FireFox and Internet
  Explorer.
• Install AntiSpyware utilities.
• Some 2 that we recommend are Ad-aware and Spybot
  - Search and Destroy.
• These can be found for free at
• http//www.lavasoftusa.com/
• http//www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.
  html
• http//www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html
• These programs are not provided to you by CCSS
  and are free for anyone to download for personal
  use.

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Spybot Search and Destroy
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Spybot - Updating

• Always Update the software before scanning or
  immunizing the system.

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Spybot - Scanning

• Click the Search and Destroy Button to scan the
  system.
• This will clean off existing Spyware.

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LavaSofts Ad-Aware
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Ad-Aware - Update

• Use the Check for Updates Link on the Main screen
  or the Web update Button.

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Ad-Aware - Scanning

• Click the Scan Now Button
• Choose to do a Full System Scan

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Ad-Aware Scan Results

• You will get Critical Objects (Clean)
• You will get Negligible Objects (Can Leave Alone)
• Mostly MRU (Most Recently Used)

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Ad-Aware Clean Objects

• When you clean objects they go to the Quarantine.
  
• You can leave them or delete them.

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Other Follow Up Links

• You can view this Presentation at
• www.coffeecountschools.com and then look at the
  last entry on the left side menu for Spyware
  Help.
• For video presentations please go to
• Spybot
• http//www.coffeecountyschools.com/train/spybot200
  7/spybot2007.html
• Adaware
• http//www.coffeecountyschools.com/train/AdawareMo
  vie/AdawareMovie.html

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Questions???