Welcome
to this week's edition of the Computer Kindergarten Newsletter.
Today is Sunday, August 2, 2009
In this Issue:
Special Feature: How Spyware Works
Question: Windows Vista: Turn Off IE Sounds
Question: Turn Off System
Sounds
Question: Windows Vista: Turn Off Startup Sound
Question: Turn Off Web Page Sounds
Websites of Interest: Aging in the
Know; Hoax-Slayer; Lgdtxtr; Fifteen
Ways to Save Money Online: 15. Free Spyware Remover
**************************************************************
Special Feature: How Spyware
Works
The
following article appears courtesy of Dave Coustan of
howstuffworks.com
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
Has
your computer ever become so slow that you can fix yourself a snack in the time
it takes your word processor to open? Perhaps spyware is to blame.
Spyware
is a category of computer programs that attach themselves to your operating
system in nefarious ways. They can suck the life out of your computer's
processing power. They are designed to track your
Internet habits, nag you with unwanted sales offers or generate traffic for
their host Web site. According to some estimates, more than 80 percent of all
personal computers are infected with some kind of
spyware [source: FaceTime Communications]. But before you chuck your computer out the window and move
to a desert island, you might want to read on. In this
article we'll explain how spyware gets installed on your computer, what it does
there and how you can get rid of it.
Some
people mistake spyware for a computer virus. A computer virus is a piece of
code designed to replicate itself as many times as possible, spreading from one
host computer to any other computers connected to it. It usually has a payload
that may damage your personal files or even your operating system.
Spyware,
on the other hand, generally is not designed to damage
your computer. Spyware is defined broadly as any
program that gets into your computer without your permission and hides in the
background while it makes unwanted changes to your user experience. The damage
it does is more a by-product of its main mission, which is to serve you targeted
advertisements or make your browser display certain sites or search results.
At
present, most spyware targets only the Windows operating system. Some of the
more notorious spyware threats include Trymedia, Nuvens, Estalive, Hotbar and New.Net.Domain.Plugin
[source: CA].
How
Your Computer Gets Spyware
Spyware
usually ends up on your machine because of something you do, like clicking a
button on a pop-up window, installing a software package or agreeing to add
functionality to your Web browser. These applications often use trickery to get
you to install them, from fake system alert messages to buttons that say "cancel" when they really install spyware.
Here are some of the general ways in which spyware finds its way into your
computer:
* Piggybacked software
installation - Some applications -- particularly peer-to-peer file-sharing
clients -- will install spyware as a part of their standard installation
procedure. If you do not read the installation list closely, you might not
notice that you are getting more than the file-sharing application you want.
This is especially true of the "free" versions that are advertised as alternatives to software you have to buy.
As the old saying goes, there is no such thing as a free lunch.
* Drive-by download - This
is when a Web site or pop-up window automatically tries to download and install
spyware on your machine. The only warning you might get would be your browser's
standard message telling you the name of the software and asking if it is okay
to install it. If your security settings are set low enough, you will not even
get the warning.
* Browser add-ons - These
are pieces of software that add enhancements to your Web browser, like a
toolbar, animated pal or additional search box. Sometimes, these really do what
they say they will do but also include elements of spyware as part of the deal.
Or sometimes they are nothing more than thinly veiled
spyware themselves. Particularly nasty add-ons are considered
browser hijackers -- these embed themselves deeply in your machine and take
quite a bit of work to get rid of.
* Masquerading as
anti-spyware -- This is one of the cruelest tricks in the book. This type of
software convinces you that it is a tool to detect and remove spyware. When you run the tool, it tells you your
computer is clean while it installs additional spyware of its own.
What
Spyware Can Do
Spyware
can do any number of things once it's installed on
your computer.
At
a minimum, most spyware runs as an application in the background as soon as you
start your computer up, hogging RAM and processor power. It can generate
endless pop-up ads that make your Web browser so slow it becomes unusable. It
can reset your browser's home page to display an ad every time you open it.
Some spyware redirects your Web searches, controlling the results you see and
making your search engine practically useless. It can also modify the
dynamically linked libraries (DLLs) your computer uses
to connect to the Internet, causing connectivity failures that are hard to
diagnose. At its very worst, spyware can record the words you type, your Web
browsing history, passwords and other private information.
Certain
types of spyware can modify your Internet settings so that if you connect
through dial-up service, your modem dials out to expensive, pay telephone
numbers. Like a bad guest, some spyware changes your firewall settings,
inviting in more unwanted pieces of software. There are even
some forms that are smart enough to know when you try to remove them in
the Windows registry and intercept your attempts to do so.
The
point of all this from the spyware makers' perspective is not always clear. One reason it's used is to
pad advertisers' Web traffic statistics. If they can force your computer to
show you tons of pop-up ads and fake search results, they can claim credit for
displaying that ad to you over and over again. And each time you click the ad by accident, they can count
that as someone expressing interest in the advertised product.
Another
use of spyware is to steal affiliate credits. Major shopping sites like Amazon
and eBay offer credit to a Web site that successfully directs traffic to their
item pages. Certain spyware applications capture your requests to view sites
like Amazon and eBay and then take the credit for sending you there.
Legality
So
is it legal to install difficult-to-remove software without the user's
permission? Not really. There's an increasing body of
state legislation that explicitly bans spyware, including the Spyware Control
Act in Utah and the Consumer Protection Against
Computer Spyware Act in California. But even without
these new state laws, federal law already prohibits spyware. The Computer Fraud
and Abuse Act covers any unauthorized software
installations. Deceptive trade practices of any kind also violate the Federal
Trade Commission Act. Additionally, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act
makes it unlawful for companies to violate the security of customers' personal
information.
Just
like anti-spam legislation, these spyware laws can be very difficult to enforce
in practice, and the perpetrators know it. It can be tough to find hard
evidence connecting individual companies to their spyware products, and, as
with all Internet-related lawsuits, there are often battles over which court's
jurisdiction applies to the case. Just because it's
illegal doesn't mean it's easy to stop.
Protect
Yourself
How
can you protect yourself against spyware, and what can you do if you think you
already have some on your computer? Here are a few suggestions.
Use
a spyware scanner.
There are several applications you can turn to for
trustworthy spyware detection and removal, including Ad-aware, Spybot and Windows Defender. All three are free
for the personal edition. These work just like your anti-virus software and can
provide active protection as well as detection. They will also detect Internet
cookies and tell you which sites they refer back to.
Note
- Once you know which spyware is on your computer, in some cases you'll need to seek specific instructions on how to remove
it. Links to some of those instructions are listed in
the "Spyware Help" section, below, and more are included in the Lots
More Information section at the end of this article. Here are a few more
solutions:
Use
a pop-up blocker.
Many
of the current browsers, including Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, have
the ability to block all Web sites from serving you pop-up windows. This
function can be configured to be on all of the time or
to alert you each time a site wants to pop up a new window. It can also tell
you where the pop-up is coming from and selectively allow windows from trusted
sources.
Disable
Active-X.
Most
browsers have security settings in their preferences which
allow you to specify which actions Web sites are allowed to take on your
machine. Since many spyware applications take advantage of a special code in
Windows called Active-X, it's not a bad idea to simply
disable Active-X on your browser. Note that if you do this, you will also
disallow the legitimate uses for Active-X, which may interfere with the
functionality of some Web sites.
Be
suspicious of installing new software.
In
general, it pays to be suspicious when a site asks to install something new on
your computer. If it's not a plug-in you recognize,
like Flash, QuickTime or the latest Java engine, the safest plan of action is
to reject the installation of new components unless you have some specific
reason to trust them. Today's Web sites are sophisticated
enough that the vast majority of functionality happens inside your browser,
requiring only a bare minimum of standard plug-ins. Besides, it never hurts to
reject the installation first and see if you can get on without it. A
trustworthy site will always give you the opportunity to go back and download a
needed component later.
Use
the "X" to close pop-up windows.
Get
to know what your computer's system messages look like so that you can spot a
fake. It's usually pretty easy to tell the difference
once you get to know the standard look of your system alerts. Stay away from
the "No thanks" buttons if you can help it, and instead close the
window with the default "X" at the corner of the toolbar. For an even
more reliable option, use the keystroke combination for "close window"
built into your software. You can look in your browser's "File" menu
to find it.
Spyware
Help
Microsoft
DLL Help Database - Download original DLLs
http://support.microsoft.com/dllhelp/
SpywareGuide: List of Spyware - Find information on a
specific piece of spyware
http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php
Browser
Hijacking: Hijack Removal - Find detailed instructions on removing a browser
hijacker
http://tinyurl.com/l2j59t
http://www.spywareremove.com/remove-BrowserHijackers/index.html
Lots
More Information:
Spyware
Guide
http://www.spywareguide.com/
HowStuffWorks: How Computer Viruses Work
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm
Forbes.com:
Fighting Spyware For Profit
http://www.forbes.com/technology/enterprisetech/2005/01/17/cx_ah_0117spysales.html
ZDNet.com:
How to fix spyware
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5535478.html
InformationWeek:
A Look At The Law: Can the government have an impact
on spyware?
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=57701329
**************************************************************
Question: Windows Vista: Turn Off IE
Sounds
Question: Every time I click on something in
Internet Explorer, it makes an annoying clicking sound. Can I change the settings to get this to
stop?
Answer:
Yes,
you can disable the clicking sound.
Here are the steps:
Click
on the Start button and open Control Panel. Open Hardware and Sound. Click on Sound.
At the top of the window that you now see, click the Sounds tab.
In
the Program area, scroll down to Windows Explorer. Under Windows Explorer, look for Start
Navigation. Click on it to select
it.
Further down in the window, you will see the Sounds
area. Click the down arrow to the
right of the current sound. A very
long list will display; scroll to the top of the list and select None. The Sounds
area will now display None.
Click
the OK button and close any open Control Panel windows.
You
will no longer hear any clicking sounds when navigating in Internet Explorer.
**************************************************************
Question: System Sounds
I
like to listen to music CDs on my computer while I work but the other sounds
can be annoying. The sounds I’m referring to are the beeps and pongs that play
when programs do things, error messages, etc. Can I turn those sounds off but continue
to listen to my music?
Answer:
Yes,
you can. Here are the steps to do
so:
Right
click on the little gray speaker icon that is in the System tray (that’s the bottom right corner, next to the
clock). A menu will open.
If
you are using Windows XP, click Open Volume Controls. The Volume Control window will open;
look for the Wave area. Below that,
you will see a slider, and below that, a Mute button. To turn system sounds off completely,
click the Mute button. A checkmark
will appear and you will no longer hear anything other than your music
playing. Click the X button to
close the window.
If
you are using Windows Vista, click Open Volume Mixer. Look for Windows Sounds. You will see a slider below that. Below the slider is a button with a
picture of a speaker on it. Click
that button. A small red
circle/slash will appear indicating that the system sounds are
turned off. Click the X
button to close the window.
**************************************************************
Question: Windows Vista: Turn Off Startup Sound
Question:
How do you turn off the sound when the computer starts?
Answer:
Click
on the Start button and open Control Panel. Open Hardware and Sound. Click on Sound.
At the top of the window that you now see, click the Sounds tab.
Click
the checkbox to the left of Play Windows Startup Sound. This will remove the checkmark.
Click
the OK button and close any open Control Panel windows.
You
will no longer hear any sounds when your computer turns on.
**************************************************************
Question: Turn Off Web Page
Sounds
Can
you please help me with something I find very annoying? When I visit some websites, music starts
blaring out of my speakers. I
usually listen to my CDs while I work on my computers which
is nice, quiet music. But this website music blares right through. Is there some setting I can change to
make that stop?
Answer:
We agree, that is very annoying. And yes, there
is a setting you can change. Here
are the steps:
Open
Internet Explorer.
Click
Tools on the menu and then click Internet Options. (If you cannot see the menu,
press the Alt key on the keyboard).
A window will open.
Click
the Advanced tab at the top. Scroll
down to the Multimedia section. Click the checkbox to the left of Play sounds
in webpages. Click the OK button.
You
will no longer hear any sounds or music in webpages.
**************************************************************
Websites of Interest:
Aging
in the Know
Created
by the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging, this website
provides information on health and aging.
http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/
Hoax-Slayer
Ever
get an email from a friend with a dire warning you
about a scam, email chain letters, phishing emails, charity giveaways,
celebrity death news or any other type of hoax? Before forwarding it on, take a moment
to verify if it is real or just some nonsense. Visit the website and see if it a
legitimate store.
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/
Lgdtxtr
Online translator for translating teen text messaging
lingo to regular English. The tool can come in handy for parents to
keep in the know of what kids are texting about
http://www.lgdtxtr.com/
Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online:
15. Free Spyware Remover
From
Wendy Boswell of about.com
No
matter what your financial situation may be, it is always a good idea to learn
new ways to save money. Find out how you can utilize the power of the Web to
save money, find good deals, and improve your financial status.
15. Free Spyware Remover
If
you've ever had weird pop-up windows that just won't go away, hijacked browser
settings, internet preferences inexplicably changed, or a very slow web search
experience, than you've most likely been the victim of spyware, adware, or
malware. All three of these terms mean pretty much the same thing: a program
that monitors your actions, generates unwanted ads, and is
installed on your computer without your explicit permission or
knowledge.
If
you are not careful, spyware, adware, and malware can take over your system,
causing it to slow down and even crash. Here are a few programs that you can
download for free from the Web that will remove
spyware and adware from your system.
* Adaware. I use this myself almost every day. It
cleans your computer of adware and spyware, and is updated
frequently. If you are on the Web for significant amounts of time (which I am),
or have a constant uninterrupted connection such as cable or DSL, I suggest you
sweep your computer using this tool at least twice a week. More would be
better.
http://tinyurl.com/at3fhx
* Spybot. Another good adware
removal program that I use almost every day as well. SpyBot
Search and Destroy is a great way to remove adware and spyware from your
system.
http://tinyurl.com/dehwhd
* Spyware Doctor offers a
free trial and then is available for purchase for $29.95. Although I haven't tried this particular spyware remover, it has
received high ratings from C-Net.
http://tinyurl.com/bjuf2t
Tip: Some websites may require you to
register to use their features.
When you register at websites, you may be signing up for spam (junk
mail) if the recipient sells email addresses to spammers. There is a way to avoid this and still
be able to take advantage of the great things that site has to offer. Read our article, Minimizing Spam –
Registering Online, at our newsletter archives, to learn how use websites
without getting junk mail.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/111608.html
This
is the last article in our series: Fifteen Ways to Save Money Online. We hope you enjoyed it! Here are the previous topics we covered
in this series:
1.
Find Cheap Gas Using the Web
2. Looking for a cheaper cell phone plan?
3.
Mapquest Road Trip Planner
4.
Organize your Travel Plans with TripIt
5.
The Best Sites for Cheap Flights
6.
Check for Amazon Coupons
7.
Shop Online, Online Shopping Search Engines
8.
Shop Online, Online Shopping with Comparison Shopping Search Engines
9.
Shop Locally
10.
Look for Free Printable Coupons
11.
Check Out RetailMeNot
12.
Watch Free Movies Online
13.
Free Music Downloads
14.
Read Free eBooks
15.
Free Spyware Remover
To
read these articles, please visit our newsletter archives.
http://computerkindergarten.com/html/savemoney.html