29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

Spyware: More Than a Privacy Issue!

Commentary
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Spyware--and how to get rid of it--is rapidly becoming the "spam du jour" issue of IT departments and home PC users alike. Spyware steals computer cycles, slows Internet response, and sometimes drags a PC down to its knees as it attempts to gather information for its sponsoring hosts.

Like email spam, spyware is not something that corporate America or home PC users ever asked for. Also, in much the way email spam was initially treated by IT, spyware is currently viewed by many IT administrators as a simple nuisance. However, unlike spam, spyware isn't sending you anything. At least not yet! Instead of inundating you with offers to enlarge the private parts of your anatomy, it's examining the private activities that you or your users are performing on the network. And like email spam, spyware is about to become one of IT's biggest nightmares.

What's Spyware?

Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge.

Sometimes called "adware," Internet spyware is usually a program that is put in someone's computer to secretly gather information about that user and relay it to other interested parties. Spyware can get in a computer as a software virus or as the result of installing a new program or downloading data from a Web page.

Other Kinds of Spyware

The infamous Internet cookie is sometimes considered to be spyware. This is a well-known mechanism for storing information about an Internet user on the PC. Often, cookies are retrieved by Web sites to report information when the user returns to a Web page.

However, the implementation of cookies is generally not concealed from users, who can also disallow access to cookie information. Nevertheless, to the extent that a Web site stores information about you in a cookie that you don't know about, the cookie mechanism could be considered a form of spyware.

For instance, our Web site will store the log-in information of a user so that a person may bypass the sign-on page when posting to our forums. However, no other information contained within the cookie is ever transmitted to our site, and the user may change the browser setting so that no cookie is ever written to the hard disk.

So the rule for determining whether something is truly spyware is--like spam--open to interpretation. Some data collection programs are not, properly speaking, spyware if the user fully understands what data is being collected and with whom it is being shared. However, if the data collection program is installed without the user's consent--as a "drive-by" download or as the result of clicking some option in a deceptive pop-up window--the spyware demarcation line has been crossed.

Getting Rid of Spyware

Ridding yourself of spyware--as implemented in Internet browser-related programs--is not an easy task. The reason is that the programs that collect the information through the browser are most often registered in the Windows Registry in several places. Fiddling with the Windows Registry is not a trivial matter that you want to entrust to your users, however.

There are a few steps that you as an individual can perform to eliminate some spyware. First, if you're running Microsoft Internet Explorer, you can disable Browser Helper Applications (ToolsInternet OptionsAdvanced [Tab]Enable Third-Party Browser Extensions [de-select]). This will prevent toolbar applications written by others from using the browser and collecting data. Empty the page cache too, and delete all Internet cookies.

The above steps will help a bit. However, other kinds of spyware are quite persistent, and to rid yourself of these, you'll need some tools.

One very useful tool is called Ad-aware 6.0 written by Nicolas Stark at Lavasoft Sweden. (Not to be confused with Lavasoft.) This program is free to non-commercial users, and it scans the Windows Registry for both spyware cookies and registry entries that collect data. There is also a professional version of the software. You can select those items that are not readily recognizable and remove them from the PC. Ad-aware also allows the user to download new definitions as more spyware exploits are defined.

Another potent tool is Spybot-Search & Destroy, written by Patrick M. Kolla. It is also a free program, though the author would appreciate donations. It too does a thorough registry scan and eliminates the items causing problems. It also has an "immunize" function that helps prevent new spyware from attaching to your users' systems.

A third free product, from JavaCool Software, is SpywareBlaster 3.1, which is actually recommended by the author of Spybot-Search & Destroy to eliminate the addition of new spyware to your system.

In addition, if you're finding that your users are experiencing unknown problems with their browser software--such as Web pages being redirected to unusual places--a knowledgeable person can use a freeware program called HackThis, available at SpywareInfo. HackThis is a kind of Swiss army knife approach to ad-ware, allowing you to examine the registry keys and eliminate the ones that are known problems. However, HackThis is not for your average user, and it can definitely mess up a user's system if the person killing registry entries is inexperienced. Nonetheless, HackThis is a great tool for diagnosing issues that other programs don't address. In addition, the SpywareInfo site is a great repository of information about current spyware programs that are circulating the Internet.

Who Do You Trust with Your Corporate Info?

You might believe that reputable organizations would do everything in their power to help eliminate the threat of spyware. Not so! Just the opposite seems to be true.

For instance, Yahoo! recently began promoting its browser toolbar add-in as a foil against spyware, and Google's toolbar add-in says that it blocks window pop-ups. But, in both cases, the toolbars allow adware agents to be deposited onto the user's PC. So, though they are accurate in their claims that they are preventing "spyware" by their definition, they are in fact promoting and promulgating the less-offensive adware.

This leads us back to an attempt to define what spyware is. Remember that any program that is added to a user's system to collect information unbeknownst to the user is, by definition, spyware. Why is this so important?

Government Spyware

After 9/11, the U.S. Congress reconsidered a plan to implement an anti-terrorist initiative called Total Information Awareness (TIA). This plan, among other things, promoted the use of spyware-type programs to gather information about potential terrorists from the Internet. While the plan was ultimately dismissed by Congress, sources within the government have revealed that various elements of TIA--including the use of some spyware--have been implemented by individual agencies, including the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency. Precisely what kinds of information the spyware programs are collecting is, of course, not known.

Potentially, other kinds of spyware could be--or are being--devised that can delve into company records, obtain customer account information, or transmit user identities and passwords to business competition.

Coming to Terms with Spyware

So the problems of spyware are not merely an issue of traditional privacy: As organizations continue to expand their use of the Internet, the concerns about virus-like spyware will grow rapidly.

Following the pattern of the contagious growth of email spam, spyware today seems like a minor nuisance to our users. But in the months and years to come, controlling this insidious kind of malware is destined to become one more problem for IT to handle.

Thomas M. Stockwell is Editor in Chief of MC Press Online, LP.

Thomas Stockwell

Thomas M. Stockwell is an independent IT analyst and writer. He is the former Editor in Chief of MC Press Online and Midrange Computing magazine and has over 20 years of experience as a programmer, systems engineer, IT director, industry analyst, author, speaker, consultant, and editor.  

 

Tom works from his home in the Napa Valley in California. He can be reached at ITincendiary.com.

 

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: