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LATEST THREATS....
>>> Beware of SpyAXE, a
really nasty spyware and especially difficult to clean... will present itself as a Windows Security Update and as a popup
saying you are infected and click a button to clean...DON'T...
WORM_KELVIR.CY Low Dec 6, 2005
BKDR_ZAPCHAST.BB
Low Dec 6, 2005
WORM_AIMDES.E Low Dec 5, 2005
JS_ONLOADXPLT.A Low Dec 5, 2005
WORM_MYTOB.NH
Low Dec 5, 2005
WORM_RONTOKBRO.Y Low Dec 5, 2005
BKDR_BREPLIBOT.M Low Dec 5, 2005
BKDR_BREPLIBOT.N
Low Dec 4, 2005
TROJ_DANMEC.E Low Dec 4, 2005
SYMBOS_PBSTEAL.C Low Dec 2, 2005
SPYWARE,
ADWARE, & VIRUS
Over time, your computer may begin to slow down. When browsing you have pop-up after pop-up and not
able to get to sites you want to view. Strange occurances are happening, your system almost seems possessed....Well, IT MAY
BE!
With the popularity of the Internet, we have seen that there are people from all walks of life and with all personalities,
this includes good and bad people. The thieves and robbers of real life have found new territory to attack, innocent computer
users throughout the Internet.
The most well known Internet attacks are Viruses. These are programs that replicate
themselves and attempt to do damage to a computer and it's contents (or steals passwords, etc). There are many viruses out
there and they have multiple methods of attack. Normally, you will notice odd email activity or see strange files popping
up on your C drive or in your Windows folder.
Viruses are evil, plain and simple.
Spyware and Adware are normally
clumped together as a group. They are programs that usually get installed as a hidden "feature" of other programs. the most
common source is file sharing applications (Kazaa, etc).
These programs attempt to take over access to your Browser in
order to point you to their web sites or contral the advertising that you see while online. These Spyware and Adware programs
almost always track your online and offline activity (and sometimes your keystrokes) to send you targeted advertising.
Some
new variants of Adware and Spyware make you look through a End-User License Agreement (EULA) that is bundled with something
else. These agreements may be up to 30 pages long and contain confusing legal language that essentially states that you grant
system access to these programs. Some of these EULAs actually go so far as to say that once installed, it violates the EULA
to uninstall the software.
The side effects of Spyware and Adware are usually magnified when you go online. Many times,
you may see slow activity while on dial-up and when a user upgrades to DSL or Cable Internet, their computer is completely
out of control with numerous pop-ups and other activity. Your PC has been HIJACKED!!!
SPYWARE THREATS
Spyware
threats come in different flavors. The spyware agent can be malware (modifies system settings, and can perform undesirable
tasks on your system), hijacker (redirects your browser to web sites), dialer (dials a service, most likely porn sites, for
which you are billed!), trojan horse (is attached to a program, and performs undesirable tasks on your system), collectware
(collects information about you and your surfing habits).
In addition to doing a detailed check of your browser history,
spyware can install DLLs and other executables files, send continuous data to the parent, leave a backdoor open for hackers
to intercept your personal data or enter your computer, can install other programs directly on to your computer without your
knowledge, can send/receive cookies to other spyware programs and invite them into your computer (even if you have cookies
disabled), and they can add Trojan horses to your system. Most spyware and adware programs are independent executable files
which take on the authorization abilities of the victim. They include auto install and auto update capabilities and can report
on any attempts to remove or modify them.
Spyware programs can reset your auto signature, disable or bypass your uninstall
features, monitor your keystrokes, scan files on your drive, access your applications, change homepages in addition to displaying
advertising content online or offline. They can read, write and delete files and even reformat your hard drive and they do
this while sending a steady stream of information back to the advertising and marketing companies. The majority of these programs
once installed can not easily be deleted from your system by normal methods and often leave components behind to continue
to monitor your behavior and reinstall themselves.
In addition to being included with software products some spyware
programs can get installed on your computer while you surf the Internet!
SPYWARE CATEGORIES
Adware networks
The
backbone for big time spyware are ad serving networks that pay publishers of games, utilities and music/video players per
download, to include their ad serving programs.
Stalking horses
A number of programs that enable the adware networks
to function on desktops are bundled in many popular programs and often (not always!) presented in installation disclosure
screens as desirable add-ons to their Trojan horse hosts. All collect information.
Trojan horses
These popular Internet
downloads usually come with the ad serving network basic software and at least one stalking horse.
Backdoor Santas
Stand-alone
programs that incorporate similar approaches have no links to ad serving networks and collect information from users.
Cookies
Netscape
Navigator and Internet Explorer will still send out existing cookies even after disabling cookies in the browser settings.
You must manually delete any/all cookie files on your system to eliminate being tracked by third-party ad networks or spyware
or adware providers.
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