Spyware and Adware: New Threats to Your Computer

You may have a false sense of security if you think spending a bundle on anti-virus software means your business is safe. With a surge in new kinds of pernicious software that invade your computer, a virus checker alone won’t protect your business. Usually dubbed spyware or adware, these malicious programs can transmit information about the contents of your computer to a third party and insert ads into your Internet browser.

 

Spyware. Top computer manufacturers say that spyware is the No. 1 reason people call tech support. In its most innocuous form, spyware slows down computer processing speed, posing a mere inconvenience. But it can have far more costly consequences, including the theft of your company’s bank information and the account information of your customers.

 

Most spyware installs on your computer only after receiving the user’s permission. For example, many file-sharing programs come with a number of applications that monitor your use of the Internet. Because few people read those tedious licensing agreements before clicking “Accept,” you may have unknowingly agreed to allow a software developer to control your computer remotely.

 

Adware. While many good, free programs display advertisements, adware interferes with other programs, such as your browser, changing their behavior, slowing them down, and forcing you to view unwanted advertising. A study recently determined that 90% of computers are infected with some form of adware.

 

So what should you do? First, as a business owner, write an employee policy that outlines what constitutes appropriate use of the Internet. Reading news online may be acceptable, but downloading file-sharing programs is not. Distribute the policy, and ensure that new employees receive a copy.

 

Next, if your computer system is networked, talk to your administrator about restricting normal users from installing non-preapproved software. That way, if an employee attempts to install a file-sharing program that contains spyware, your computer system will be protected.

 

It’s also important that you or your administrator update Internet browsers and other programs regularly. These updates often contain important security patches that fix computer bugs that leave certain programs especially vulnerable to spyware, viruses, and other types of  malicious software.

 

Finally, run a diagnostic program like Ad-aware, Webroot’s Spy Sweeper, or HijackThis, which probe your computer and root out suspicious files. These programs can help purge certain kinds of spyware. However, eliminating it altogether can be tricky, requiring users to inspect a hard drive one file at a time.

 

The security and privacy of you and your customers may depend on taking these safeguards.