December 22, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – We received quite a few responses to the Dec. 15 Special Report that suggested some solutions for avoiding and removing spyware. Some readers expressed gratitude for the help and others, professionals in the field, offered additional suggestions.

Coincidentally, the day after LifeSiteNews.com published the article which, among other things, recommended Internet users avoid using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Microsoft finally acknowledged the severity of the spyware problem.

Microsoft announced the acquisition of a spyware removal program from Giant Company Software Inc. and that a beta version of the Microsoft release of the program will be offered free to Internet Explorer users within 30 days. However, the multi-billion dollar software monopoly also indicated it may soon afterwards charge for the new program to protect Internet Explorer from spyware that exploits security weaknesses in Internet Explorer. Go figure.

A reader in the computer industry advised us however, that the relatively new Giant AntiSpyware product is probably by far the best Spyware removal program on the market and that is why Microsoft snapped it up. It is currently no longer available from Giant or anyone else, so we will have to wait for the Microsoft release.

The seriousness of the spyware problem was emphasized in a Dec 20 an article by respected PC Magazine columnist John Dvorak. Dvorak wrote that “this situation with spyware is now officially out of control”.  From discussions with people in the industry he discovered that “the public is only partially aware of the problem” and that “Few users know that their machines are infected”. Ominously, he added that “There is now a firm belief that organized crime, including the Russian mafia, is behind much of this activity”.

One new spyware program to be especially wary of is CoolWebSearch. Webroot Software, makers of the excellent Spy Sweeper program, are warning that “CoolWebSearch is probably one of the most vicious programs in terms of how nasty it is. It completely hijacks the (Internet Explorer) browser so you can’t do anything.”

MORE ADVICE

Following are more LifeSiteNews.com suggestions for eliminating and avoiding spyware:

1. If you wish to use Microsoft’s browser, Windows XP with Service Pack 2 will give by far the best protection. We understand millions of users are still using Windows 98 or 2000 and may not have the resources to update to the latest version. However, if you can, it is the right move.

2. Always download and apply Microsoft security updates as soon as they become available.

3. Avoid those free Internet greeting card, or E-Card services and most free programs and services offered on the Net. They are often, although not always, loaded with catches that you and those you forward them to will regret. The flashy, excessively promoted ones and ones that add a toolbar to your browser should cause special concern. There are however many legitimate free or shareware programs developed by people sincerely tying to provide a useful service to Internet users. Use your best judgment.

4. Avoid file swapping/sharing sites such as Kazaa. These sites are ethically questionable and so naturally a lot of nasty things may accompany whatever you acquire through them. Parents, by the way, should be aware that more than music and mainstream type movies are promoted though those services. They are also efficient and therefore often used gateways to pornography.

5. Avoid any sites that appear to be morally questionable in some way. It they have questionable content, it is likely they are not concerned about the morality of secretly downloading invasive programs onto your computer.

6. Install a good software Internet Firewall such as ZoneAlarm Pro from http://www.zonelabs.com. This especially makes it easy to stop things being sent out from your computer by spyware or virus programs.

7. One professional wrote NEVER INSTALL GATOR!

8. Keep your spyware removal programs constantly updated and activate background monitoring for new spyware, if that function is available with the program, usually only with the paid version.

That should keep everyone busy.

There is much more that could be said but we leave further research on the subject to those who are interested. What we have offered are the basics, which is likely more than enough for most LifeSiteNews.com readers.

See our Dec. 15 article
Avoiding and Removing Adware and Spyware – Sanity Saving Advice
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/dec/041215b.html

Other items mentioned above:
Spyware is now officially out of control Says Dvorak
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1744126,00.asp

Beware of spyware called CoolWebSearch, a program that can change Microsoft Internet Explorer’s security settings and wreak havoc on computers
http://news.com.com/Worst+spyware+queues+up/2100-7349_3-5499609.html?tag=nefd.top

Microsoft May Charge Extra for New Software to Remove Spyware Programs Secretly Running on PCs
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=338100