Chapter 5. Tip 5: Lock Out Spyware and Adware

Threat Type: Software based, victim enabled

Examples of Threats:

• Popping up advertisements all over your computer screen

• Installing programs to collect and report data on your Internet browsing habits

• Inserting toolbar or searchbar programs into your browser or applications, such as Internet Explorer, which slow down your computer's performance

• Collecting and reporting information about which websites you visit so that you can be targeted more effectively with advertisements and marketing

Our Tips:

• Install and enable a popup blocker.

• Install and enable a spyware/adware blocker.

• Use a personal firewall program on each computer to prevent unauthorized program installations and Internet access (see Chapter 1, "Tip 1: Use Firewalls").

• Avoid downloading "free" software programs that have strings attached.

• Periodically use a spyware elimination program to find and delete spyware and adware.

One of the engines that has driven the explosive growth of the Internet is the concept of eyeballs. For a relatively low price, you are provided with a high-speed broadband connection that gives you access to an endless amount of mostly free information, services, digital media, and even software programs.

Ever ask yourself how these companies stay in business? For example, how does Weather.com pay their bills to be able to bring you awesome up-to-the-minute radar images for your city's weather? How can people give you software programs such as screensavers and games for free?

The answer is eyeballs. Eyeballs refers to the number of people's eyes someone can get to view their Internet content (and accompanying advertisements). Yes, the Internet is based on relatively the same concept as commercial television.

The difference is the Internet can bring highly targeted advertising like never before and sometimes nearly force you to view it. Banner and popup ads were the first wave, but most people are tuning them out, so to speak, by installing popup blockers. So, advertisers are relying on more sophisticated methods to get their stuff in front of your eyes.

An all-out brawl is looming between consumers and advertisers. Between cable networks, DVRs, and TiVo players, we can screen out quite a few commercials. With increasingly good technology, we can also screen out a lot of advertisements online, too, which is the focus of the rest of this chapter.