How To

What Spyware Does and How to React

Seven preventative measures to combat spyware

By Sarah D. Scalet

November 01, 2004 — CSO —

ACTIONREACTION
Masquerades as antispyware software. (Lavasoftâ¬"s Ad-Aware is an antispyware tool, but A-daware and Ada-ware are reportedly imposters.)Download programs directly from an antispyware company or from a known source.
Exploits known vulnerabilities in your Internet Explorer to do a â¬Sdrive-by download⬝ when you visit a website.Keep your system patched.
Installs itself no matter where you click in the pop-up window.Click the upper right-hand corner, or close the window in the task bar.
Presents an option that you should â¬SClick No to install.⬝Click the upper right-hand corner, or close the window in the task bar.
Tells you that you need to install a program to view the current webpage.Download only known plug-ins from reputable sites.
Hides unwanted features in the terms of the end-user license agreement (EULA).Read the EULA. Just kidding. Google the software before installing it to learn what other users have said.
Appears as an e-mail attachment, perhaps from a friend.Come on, you know this one, right?

Other stories by Sarah D. Scalet

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