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When Spyware Attacks!
Leap Frog Solutions was called out to fix a computer issue for a client who found themselves in dire straights. They were experiencing an uncontrollable stream of pop up advertisements when connecting to the internet on the secretary’s workstation. This had happened after the boss’s son had used her computer over the weekend. The result of junior’s innocent web adventures was that her computer was left with a severe infection of Spyware and Adware that left it unusable.

What are Spyware and Adware?
Adware and spyware are any software that covertly gather a user's information without his or her knowledge and transfers that information to a third party. The most commons symptoms are unwanted popup windows and a slower internet connection.

So some pop-up ads, how bad can it be?
Not only can spyware programs significantly slow down systems and result in more pop-up ads, they can lead to identity and intellectual property theft, data corruption, and data loss.

What are the dangers to your PC or business network?

Identity theft through the unknowing transmission of passwords, credit card numbers, and personal information. Identity theft is the #1 complaint filed with the FTC and is the fastest growing crime in the United States with 8 million complaints in 2003 with reported losses over $400 millions (FTC). Your odds of becoming a victim are 1 in 25

monitoring of keyboard strokes and chat programs
exposed risk of spyware and viruses to the office network

What are the symptoms of Spyware and Adware?

Slower internet connection
Poor PC performance and crashing
New browser homepage you didn't set
Increase in Pop ups and spam mail

How did I get it?
Spyware is most commonly bundled with legitimate software and will slip right by virus software and firewalls. Spyware/Adware is most commonly found bundled with freeware, shareware, browser add-ons, file sharing programs (Kazaa), SPAM, instant messengers, or compromised websites.

How do I protect myself?

Read the End User License Agreement of software you choose to install
Check http://www.spywareguide.com/product_search.php to see if the software you are installing is a known spyware.
Keep your web browser and operating system up to date.

How do I know if I have spyware or adware?
Be careful, there are many programs that claim to remove spyware and adware that are actually adware programs themselves. Four such examples of phony removers are InternetAntiSpy, SpyAssult, SpyBlast and SpyBan.

Our own experience in the field have shown the following to be fairly useless and should be avoided:

SpySweeper
PestPatrol

We recommend these popular detection and removal tools (READ THEIR INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE!!)

SpyBot - http://www.safer-networking.org/
Adaware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

About the author:
Robert Delano is the Co-Founder of Leap Frog Solutions, Inc. Leap Frog Solutions is an IT Service Provider helping businesses and home users in a broad range of computer, network, and software needs. Leap Frog's unique philosophy and approach to providing affordable, consistent, and high quality IT service was developed from working for demanding Fortune 500 clients.

To learn more about how Leap Frog Solutions applies its veteran experience to home users and local businesses, log into www.LeapFrogNow.com or call 888-549-0752.

illustration by Bruce Padmore

What are Spyware and Adware? Adware and spyware are any software that covertly gather a user's information without his or her knowledge and transfers that information to a third party. The most commons symptoms are unwanted popup windows and a slower internet connection.

So some pop-up ads, how bad can it be? Not only can spyware programs significantly slow down systems and result in more pop-up ads, they can lead to identity and intellectual property theft, data corruption, and data loss.

How did I get it? Spyware is most commonly bundled with legitimate software and will slip right by virus software and firewalls. Spyware/Adware is most commonly found bundled with freeware, shareware, browser add-ons, file sharing programs (Kazaa), SPAM, instant messengers, or compromised websites.

How do I protect myself?

How do I know if I have spyware or adware? Be careful, there are many programs that claim to remove spyware and adware that are actually adware programs themselves. Four such examples of phony removers are InternetAntiSpy, SpyAssult, SpyBlast and SpyBan.

What are Spyware and Adware?
Adware and spyware are any software that covertly gather a user's information without his or her knowledge and transfers that information to a third party. The most commons symptoms are unwanted popup windows and a slower internet connection.

So some pop-up ads, how bad can it be?
Not only can spyware programs significantly slow down systems and result in more pop-up ads, they can lead to identity and intellectual property theft, data corruption, and data loss.

How did I get it?
Spyware is most commonly bundled with legitimate software and will slip right by virus software and firewalls. Spyware/Adware is most commonly found bundled with freeware, shareware, browser add-ons, file sharing programs (Kazaa), SPAM, instant messengers, or compromised websites.

How do I know if I have spyware or adware?
Be careful, there are many programs that claim to remove spyware and adware that are actually adware programs themselves. Four such examples of phony removers are InternetAntiSpy, SpyAssult, SpyBlast and SpyBan.