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What is e-commerce? | Security | Programming | Statistics
Definitions of SPYWARE according to various web sites:
Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer, generally without the knowledge of the computer's user, that collects information to later send through the Internet to a server.
There are several kinds of spyware and only the individual user is able to judge if they are interested in continuing with the spyware installed on their computer or if they prefer to eliminate it.
It is interesting that anti-virus companies do not abide by the same policy towards spyware and trojans. A program is classified as a trojan when in addition to capturing remote information (a function performed not only by trojans) it also silently collects information from the victim's computer. If Sub7 for example asks us for authorization before installation on your server and specifies its functions exactly before use I am sure that anti-virus protection will not detect it. It would be considered a legitimate remotely administered program like hundreds of others found on the Internet.
Then why isn't the same policy followed with spyware when it installs on our computers surreptitiously in many cases? I am particularly bothered when I see a firewall maintaining Internet connection for spyware like eZula, Save Now, Realplayer (yes, it also spies on us), etc...
Its true that a lot of spyware is installed in some programs with some attempt to inform the user; however this information is in fine print and nobody reads it (including me) when we install a new program. But there are occasions when we haven't been 'informed' and when we finally realize we have already installed it on our machine, it is already consuming our machine's resources, RAM memory, Internet broadband and sending information about our activities and habits through the Internet.
(source http://www.gratiszona.com/antivirus/seguridad_spyware.htm)
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Did you know someone can secretly access your computer with the goal of obtaining personal information? You've never had the feeling that someone was watching you while you are on line? Well that feeling is justified with Spyware or Adware.
When we talk about Spyware we can also talk about spy files. They are small applications that are installed on our equipment without permission and without our knowledge in order to find personal and private information that could be of future interest to the businesses that later receive it.
Surely you are asking yourself: How did it get into my machine? How does it work once inside? What personal information is is finding? Let's look at these questions one by one.
What is certain is that unbeknown to us we are giving entry to these programs when we surf the Internet. They most commonly install with Shareware type programs: programs that one can download, use freely for a period of time, with the inconvenience of having to pay for continued use after the trial period ends. And if the Shareware program has ads that odds that its also has Spyware are increased.
These spy files come in the form of libraries, meaning in extension files that normally are located in the Windows System folder. Their job consists of obtaining user information like what operating system is used, Internet sites visited, the amount of time spent in each site, downloads, etc. Including the ability to transfer information as personal as the addresses in your email, IP addresses, the telephone number through which you connect to the Internet with your user name and password, etc.
(source http://www.configurarequipos.com)
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Spyware or spy files are tiny applications whose objective is to seek and send information from the system in which it is installed through a surreptitious Internet connection to a third party recipient who is, in general, an Internet advertising company. These actions are carried out without the knowledge of the user. Although they have certain similarities to Trojans Spyware does not present the danger of outside manipulation of our system, nor damage to our computer. Its effects are simply a violation of our confidentiality rights to our personal information, as well as slower Internet browsing.
We ourselves introduce these programs into our computers, even though we do it without our knowledge. Normally these files come accompanied by a Shareware type file, free, and including advertising. These programs are a tempting offer for many users especially since some programs are truly good, useful, and on some occasions, the best in their class. Doesn't it seem strange then that their distribution is free? An advertising banner in the program for the duration of its use dulls our suspicions about why such a program might be 'free.' When we install these programs at the same time we are introducing files that reveal our information to interested businesses.
(source: http://www.publispain.com/spyware/queson.htm)
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Suppose that you bought a television that secretly included a component that tracked what you watched and later reported that information to a company to use or sell that information for advertising purposes. The worst part is that no one told you that the tracking technology was there, or asked your permission to use it. Probably you would be indignant about such an invasion into your privacy. However, such a Big Brother type of intrusion happens everyday on the Internet affecting thousands of people.
Many web sites, including respected companies, place a secret file known as a “tracking cookie” on your hard drive. This file records the sites you visit on the Internet in the name of Web advertising companies that later use that information for their own purposes or sell it to advertisers. In almost all cases the user is not notified that the cookie is downloaded and neither are they asked permission to install it. Fortunately, well-know anti-spy programs for Windows can detect and remove tracking cookies. They are the best defense a user has against such tactics.
However some companies that place these files on your hard drive are complaining about such a defense. Some are asking anti-spyware companies to stop detecting and removing tracking cookies. They argue that the secret installation of such tracking files is a legitimate business practice and that tracking cookies are not really spyware, nor are they damaging like other spy software.
Unfortunately for consumers that distorted reasoning has some impact. In a notable case, Microsoft disactivated the detection and removal of tracking cookies when it purchased anti-spyware software from a small company named Giant which it then converted into Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware. That is the principal reason I do not recommend that Microsoft product which is still in its testing period, but is widely available for download.
(source http://www.telcommunity.com)
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Today spyware (or spying software) is one of several widespread types of malicious software and has a high incidence among professional and home computers. Statistics show that more versions of spyware exist than viruses. The difference is that viruses have been around for the last twenty years while spyware is a recent threat, no older than two or three years.
Initially spyware came about included in free software applications with the purpose of obtaining information about the activities of the computer user in order to develop a profile of their Internet browsing and interests. This information is valuable to Internet marketing companies who can then use it to build data bases to find out what is of interest to individual users or profiles.
But, like all kinds of IT threats, spyware has evolved and developed new methods, no longer just installing with free software. One of these methods are pages that try to take advantage of users' web navigators. When a user browses through certain web sites it is possible that spyware tries to install on the user's computer, taking advantage of known security loopholes.
Spyware have also increased their abilities to develop something more than hidden programs to capture information: now they attempt to interact with a user through tool bars on their browser, for example. In this way they know exactly what the user is doing and are in a position to add 'content' to pages visited. This may occur through the highlighting of text (key words associated with products that pay to participate in such 'marketing strategies') or opening pop-up windows with advertising.
To give an example, there is a type of spyware that was developed earlier but still exists in certain names and forms; this kind of spyware detects certain key words in the sites visited by a user then modify them dynamically to include links to sales sites. If they find, for example, that a user is reading a page that names a specific credit card company they highlight the name of the company and provide a link to a site where the user can sign up for a card.
(source http://www.desarrolloweb.com/articulos/2123.php )
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