007 Free Games FAQs - Get Protected!
(Press Ctrl and D - to bookmark 007 FREE!)
Or bookmark online >>
Del.icio.us
Digg
it!
Furl
Spy-Ware FAQ
What is Spy-Ware?
Spy-ware is software or components that gathers data and information about a person or organization without their knowledge, and without their explicit permission.
Crucially, Spyware is only spyware when the spying and surveillance occurs without the users knowledge and/or permission.
This frequently happens when software is installed and may form part of the licensing agreement for use of the software.
Spy-Ware is often installed on someone's computer to secretly gather information about the user and relay it to advertisers or other data processors or gatherers.
Spy-ware is often used to track a persons internet usage, surfing preferences, and online actions.
Spy Ware may also gather data about the user's computer or network, such as the type and configuration of the computer or network, installed software, and databases being used.
Strictly speaking, spyware that is installed with the user's knowledge would not count as spyware, so long as the user has been fully informed of the data collection and data processing that will take place as a result of the install.
Spy-Ware can also get installed onto a computer via a software virus.
SpyWare can come in the form of software, tracking cookies, information transmission, web bots and web bugs, and any hidden data mining and collection method.
There is a danger that malicious spyware may access or track highly sensitive personal information and data such as; credit card numbers, passwords, bank account information, and other personal financial data.
Malicious spyware has been known to secretly drop a dial-up connection and re-dial a premium rate or international number, at huge cost to the user.
Another issue that may be important when Spy-ware is inadvertently installed on your computer is that computer resources are used by the spyware and your computer and the software on your computer may run slower as a result.
Even the humble cookie can be considered spyware when used to store information that you don't know about.
Internet users generally accept, and allow, cookies as beneficial and perhaps, enabling personlised content to be served to the user.
Crucially, users have the option and capbility of setting their web browsers to refuse cookies or only accept certain cookies.
Nevertheless, there are instances of companies using cookies to collect database information about individual users surfing patterns and preferences.
This information may then be used to deliver targeted advetising based on the personal user data collected through cookie tracking.
Implication for Free Games
Some free games may contain code or components that enable the authors of these games to collect and disseminate information about those installing and using the free games.
The spy-ware components or software that are installed when you install the free game can monitor and track your surfing habits, then use your connection to the Internet (without your permission) and send the data to a third party.
With this data, that has been collected without your permission, profiles of your shopping habits are analysed, for marketing purposes, perhaps.
Other unpleasant consequences of spy-ware are that your browser start page could be changed, important system files could be altered, and your email client may carry advertising or commercial components that you cannot easily remove.
A general characteristic of spy-ware is that this manipulation of your computer or network occurs without your explicit permission.
"spyware - a type of malware that reports on the contents, status, or operation of the computer to a remote system or user. Generically this could be almost any type of information gathering software. More specifically, it usually refers to modules or functions in software that reports to the author, publisher, or service provider of an otherwise legitimate system. Spyware ranges from functions that report on version levels to the host system, through packages that report the presence of other software from the same manufacturer, through systems that gather information on all software installed including those from competing vendors, all the way to modules that report on the user's Web surfing. Justifications proposed for spyware include the need to ensure versions are kept up to date in order to provide proper service, concerns about software piracy, concerns about use for illegal or unacceptable purposes, and the gathering of marketing information." From http://sun.soci.niu.edu/~rslade/secgloss.htm Glossary of Communications, Computer, Data, and Information Security Terms
Below is a list of some of the best Free Anti-Spy-Ware Software courtesy of The Free Software Pages
Ad-Aware - Ad-aware is a free multi-spyware removal tool that detects and safely removes advertising spyware from your system. Recommended - you will be amazed at what it will find on your own system - be warned though, some spyware like GoZilla! and Comet Cursor will no longer work after running Ad-Aware. FREEWARE FILE.
Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner - Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multitude of spyware, adware, trojan, keylogger, foistware and trackware components; sources of irritation that antivirus software does not deal with. The scanning process will only take about two seconds and tell you how to uninstall the invasive threat using simple step-by-step instructions or put you in contact with the vendor for the most up-to-date and safe uninstall instructions. FREEWARE FILE.
Spybot - Search & Destroy - Spybot - Search & Destroy - Spybot - Search & Destroy can detect and remove spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if you browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm in trying to see if something snooped into your computer, too :). Spybot-S&D can also clean usage tracks, an interesting function if you share your computer with other users and don't want them to see what you worked on. And for professional users, it allows to fix some registry inconsistencies and extended reports. FREEWARE FILE.
SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster - Spyware Blaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.
By setting a "kill bit" for spyware ActiveX controls, SpywareBlaster can prevent the installation of any spyware ActiveX controls from a webpage. It does this while not interfering with "friendly" ActiveX controls - so your browser can work correctly and you can have peace of mind!
You won't get any more annoying "Yes/No" boxes popped up, asking you to install a spyware ActiveX control (which can increasingly be found in pop-up ads!). In fact, Internet Explorer will never even download or run the spyware ActiveX control!
In addition, SpywareBlaster can prevent many of these spyware ActiveX controls from running, even if they are already installed on your system.
The newest SpywareBlaster version can even block spyware/tracking cookies!
And SpywareBlaster does not need to be running in the background to provide this protection!
The SpywareBlaster database contains information on these known spyware Active-X controls.
SpywareBlaster also provides the exclusive System Snapshot! - Take a snapshot of your computer in its clean state, and use System Snapshot later to revert many changes made by spyware and browser hijackers. FREEWARE FILE.
Spy-Ware FAQ
What is Spy Ware?
Spy Ware is...........
If you find this page useful and have a free site of your own, please link to 007 Free Games FAQs. Just cut and paste the HTML below straight into your page!
<A HREF="http://www.007free.com/"> 007 Free Games FAQs</A> : Get Protected!
007 Free Games FAQs
Get Protected!
|