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Adware, spyware a menace for Net users

Analyst: Illicit programs 'next great terror' for Internet

By Matt Cooper
Senior Staff Writer

Spyware and adware are increasingly common annoyances for Internet users, but a UH systems analyst said many people may not realize how threatening they really are.

Gary Chelette, an analyst in UH's Information Technology Department, called Spyware and adware "the next greatest terror on the Internet." The software, once used to target advertising to browsing habits, can now hijack home pages, download programs without permission and harvest personal information like Social Security and bank account numbers.

"(Adware and spyware) are coming into computers by the ton," Chelette said. "They record everything you do and everywhere you go."

Adware is used as a cost-effective advertising tool. Internet service providers use it to pay for their services, and it can also be found on some free software downloads, like the video player DivX.

Spyware is similar to adware, except that it enters a computer without permission and covertly sends personal information without the user's knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware is more common than adware and is the usual cause for unexpected pop-up advertisements and changes to Web browser configurations.

"I don't think (the software is) a good idea," said Rincy Sethi, a graduate student at the Law Center. "It's an invasion of privacy."

Spyware can also download even more spyware without users' knowledge, often resulting in more than 100 programs sending and downloading information. Chelette said one student's laptop computer was so riddled with spyware that it was sending 330 gigabytes of data per hour -- the equivalent of about 125 million average-sized e-mail messages.

"It's a real pain in the derriere if you don't want it," interior design junior Jonia Jno-Finn said. "It fills your computer with nonsense."

Chelette warned that spyware can often allow an unknown person to invade a computer without the user's knowledge, storing anything from pornography to pirated software there.

"You no longer own the computer -- someone else does," Chelette said.

He said safe browsing is nearly impossible; Web sites can install programs on computers without prompting the users. However, Chelette warned against visiting strange Web sites or downloading from unknown vendors and gave three steps to protect computers from adware and spyware: install a personal firewall, keep up-to-date anti-virus software and install all available patches for operating systems and software.

Chelette said Macintosh users are just as susceptible to adware and spyware as Windows users.

Removing adware and spyware is difficult, but it is possible, he said. The University recommends Ad-aware and Spybot, both free downloads that target the illicit software, and IT will provide free upgrades of McAfee VirusScan in the fall for all students, faculty and staff members.
 

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