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Whose_Watching_You
| Whose Watching You?
Whose Watching You? By John Leigh Copyright © John Leigh 2003.
All Rights Reserved
We all love 'Freeware' right? After all it's human nature to
want something 'free'. There are some very good freeware
programs out there, Simple to download, simple to install,
simple to get started with, especially when you don't have a lot
of money to buy all the programs you want or need right?
Well........ There's always a Well... isn't there.
If you have installed any freeware, there's a good chance that
you've also got some advertising - supported software too.
Working in the background, downloading banner ads - pop ups etc.
Then there's something different - spyware - collecting
information about you and your Internet related activity.
How does spyware get onto you computer? Usually downloaded as
part of or in addition to the freeware application. You install
the program you have downloaded then another user agreement pops
up that you click 'OK' (how many read all the user agreement -
you should). Sometimes spyware is 'misnamed' as freeware. Then
when you uninstall the original program the spyware can remain.
What Can You Do?
A good first step is to install a firewall. ZoneAlarm a good
very popular firewall. A firewall stops spyware 'reporting back
home' when surfing the Internet. You have good control over what
is allowed to have access to the Internet. Get a copy from
ZoneAlarm www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
Others include Tiny http://www.tinysoftware.com/ Sygate Personal
Firewall 5.0 www.sygate.com
You can approve or deny access for any application. If an
application tries to access the Internet for the first time, you
will be asked whether to allow or not.
Watch Out!
Always read the user agreement of any software you install.
Watch out for phrases like 'occasional or periodic use of your
Internet connection in the background' or enhanced browsing.
Watch for extra user agreements and install windows popping up.
It's easy to click OK without realising it's not for the
original software clicked on earlier.
Be Gone!
Some spyware can be removed from the add/remove programs in the
control panel. The best way is to use a program such as
Lavasoft's Ad-Aware (which comes in three options - basic - plus
and Pro). I like this program and use it a lot.
http://www.lavasoft.de/
Simple to use - this scours you system, scanning your registry
and hard discs searching for any adware and spyware. Anything
that is found can be quarantined and/or removed.
If you have a program that you think is spyware check it on
spychecker database at http://www.spychecker.com/. If it is
adware and not spyware then spychecker usually tells you.
Protect Yourself
Here's those addresses again
ZoneAlarm http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp Tiny
http://www.tinysoftware.com/ Sygate Personal Firewall 5.0
www.sygate.com http://www.spychecker.com/.
http://www.lavasoft.de/
Written by John Leigh. Editor and Publisher of Leigh Resource
E-zine. To Subscribe send a blank email to :
leighresourceezine@globemarketing.com and receive a 5 part mini
course or visit http://www.leighmarketing.com
About the author:
John Leigh is editor and publisher of Leigh Resource Ezine for
resources, information and software products to help online
business.
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