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Spyware: Technical Overview. Jody Blanke Mercer University ALSB, Ottawa August 21, 2004. What is Spyware?.
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Spyware: Technical Overview Jody Blanke Mercer University ALSB, Ottawa August 21, 2004
What is Spyware? • FTC definition – “software that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge and which may send such information to another entity without the consumer’s consent, or asserts control over a computer without the consumer’s knowledge” • Spyware • Adware • Hijacker • Trojan • Keystroke logger • Browser helper object (BHO)
How do you get it? • “Trojan horse” - bundled as part of other software package • Kazaa (12 different spyware programs; at least two with every version) • ClockSync (WhenU) • Precision Time (Gator) • “Drive-by download” – HTML code transmitted by browser when visiting a web site request installation of program • One spyware program helps install another; self-updating • E-mail or links that, when opened, initiate transfer of code
How do you get rid of it? • Be careful what you download • Be careful what you consent to • Install Spybot Search & Destroy • http://www.safer-networking.org • Install SpywareBlaster • http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html • Install Ad-Aware • http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ • Install Google Toolbar • http://toolbar.google.com/ • Visit PestPatrol Research • http://research.pestpatrol.com/