ADWARE: A Malicious and Highly Invasive Plague continued By Blair Ashworth

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Whichever browser software you use, you should always ensure that you have the most recent version with all of the latest patches applied, as fixes to security holes are frequently discovered and plugged. Generally speaking, programs can't just install themselves without your consent, so be extremely wary of any web page that prompts you to accept or install a file or certificate.

Occasionally you may encounter a web page or dialog box that refuses to be closed until you respond with a Yes. Even trying to close the window itself doesn't work, and you appear to have no option but to agree (or switch the PC off). Instead, press Ctrl-Alt-Del all at the same time, and this will bring up the Task Manager, or Close Program, dialog box; find the browser window in the list of running tasks and click End Task to kill the offending window.

For some unfathomable reason, adware and adware behaviour is not always classified as virus by the vendors of anti-virus products. However, certain adware has been seen to specifically target anti-virus programs, turning off their real-time scanning and/or causing them to crash, necessitating a full reinstall of the product.

How do I Remove AdWare?

Fortunately there are several free utilities available that you can download, to help clear up the problem and avoid future infection.

The vendors of these utilities maintain definition files that keep the product up-to-date and you should always make sure that you have downloaded the latest definitions before running a scan.

To be safest, I would recommend using more than one adware/spyware scanning tool on a regular basis (two or three times each week). The best utilities around, in my opinion, being these:

Spybot Search and Destroy Ad-Aware SpySweeper

A more feature-rich version of each product is usually available to buy (or for use in a business environment) but for casual home users the free package is probably adequate. Ad-Aware has a worthwhile companion program that, for less than twenty pounds, dynamically protects against infection by spyware and other malicious programs. It is important to remember that if your Home Page is being diverted or replaced by adware then (after updating your definitions and running the scanning/removal tools) start your browser whilst not connected to the Internet and check your home page is correct (Tools, Internet Options...).

Fake Adware Removal Programs

An increasingly large number of utilities are advertising themselves as adware and spyware removal tools, and yet all they actually do is generate false reports of infestation. They then offer to fix the highlighted problems if you purchase the full product, but they don't do anything except take your money and pretend to work. A list of rogue products is maintained by Spyware Warrior and it can be found here: www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - sites

Another Threat

This article has mainly dealt with nuisance programs, but I would like to briefly mention another Internet-based threat that could end up costing you more than just a lost temper. If a dialler program finds its way onto your PC it will attempt to change the telephone number that your modem calls, to a premium-rate number. Just a couple of hours later you could have run-up a telephone bill totalling hundreds of pounds, and you are left high-and-dry. Fairly obviously, Broadband connections cannot be so diverted, but this doesn't stop the programs trying and they still invade Windows, often damaging the operating system to the point where a complete reinstall is necessary.

If you have an ordinary modem then the best precaution to take against diallers is quite severe, but it is one that I myself have taken. Speak to your telephone company and have them prevent premium-rate and international calls from being made on your line.

There will probably be some small cost involved in setting up this restriction, and also a fee for reinstating it in the future, but you should seriously consider the option. Always be on your guard when using the Internet! Further Information www.spywarewarrior.com

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