Secrets to SpyProofing Your Computer In 4 Easy Steps
By Elizabeth Ward (c) 2005
Do I Need To Spy Proof My Computer?
I think the question should be, do I use my computer for
anything that would best remain private and confidential?
Computer monitoring has become a huge industry, involving
individuals, companies and governments worldwide. Ask the
millions of people who've had their identities stolen if they
would have done anything different, knowing what they do now.
Did you know identity theft is the nations fastest growing
crime?
With the advent of computer technology and the Internet
spreading through our homes and businesses at lightning speed,
if you haven't been affected by computer crime in one way or
another, chances are you will be soon.
Types Of Computer Recording Devices
There are two main products that are used to capture and record
computer activity: Hardware Keyloggers and Surveillance Software.
95% of these are designed to be undetectable by computer users.
Many Surveillance Software programs are available via a simple
download over the Internet, FREE of charge, and completely
anonymously!
Hardware Keyloggers
This product requires no technical skill whatsoever to install
and is often overlooked by even seasoned computer users. This
type of keylogger requires that the culprit have physical access
to your computer and can be installed in less than 5 seconds.
Once installed, a hardware keylogger will capture every keystroke
entered into your keyboard and then store it for future retrieval
on the device itself.
Some hardware keylogger companies boast a two-million keystroke
capacity! That's about 5 years worth of typing for the average
computer user. Whether at home or in the office, you can easily
fall victim to this type of spying.
A hardware Keylogger is installed between your keyboard and
computer.
One of the most popular hardware keyloggers is KeyGhost
(www.keyghost.com). You can visit their website for more
information on hardware keyloggers and why they are such an
intrusion into your privacy.
Removal Of Hardware Keyloggers
By taking a peek behind your system and following your keyboard
cable, you can find out if there is something "odd" inserted
between your keyboard and computer. To remove a hardware
keylogger, you MUST SHUT DOWN YOUR SYSTEM! You could damage your
system if you attempt to remove the keylogger while your computer
is running!
Once your system is powered off, carefully remove the device
from in between your keyboard and computer, and then plug your
keyboard directly back into the computer. Make sure that it is
plugged in completely and be gentle as the connectors are
somewhat fragile.
Beware Surveillance Spy Software
Surveillance Software is by far the most insidious...and hard
to detect of all computer monitoring type spyware products. Some
legitimate uses for spy software are to watch a child's Internet
activity or to monitor employees while in a work environment.
Unfortunately, this type of spy software is often used
unethically and even illegally by ANYONE who wants to spy on
or steal sensitive or private information from you, or your
business, without ever being caught.
Surveillance Spyware can be broken down into four main sub
categories:
Keyloggers, which record keystrokes like a hardware keylogger,
but without a physical device.
Email Redirectors, which silently duplicate all incoming and
outgoing messages to a third party.
Chat Loggers and URL Recorders, which will monitor popular
instant messaging programs such as AIM and Yahoo Messenger,
regular IRC chat clients and web browsers. All communications
and web site visits are recorded and sent back to the intruder.
Screen Recorders, which silently take snapshots of your entire
desktop screen and everything you are doing, and then package it
up as a slide show, for the intruder to view. Screen recorders
can also email or upload these recordings for remote access.
Dangers Of Surveillance Spy Software
Surveillance Spy Software is wreaking havoc in families and
businesses around the globe with very little media attention.
Surveillance Spy Software among other things is used for:
• Spousal Spying
• Financial Spying
• Blackmail
• Identity Theft
• Corporate Espionage
• Stalking
Whatever anyone wants to find out about you or your business can
now be easily obtained with Surveillance Spy Software that can
be purchased by anyone easily right over the Internet...
One of the leading Surveillance Spy Software companies is
Spectorsoft (http://www.spectorsoft.com).
They openly acknowledge that a large part of their sales are
from spouses who spy on their mates.
Businesses will not let anyone know their systems have been
compromised with Surveillance Spy Software, unless they are
absolutely forced to. It's bad for business.
Detecting Surveillance Spy Software
The only product I've found to specifically target and detect
surveillance spy software is from a company call SpyCop
(http://www.spycop.com).
SpyCop has been reviewed by the best in the industry including
law enforcement, government and hundreds of businesses both large
and small.
Here's what some of the leading experts in the industry are
saying about SpyCop:
SpyCop... found a trace of SpectorSoft's Eblaster keylogger on
my system that Spy Sweeper and Norton AntiVirus failed to notice
Edward C. Baig Personal Tech Writer Usa Today
The best I've seen so far is SpyCop. It scours your system,
looking for secret keystroke-logging software.
John Dvorak Contributing Editor, Pc Magazine
If you're on the receiving end of a snooping program, wouldn't
you want to know? SpyCop can ferret out hidden spy programs...
Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show
SpyCop has been recommended in many books:
The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security
by Kevin D. Mitnick
Microsoft Encyclopedia of Security by Mitch Tulloch
Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics and Countermeasures by
Joel McNamara
Steal This Computer Book 3: What They Won't Tell You About the
Internet by Wallace Wang
Privacy Tactics by Scott Germaise
Home Networking Bible by Sue Plumley
Computer and Intrusion Forensics by George Mohay
Absolute PC Security and Privacy by Michael Miller
What Is Adware?
The public has become outraged at the advertisers who use
hidden marketing programs to take over computers for the
purpose of marketing their products. The symptoms of Adware
are uncontrollable popups, unwanted extra toolbars, and
drastically slowed down computer performance that can result
in freezes or lock up.
Most spyware detectors are concentrated on detecting adware
because that is what is getting all the press...and adware
profiles are free for them to add to their detection databases.
This makes it very easy and inexpensive for anyone to get into
the adware detection business. Many times the same advertising
spyware databases are passed around or copied between Adware
detection companies with very little new research done.
Unfortunately, there are many inferior products out there that
only do a half job at detecting adware.
Adware is extremely annoying and will often cost you money
because this type of spyware is poorly designed, and may cause
severe damage that only a computer repair shop can fix. All
expenses related to adware damage come out of YOUR pocket, not
the advertiser.
Removal Of Adware
I'm going to let you in on a little secret that many in this
industry don't want you to know: You DO NOT have to spend ANY
money to detect and deal with Adware because the best product
out there is FREE. Yes, I said FREE, and it amazes me how many
people are spending their hard earned cash to detect Adware...
but as I explained earlier, there is a lot of confusion regarding
the subject of spyware.
Look what Andrew Brandt from PC World wrote about all these so
called spyware detectors
Poor Defenders
Some anti-Spy Software companies use confusing ads, and our
tests show their $20-$60 products are less effective than free
competitors. Andrew Brandt
From the December 2004 issue of PC World magazine
You've almost certainly encountered the ads: A dialog box pops
up on your system bearing the message Warning! Your computer may
be infected with Spy Software and suggesting that you scan your
computer immediately.
Click it, and you often reach a Web site providing a free Spy
Software scanner that finds all sorts of malware on your PC--and
then offers to sell you software that will clean it all up.
Should you buy these products?
Based on our tests, our opinion is no.
Following complaints from several PC World readers, we tested
seven heavily advertised Spy Software-removal tools--
MyNetProtector,
No Adware,
Pal Spy Software Remover,
SpyAssault,
SpyBlocks,
Spy Software Stormer,
XoftSpy
and found that none were as effective as reputable free products
such as SpyBot Search & Destroy
Andrew Brandt PC World Magazine...
Here's what some of the leading experts are saying about FREE
SpyBot:
Spybot Search and Destroy is adaptable for both beginning and
power users, BRUCE STEWART CNET EDITOR.
Spybot: A powerful, easy to use tool for detecting, removing,
and preventing adware... WINPLANET.COM
So folks, don't waste your money on Adware Spyware detectors,
just do like Andrew Brandt says and get your FREE copy of SpyBot
S&D from: www.safer-networking.org
There are a lot of companies imitating SpyBot and tricking
customers into thinking they are going to the SpyBot website
when they are really going to a competitor who wants to cash in
on SpyBot's popularity.
Adware Prevention (Careful what browser your using)
Many people are unaware that they can get adware deposited on
their computer by simply visiting a website with an insecure
browser. To help prevent new adware from making its way onto
your machine when you surf the net, I recommend FireFox. FireFox
is the latest cutting-edge browser designed for simplicity and
security:
To download your FREE copy, visit www.mozilla.org
Four Easy Steps To Spy Proof Your Computer
1. Check for hardware keyloggers attached to the keyboard input.
2. Download your copy of SpyBot from www.safer-networking.org
3. Download your copy of SpyCop www.spycop.com
4. Download your copy of FireFox browser http://www.mozilla.org/
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Copyright (c) 2005 Elizabeth Ward. All rights reserved. Permission
is granted to reproduce this report for free distribution at any
website as long as it is reprinted in its entirety. Copies may
be obtained in Ebook format from www.nospyzone.com
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