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Spyware
The INTERNET INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (IIA) NATIONAL ANTI-SPYWARE CAMPAIGN
Welcome to the IIA's National Anti-Spyware Campaign Resource
The IIA anti-spyware campaign consists of a series of easy-to-understand fact sheets (downloadable at the bottom of this page) and a national trial of anti-spyware solutions, provided by our members. These tools are accessible by either clicking on the eye icon on the right, or from the top link in the list below.
With the support of the Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts, the IIA aims to empower all Australians on the internet, from corporate employees right through to home users, to better understand and control their exposure to spyware.
To download a copy of the DCITA Spyware brochure (815kb pdf) click on the brochure icon on the right or to access anyone of the IIA Spyware Factsheetsclick on the factsheet icon also on the right of this page which will take you to the Spyware publications listings.
As well as the resources listed here, some of our members have also agreed to support our push to raise awareness about spyware and control it by supporting an anti-spyware software and services trial. To learn more about these offers, click on the link to the IIA Anti-Spyware Solutions link below or the campaign icon on the right of this page.
Spyware: What is it?
Spyware is generally considered to be software that is secretly installed on a computer and takes things from it without the permission or knowledge of the user. Spyware may take personal information, business information, bandwidth; or processing capacity and secretly gives it to someone else. It is recognised as a growing problem.
Knowing the symptoms of spyware
It can be difficult to tell if spyware is installed on a computer - it is designed to run secretly in the background. There are some signs that indicate that spyware may be on your computer:
1. Your web browser starts on a different homepage than it normally would.
2. Your computer's performance is slower than normal.
3. If you have a dial-up internet connection, you may find unauthorised premium rate phone calls on your bill.
4. The appearance of random error messages.
5. An unusual amount of pop-up windows appear.
Identity theft
A large part of online crime is now centred on identity theft and spyware can play a role in stealing your personal details.
Your identity is made up of many things, for example, your name, your family's names, your citizenship, your tax file number and medicare number, your face and even your phone number and street address.
When you are online your identity is extended to include your email address, instant messaging address and if you have them your web site. When you start shopping or bill paying online your electronic or online identity is further extended and begins to merge with your real life identity.
So your banking details, credit card details and other real world pieces of your identity are now transmitted online and used for real world transactions. Online banking is a good example of the convergence of real world and online.
Steps to prevent spyware
Using up-to-date anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-spyware, personal firewall software or software designed to protect against identity theft is good computing practice and essential protection when going online. These systems secure your computer and can allow you to control the areas of the internet that you and your family or co-workers can access.
Less obvious but more important is user awareness and attitude when online.
Links
- Internet Industry Association Spyware Solutions
- Ad-Aware: is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. (Freeware but see Capital Solutions in the Spyware Trial for discounted upgrades to full versions)
- Ad Protect: Ad-Protect, searches and blocks spyware, adware and other malicious
- Bazooka: adware and spyware scanner software. Free - Detect a multitude of spyware, adware, trojan, keylogger and trackware components; sources of irritation that antivirus software does not deal with. (Freeware)
- Capital Solutions: is the master distributor of the Norman suite of software products including Ad-aware.
- CHOICE Magazine Online: provides the results of a test of nine free anti-spyware tools. When at there site, click on ‘spyware’ from the A-Z index or type ‘spyware’ into the search engine.
- Computer Associates: eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware free 30 day trial.
- Computer Associates: perform an eTrust PestScan to find out how many pests including spyware, adware and other non-viral malicious code have infiltrated your PC.
- Counterspy: commercial product which protects against spyware.
- EMCO Malware Cleaner software: is an intuitive addition in the category of virus scanning and removal. It can scan all nodes of you network and check for the existence of any instance of selected threats. The main idea is to keep your network clean from different viruses, but the new thing is this that you caWn scan and clean all nodes of your network for the Virus, Worms, Trojan and Aware with just one click. (Freeware version avialable)
- Ewido Security Suite: commercial product offering a wide range of features including anti-spyware.
- FaceTime: rather than address the spyware problem with the traditional ‘point solution’ approach, FaceTime takes a broader view. Spyware applications are addressed as part of the broader problems posed by greynets, which encompass both legitimate and unauthorized applications that share a key common attribute – they are not controlled by existing corporate security procedures.
- GetNetWise on Spyware: if you have noticed your machine running slowly, adding an unusual number of "favorites" to your Web browser, changing your default home page, or receiving annoying or fishy pop-up ads, you might have spyware operating on your computer.
- HijackThis software: examines certain key areas of the Registry and Hard Drive and lists their contents. These are areas which are used by both legitimate programmers and hijackers. It's up to you to decide what should be removed. Some items are perfectly fine. (Freeware)
- McAfee: is someone tracking your every online move? Essential protection for today's security-conscious Internet user, McAfee AntiSpyware quickly detects then safely eliminates malicious applications.
- McAfee Anti-Spyware Enterprise: uses true On-Access scanning to proactively block, identify and safely eliminate applications such as spyware, adware, keyloggers, cookies and remote-control programs.
- 'MessageLabs: offers a comprehensive portfolio of managed email scanning services. MessageLabs is the world's leading provider of managed email security services to businesses worldwide, protecting more than 11 000 organisations from all email threats including spam, viruses and unwanted or malicious content such as spyware.
- Windows Defender (Beta 2) is a free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
- Online Armor: is a revolutionary new Australian product that protects against Spyware, Malware, Trojans and Phising attacks. Instead of using patterns to identify programs (letting unknown threats to run silently in the background) Online Armor uses a unique combination of of behaviour analysis and a white list of safe programs. Download a 15 day trial and purchase at a discounted price via the IIA's National Spyware Campaign.
- PC Tools: is a global leader in innovative software products to protect the privacy and security of Windows computer users.
- Pest Patrol: commercial product which provides protection against spyware, adware, keyloggers, remote access trojans, and browser hijackers.
- Symantec: Norton Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition provides essential protection from viruses, hackers, and privacy threats. Its comprehensive spyware protection automatically detects and removes both spyware and adware. A 15 day free trial.
- Security at Home: spyware guide by Microsoft. Spyware and other unwanted software refers to software that performs certain tasks on your computer, typically without your consent. This may include giving you advertising or collecting personal information about you. Learn more about the symptoms of spyware and other unwanted software and how you can help protect your computer.
- Sophos: We are a member of the Anti-Spyware Coalition (ASC), whose mission is to create a consensus regarding definitions and best practice in the debate surrounding spyware.
- Sophos: For more information on spyware detected by us, check out our virus analyses.
- SpywareBlaster: can help keep your system spyware-free and secure, without interfering with the "good side" of the web. (Freeware)
- Spyware Data: download a free SSI scanner to audit your favorite Anti-Spyware software and identify potential unknown Spyware in your system.
- Spybot software. scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software. (Donation requested but not required)
- Spyware Guide: a resource on spyware applications, what they do and how they're used.
- SurfControl Enterprise Threat Shield: more than discovery and removal -designed for business use stops spyware, adware, keyloggers and other malicious code and controls applications such as instant messaging, peer-to-peer and games which are a major delivery mechanism for spyware. Download for a 30-day free trial.
- Trend Micro: Spyware/Grayware
- Trusted Delivery: specialises in authentication technologies to protect electronic communication from spam. Our key technology, Trusted Delivery removes the ability for senders to hide their true identities making it more difficult for unscrupulous marketers and fraudsters to continue bombarding recipients with unwanted and potentially harmful messages.
- XP-Antispyware software: no information available. (Freeware)
- X-RayPC Spyware Process Analyzer. a new freeware product to help technical users regain control of their machines and to assist spyware researchers doing log analysis. This tool is not meant to replace your standard anti-spyware scanner, but serve as diagnostic tool to help identify questionable processes on a machine. (Freeware)
- Yahoo! : offers Internet users an easy, fast way to combat spyware. Download an internet anti-spyware toolbar.
- Zone Alarm Pro: now includes antispyware protection.
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