Hi all, Spyware has become a far greater problem than v*ruses (with a few notable exceptions). Check this out: I setup about 25 brand new Dell computers for a local SPCA recently. Straight out of the box and before going on the internet with one of the machines, I happened to install and run Spybot 1.3 (from a self-made CD) w/o updating it. It found 5 instances of VX2 in the (get this!)HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Vendor/Dell entry (I think that was the full path). Perhaps it was a false positive, but I doubt it. (Could someone verify this?) Whenever I have reason to install AOL 8 or 9, Real Player is part of the process by default and that puts spyware on your computer. I've noticed other programs (even that you pay for on CD) do the same thing. I mention this 1) in response to people who wonder how spyware gets on their computers and 2) because someone I run into occasionally seemed to think his computer wasn't at risk because he doesn't use the internet. At least the spyware has no way to communicate all of his personal information w/o the internet, but he's not assured to be free of it. What I don't get is how spyware can be profitable for online sites that sell you content and that foist spyware on you. For example, gambl*ng, p*orn, and some file sharing sites (typical spyware sources) sell you content and the spyware is added for no extra charge. Very often, the user's computer becomes unusable as a direct result of the spyware. At this point, it would make sense to stop buying the content from the site. The site would lose the customer and revenue. This is where diminishing returns comes in big time. And still I do more anti-spyware work than everything else combined.
For your consumption, Chuck ________________________________________________________________ Get your name as your email address. Includes spam protection, 1GB storage, no ads and more Only $1.99/ month - visit http://www.mysite.com/name today! ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
