Your Computer Is Spying On You!

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Your Computer Is Spying On You!

Written by: Dan Daily

Hi Gang!

Last time, if you remember, we went over cookies; what they are, and what they do.

This time, we'll go over "Spyware," what it does, and how to get rid of them!

Yes Them.

Using the program Ad-subtract, we now have a handle on cookies and ads. (See the last column) I now only have about twelve cookies; ever! The number stays the same, and they're there because I want them there.

There's a new program I'm bringing to you today, it's called Ad-aware, it kills the only other main privacy problem that's a threat to you; "Spyware." Aptly named by Ziff Davis.

What Ad-aware will do, is keep your computer from spying on you. Yes folks, your heard me right: Spyware is probably doing that to you right now. Mine was spying on me in 8 different places. ALL, from programs that had been uninstalled a long time ago.

I couldn't believe it! Damned Spyware...

On My Computer??? No Way!

And this is Legal? Yes, it is.

Thus Today's Column: My momma told me, it's never enough to point out a problem. You must have the answer... And my momma is always right. So, today, I have something for you.

And it's Free!

Ok, what is Spyware? It's software that turns your computer into an active running statistic at best. At worst? Who Knows? It transmits data, without you knowing it, to marketers, or wherever it's set to send it. Sound familiar? Can you say Virus? A lot of freeware, and shareware has this stuff built right into it.

You see, they get paid to do it.

Get the point?

Yes, I thought you might, LOL... The real shocker is the programs that carry this stuff, you're going to know their names; they are some of the most popular freeware. We'll start with Gator, ever hear of that? Real Player? Comet Cursor? (see update below) Yes, all of them. Does Go!zilla ring a bell? Go!zilla, won't even run without it! And here's a big one, The Netscape "What's Related" feature is Spyware.

In other words, these programs have virus's. Virus's do almost exactly the same thing.

Of coarse, they all claim they don't do anything with the collected data. If not? Then why do it at all? Like Duh? IQ's have just suddenly dropped here?

Yes, it's really true gang. You know? I've always had a sound set for the "Windows, Exit Program" command. Wings fly by every time a program closes: (it's just a flutter) Hopefully, when you close a program! Not when Spyware Does! I've always had programs closing when I was on the Internet. I couldn't figure it out. The program would popup so fast, and hidden, you only knew it was there by the sound of it closing. What was that?

I never knew why I kept hearing the wings going by.

One I caught early was Microsoft's Auto-Update. That stupid thing keep checking for an update, every five minutes. And, it kept changing itself back to the five minute setting every time I'd reboot. It's HISTORY, Pal! But still the passing wings, kept happening; always. NOT ANYMORE! No more wings. No More Running Programs without my permission, Geeze! Give us a break already. What's next?

Be advised: Some freeware, or shareware programs, might not run without the spyware.

You know what?

I haven't found one that couldn't be fixed or hadn't been tossed, a long time ago.

And I Pride Myself on a "Clean" computer. Sheesh!

Granted, I do go through a lot of programs. Many, for you, but Still! A Virus that isn't a Virus??? Not for me thanks. Pay Me! Then we'll talk.

A Note On "Gator"

Gator Will Not Run Without it's Spyware!

Yes, I've heard about gator. What sucks, is gator is a great program. Why did they have to put spyware in it. I'll tell you what to do though. What I do now. All of these places will put a cookie in your computer, and your computer will do the remembering. Use Ad Substract, to get your cookies under control.

Then, when you enter one of the sites you want a cookie in, just switch off Ad Subtract for that one site. The site will put in the cookie. When you leave it, click Ad Subtract back on. It sits in your system tray. I have done this and now have about 12 cookies that I keep. Or make it one of adsubtracts immune entries. Every so often, delete your temp internet files manually, (from windows) click select all, delete. It'll ask you if you want to delete the cookies, tell it no. All the temp files will delete, but not the cookies, than you can check the cookies one by one to verify you want them. (Even adsubtract misses a few) Once you do this a few times, it'll be second nature to you. In fact, it makes you feel good to know that nothing, and I mean NOTHING, gets into your computer or out of your computer without your knowledge. I like that feeling of control... Finally...

Update for Comet Cursor (3/2/01)

Yesterday I received a letter from Comet Cursor assuring me that their program is not spyware. They didn't really call it anything; but insisted it's not spyware. This is a quote from them;

"The third subject that you mentioned was " Spying." For the record -- we DO NOT track our users. Comet Systems takes its responsibility towards user privacy very seriously. In fact, Comet is committed not only to our users' privacy but to their anonymity. We specifically do not ask for names, addresses, or any personally identifiable information during our download process so that we can protect your anonymity."

Then they proceed to blame everyone except themselves for the confusion. I will say this, they didn't say if they get your IP address number or not when you visit a Comet Cursor enabled site: If they do, then the above is a white lie.

My problem with Comet Cursor, or any program like it is this:

This is a program that wants to install itself to your computer by soliciting you. You didn't look for it, you didn't find it, IT FOUND YOU! Every time you visit a Comet enabled site, you are counted, how this happens is up to speculation, as they never told me anything specific. If you are on AOL, and Comet would normally collect your IP address, then it's no issue, because they'll only get a generic AOL proxy address. If you aren't, and have a static IP address, then the above isn't true.

I have a real problem with programs, or companies that do this. Let's put it this way; you get a Spam mail offering you vacation packages. OK, you decide you want to go on vacation, and do a net search for vendors that do this. Which are you going to trust, the site that you searched for and found? Or the Spam mail that showed up in your box Unsolicited? If you choose the Spam mail, you deserve everything you get! As far a Comet Cursor goes, I'll take a neutral position on it, with the exception of this: It doesn't tell you what it does in the background when it solicits you. So, use your own judgment. Also, Ad Remove, flags it. Use your own judgment gang.

So, once again, you all owe me a big one. Especially if you get a lot of freebee software. Know anyone that doesn't?

To get Ad-aware, Just Click Here, You'll be glad you did. I was.

Ad-aware or LavaSoft Software

I hope this helps you on your road. Your Road?

Yes, Your Road To Computer Sanity

Danny

Quote of the day: There are only two kinds of computer users: Those whose hard disks have crashed, and those whose hard disks haven't crashed - yet.

Footnote: Information concerning the identity of the programs that contains "Spyware," comes courtesy of the June 6, 2000 edition of PCMagazine.

Thanks PCMagazine, (I'm sorry you didn't have Ad-aware in the article)