Adware: How to Beat the Sneakiest Software
by Joel Walsh
Published on this site: February 6th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
Introduction: Promoters of adware, software that shows
advertising on a user's computer, use some cunning tricks
to get you to install their software on your machine. Here's
what to look out for.
Adware is, by definition, something reasonable people don't
want on their computers. That's why adware can't just come
out and ask people to install it. Often, the computer owner
is completely unaware of it being installed. But not always.
When adware doesn't want to sneak in through an open window,
it will try to trick you into letting it in through the front
door. Don't think you could be tricked? Don't be so sure until
you've checked out these most common ways people have been
tricked into allowing malware to be installed on their machines.
Adware Installation Trick 1: Piggybacking
How it works: malware may come bundled with a legitimate
piece of software the user actually wants, such as a game
or emoticon. The malware is merely labeled "companion
software," without any indication of what it will do.
How to fight it: be very suspicious of any software that
comes bundled with other software. Don't installed software
that comes bundled with other software unless you know everything
that the bundled software does. After all, if the bundled
program has anything to do with the program you actually want,
why couldn't the software developer just get both programs'
functionalities into a single piece of software? Software
developers are now very sensitive to malware concerns and
will provide a lengthy explanation of just why the bundled
software is necessary, in the cases when they actually do
need to use bundled software.
Adware Installation Trick 2: Bait and Switch
How it works: since people are getting more and more suspicious
of bundled software, the malware's developers may simply label
it as valuable software, for instance, a browser plugin that
supposedly accelerates web browsing (but in reality only shows
ads).
How to fight it: again, a suspicious mind is useful
in avoiding malware. Ask yourself some questions:
- What will this software actually do? Malware often comes
with very fuzzy claims attached. Sure, it says it will improve your browsing
experience, but how? Often, this improved browsing experience just means
a browsing experience with more advertising.
- If the software is so great, why is it being given away
free? Most commonly, software is only given out free in
two cases: if it's OpenSource (designed by a community of
developers and not proprietary–OpenSource software
is always clearly labeled as such); or simply a come-on
for a fuller-featured version of the software. If neither
case is true, there's a real chance the software is financed
by adware.
Adware Installation Trick 3: Outright Lying
How it works: malware may even be labeled as something else
entirely, such as a well-known piece of software or a crucial
component of the computer operating system.
How to fight it: this is the trickiest malware of all, and
requires extreme caution. You don't want to start deleting
any of your program files, much less your system registry
entries, unless you're absolutely sure it's malware. Plenty
of overzealous parasite hunters have shot their own machines
to bits this way. This is one case where you want to be using
an anti-spyware program, and preferably a second anti-spyware
program to provide a second opinion.
Getting Rid of Adware
Adware is so tricky that trying to uninstall it by yourself
could be like a trip into the Matrix. Luckily, there are good
anti-spyware programs that tackle adware as well–after
all many adware programs are also spyware since they monitor
your internet usage.
True, it may feel like adding insult to injury to have to
install more software to get rid of software you never meant
to install in the first place. But sometimes you just have
to fight fire with fire.
Joel Walsh has written a companion article on stealth
tactics used in adware installation: http://www.spyware-refuge.com
[Publish this article on your website! Requirement: live link
for above URL/web address w/ link text/anchor text: "adware
installation" or leave this bracketed message intact.
Permalink:
http://upmarketcontent.com/beating-adware-the-sneakiest-software.html
Trackback:
http://upmarketcontent.com/beating-adware-the-sneakiest-software.htm/trackba
ck/
|
