Press Release Body: Recently the threat of spyware has risen sharply. Last October as a result of the research lead under America Online and National Cyber Security Alliance initiative, traces of espionage \"activity\" have been found out in more than 80 % of computers of users. The subject is actual so much that it's high time to tell users in a simple way what is spyware, with what it may threaten ordinary users and how to protect their computers from espionage attacks.
What is spyware? Spyware is a general term used for software that traces user activity on the PC, collects personal information or confidential data without any user consent. Spyware programs may register websites a user visits, time of visits and all clicks on the keyboard (the way credit card numbers and pin-codes can be stolen) or monitor and register secretly what kind of software is installed on computer.
The most dangerous spyware is the one which self replicates via e-mail, installs itself on computer without user's consent, using software faults for this purpose. Not less dangerous is the software intercepting e-mails or instant messages or collecting and transmitting confidential information to Internet. Besides some software may change parameters of installed security software without user's consent. All this makes your computer vulnerable for spyware attacks. Depending on spyware kind some programs may warn their developer about the user running some application on his PC. Others are able to make holes for intrusion into the system or set modem for paid calls transmission for which the PC owner will be billed. Recently some shareware programs are referred to spyware as well as such programs may extract files from your computer without your consent. The most dangerous feature of spyware is ability to transmit collected information to the developer's PC.
Spyware may get into your PC in different ways. The most "popular" is via e-mail or web-browser. Also such software may be integrated installed into "useful" software and may be downloaded at the moment of "useful" program start-up. Thus, hacker can distribute spyware programs integrating them into useful applications to make the user install hidden spyware. Generally such programs are integrated into popular free software which are downloaded from Internet or distributed on CDs attached to magazines.
Why spyware is dangerous? Spyware doesn't influence much upon your PC running. Usually, it doesn't contain viruses, however consume huge amount of system resources. But brings lots of damage in sense of data confidentiality. Spyware programs register every user step both inside the system and in Internet. All information is delivered to the malefactor who uses collected data in his not yours interest!
How to protect from spyware? Most spyware programs are integrated into freeware the user installs on his computer but some are automatically downloaded during your visits of some web-sites. If a massage pops-up on your screen proposing you to install a program providing access to web site content do not hurry to press "OK" without checking this software. If there is no need to install some special software to view the web-site it's better to refuse downloading extra software.
Visiting some webs you may find lists of programs containing harmful spy modules. Looking through such list you can learn if such program is installed on your computer. Sometimes signs of your system behavior may indicate that spyware is installed on your PC. Among such are slow typing; periodical alarms of installed firewall; registration of access query to unknown webs from some unknown applied programs as well as registration of attempts of setting remote connection with your PC from the unit with unknown IP address; system and network efficiency reduction; suspicious files discovery in the system. The best way to protect your computer from spyware is to install specialized anti-spyware program.
With what to protect from spyware? Personal firewalls are considered to be the most popular tool to protect user's computer from spyware programs. Firewall runs the following way: it is integrated into OS and permanently examines incoming and outgoing addresses to computer network ports. Firewall analyses data packages coming to Internet-ports and mail-ports according to the type of request and its addressee. Most firewalls may allow or deny some types of addresses to this or that user addressee in the way "allowed is always, denied is always denied". And here is the weak point because spyware may be integrated inside one or another package (for example approved Web-browser) or disguising itself as a Web-browser and such spyware can not be detected by firewall and gets inside the PC to start their harmful activity. Besides, firewalls are usually resource-consuming, so the price for relative security is your PC slow running.
The problem of firewall incomplete protection is successfully solved by proactive security systems. Such systems analyze all applications activity on the PC for its potential maliciousness according to predefined rules of malicious or non-dangerous behavior. This analysis is based on adjusted principles of dangerous or not dangerous activity. In case of threat proactive system blocks dangerous program before any damage to the system is done. Safe n Sec Pro is one of the most effective software solutions based on proactive technology that is able to efficiently protect your PC from different kinds of spyware. Safe n Sec Pro+Anti-Spyware is a special solution in Safe n Sec product line consisting of Safe n Sec behavior analyzer which blocks previously unknown spyware and Anti-Spyware module detecting already known spyware modules with help of extended anti-spyware signature databases. Anti-Spyware module has an option of removing malware from user's PC. Thus Safe n Sec Pro+Anti-Spyware program is able to efficiently protect PC from all kinds of spyware and unauthorized access to the system. Besides Safe'n'Sec Personal+Anti-Spyware is absolutely compatible with any traditional security software installed on your computer. Safe n Sec Pro+Anti-Spyware efficiently protects your confidential data from unauthorized access whether you work in the system or browse in Internet.
2025
