Spyware is a broad group of harmful software programs that can infect your computer and transmit information about you back to its owner. To avoid being infected by Spyware, it is necessary to install a good Anti-Spyware program that will detect and remove Spyware from your computer. A good Anti-Spyware program should also be capable of alerting you when a Spyware program tries to infect your computer. Today, there are a lot of free Spyware remover programs available online. Many of them are easy to download, install and manage, but their quality will vary so it is important that you look around and compare different free spyware remover programs before you make up your mind. You can also take advantage of the fact that they are free, and try several programs on your computer before you decide to stick with one of them. As of 2005, spyware is chiefly a problem for computer users that are running any of the Microsoft Windows operating systems. There are however a few spyware programs in the form of worms that are capable of infecting Linux and other Unix platforms. Installing a free spyware remover is therefore advisable regardless of which operating system you are using.

The very first free spyware remover was called OptOut and was created in 2000 by Steve Gibson of Gibson Research. Spyware had then been a problem for Internet users for several years. The first known use of the term "spyware" is from 1995, when a poster in Usenet made fun of Microsoft’s business model. In the beginning, spyware was a term used for all types of espionage equipment, including tiny cameras for microfilming and similar. In 1999, the term spyware was used in a press release for new software from Zone Labs: the Zone Alarm Person Firewall. In the press release, the term spyware was specifically used for malicious software programs that send information back from an infected computer to the spyware owner. Today, the term spyware is rarely used for espionage cameras or other types of off-line equipment. The same year a very popular freeware, a computer game called Elf Bowling, began to spread among the Internet users. Eventually, the users found out that Elf Bowling included Adware, and that information about the players was sent back to the creator of the game, a company called Nsoft.

Today, many programmers and companies have created their own free spyware remover programs. It is very common that a free spyware remover can be upgraded to a more advanced version for a fee. As mentioned above, Steve Gibson created the first free spyware remover - OptOut. He was to be followed by free spyware remover programs from Lavasoft, the Ad-Aware spyware remover, and from Patrick Kolla - the Spybot Search & Destroy. Later SpySweeper from Webroot become one of the most popular free spyware remover programs. Naturally, Microsoft also developed their own free spyware remover. They bought the GIANT Anti-Spyware software and changed it into Windows AntiSpyware. The GIANT Anti-Spyware software is also licensed to Sunbelt Software and used in their free spyware remover program CounterSpy. Companies such as McAfee, Sophos and Symantec are also offering free spyware remover programs as a part of their anti-virus programs.

New forms of malicious Spyware and Adware are constantly created and in order to protect your computer from infestations you must choose a high-quality program and keep it updated. Supportcave.com offers free spyware remover programs.

My search for free spyware programs I can download began when I decided to protect my computer and my privacy from malicious Spyware programs. I already knew that there were things called Spyware and Adware out there on the Internet, and that I really ought to protect myself from them by installing one of these for free spyware programs I can download. But somehow I kept putting it of and never really got around to start searching for free spyware programs I can download until two weeks ago when a particularly annoying piece of software lured itself into my precious computer and began to harass me constantly by changing my Start Page to the page of some bogus search engine. It was also impossible for me to do a normal web search. Each time I tried to access one of the larger search engines, I was promptly redirected to this fake search engine. This is when I realised that I could no longer keep putting the search for free spyware programs I can download off.

Spyware programs can cause a lot of harm, and even when they stick to relatively harmless mischief such as displaying those irritating pop-up commercials I still view it as a large intrusion of privacy that someone might be gathering and storing information about me, without my knowledge or consent. I therefore set out on my online journey, trying to find free spyware programs I can download. It thought it would be a piece of cake. I mean, we have all seen those blinking banners about free anti-spyware programs, haven’t we? Well, it turned out to be much harder to find free spyware programs I can download than I first expected.

When I did a little research I quickly found out that a lot of the so called Anti-Spyware programs heavily marketed in banner advertisements online are actually fake Anti-Spyware programs. They are promoted as free spyware programs I can download, but are in reality created by the same persons that gain from the Spyware programs. All these fake free spyware programs I can download will not protect my computer at all. Instead, a majority of them will even install new Spyware on the computer! When a computer user scans his or her computer, the fake program will claim that all Spyware have been removed. In reality, the Spyware is still there and can continue to send out personal data each time the computer is connected to the Internet. So, I had to be very careful in my quest for free spyware programs I can download.

I also clicked on advertisements for several pages that claimed to provide free spyware programs I can download; only to find out that those programs was not free at all. When I read the fine print, some kind of fee always turned up. Another problem that I encountered when searching for free spyware programs I can download was that some programs are only free for a limited period, sometimes as little as a week. I know from experience with other types of software that one week is not enough to find out whether I feel comfortable with a program or not. Besides, I was looking for really free spyware programs I can download, not semi-free ones. I want to be able to switch to a new program if a program doesn’t suit me, or if I new program is released that is much better than my current one. If I use Anti-Spyware programs that come with a large fee, I’m not able to do this without seriously over-heating my credit card. How ever, after almost giving up hope I found several free spyware programs I can download. I am currently using one of them, and will try out another one next month. So, my advice to all of you out there is to take your time when searching for free spyware programs to download. I finally found several free spyware programs I can download, and so will you. But be careful, always read the fine print and only download Anti-Spyware programs from reputable sites.

New forms of malicious Spyware and Adware are constantly created and in order to protect your computer from infestations you must choose a high-quality program and keep it updated. Supportcave.com offers free spyware programs I can download

Spyware is a frequently occurring problem for all internet users today and its threats continue to multiply. When you download freeware, shareware or other types of file sharing software you are usually also allowing in spyware applications.

Whether it is adware, malware, Trojans or pop up ads spyware is following and recording your personal and usage information then sending it out to intruders. Even with highly secure firewalls or anti-virus programs your system is vulnerable to spyware because it sneaks past these securities by piggybacking on downloads you authorize.

Once in your system spyware will slow the rate at which your computer works, making it difficult to use as the infection grows and continues to run. Your browser or even your entire system will crash because spyware is running. This can ruin important information and the computer system.

Spyware monitors and records your usage and internet browsing habits then relays the information to the intruder. Some forms are capable of hijacking your credit card, social security number and password information.

If the intruder does not directly utilize the information stolen they will usually sell it to other individuals or companies that will use the information at their discretion. To get rid of this malicious software and avoid more serious infections Lavasoft has a spyware tool that scans for a variety of types of spyware.

Lavasoft has spyware tools in several different forms to be used on personal and commercial or company computers. The software can detect and effectively fix or remove spyware infections to restore your computer’s functioning capabilities and your privacy. Lavasoft’s spyware tools have become some of the most popularly used and proven to be highly effective for all types of computer users.

Mitch Johnson is a successful freelance author that writes regularly for http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/, a site that focuses exclusively on spyware removal software, as well as tips on how to prevent spyware from popping up on your computer. This site articles on has spyware guard, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_guard.htm as well as spyware scanner, http://www.spyware-removal-made-easy.com/spyware_scanner.htm

Since firewalls are so commonly used it is worth exploring them in greater depth. Corporations often set up rules for managing their Web connections using firewalls. A firewall enables a company to designate how all end users can use their network and decide what information is passed through Web servers and other servers.

There are several methods a firewall uses to control traffic that comes into and goes out of the network. One way firewalls do this is through packet filtering. During this process a firewall analyzes small packets of information against pre-designated filters. All data is sent via small packets of information through filters. Safe information is passed through and unsafe information is generally removed.

Another way firewalls mitigate traffic is through proxy service. This means the firewall retrieved information from the Web and sends it to the requesting computer. Still another method of traffic control used by firewall is stateful inspection. This technique allows the firewall to compare certain parts of the data packet to information gathered from trusted sources. Information going to the firewall from the Internet is monitored to determine whether it contains key characteristics that suggest the information is safe rather than harmful. Information designated as safe passes through freely and other information is blocked.

The methods a company selects will depend on a number of factors including personal preferences. Regardless of the method a firewall uses however a company or network administrator can customize the firewall to filter information based on a pre-established set of criteria.

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on network security for more information on network security http://www.networksecurityinsider.com

The Importance of Firewalls to Network Security

Most networks should have a firewall in place before they are up and running. A firewall is the most common form of network security employed by companies large and small. If you own a personal computer your anti-virus software company may at one time or another have offered you firewall protection.

A firewall on a home network is just as important as one on a corporate network. Why? Most smaller networks have as many security issues that larger corporate networks have. A firewall helps protect a network against potential data loss, corruption and hackers.

What Is A Firewall

A firewall is nothing more than a fancy term used to describe a blockade that prevents outside forces from accessing your network. It is called a firewall because it prevent information or data loss from one place to another. Typically a firewall is some program or hardware that you have to install in your computer that helps filter information coming from the Web to your computer network. A firewall provides a series of filters that screens information allowing only safe information to pass through to your network.

In a large company, multiple computers are often linked using network cards. Companies usually provide multiple connections to the Internet. In order to protect all of these computers a firewall is necessary so that only certain people can access corporate computers through the Web (those that are authorized to do so). While a firewall is not foolproof it basically does a good job of protecting computers from Internet threats at their connection points.

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on network security for more information on network security http://www.networksecurityinsider.com

Ever see soldier ants at their anthill? They have one job — protect what’s inside. How do they do this? They stop anything unfriendly from coming in. Fortunately for the soldier ants, it’s easy to know what not to let in — if it ain’t an ant, no passage allowed!

But ants going in sometimes bring things along with them, things they’re carrying that could be dangerous to the life of the hill.

What if, for example, an ant out looking for food found a yummy red can full of free food just sitting there. He grabs a bunch. Heads back to the hill. The soldier ant sees the other ant is an ant, and so he’s free to pass - only neither ant recognizes the food being brought in is actually poison designed to destroy the hill and everything inside. Yikes! So the ant goes in and everything’s history after that.

That’s what anti-virus software is like (and hopefully it can do an even better job than the soldier ant).

Anti-virus software is always on the ready. It wants to snoop around anything that’s coming into your anthill (in this case, your computer). So it wants to check over:

* incoming emails (especially if they have other files attached to them, just like the ant carrying in the food/poison)

* files you download from the Internet

* it might even check emails you send out. Why? Because anti-virus software doesn’t just care about your computer. It also wants to make sure if you have a virus, you don’t send it to anyone else (and when you don’t destroy others’ computers, they’re more likely to help you if yours gets destroyed).

Since anti-virus software needs to be on guard all the time, it likes to start up when you start your computer, and continues running "in the background" the whole time you’re working in other programs. It’s always watching. Always waiting. And sometimes it can slow your computer down as a result, but it’s worth keeping your computer safe, in my opinion anyway.

And that’s why anti-virus software is like a soldier ant.

Copyright (c) Grant Pasay 2005. All rights reserved. You may forward this article in its entirety (including author bio/links) to anyone you wish.

Grant Pasay is a professional website copywriter, advertising copywriter, and SEO copywriter serving clients in Vancouver, BC and everywhere. Grant is also the author of the FREE e-book, "The Internet Is Like A Refrigerator."

For copy that captures your business message without any of the hassle, go to http://grantpasay.com/

Check out Grant’s FREE e-book at http://grantpasay.com/refrigerator/

While finishing dinner a friend of mine heard her 12-year old son’s express this while he was completing homework for tommorrow. She thought he said ‘there is a fly on my desktop’ and politely told him ‘tell your father and he will fix it’. Of course he knew that dad doesn’t touch computers and said ‘ but mom it’s a spy, not a fly’. That’s when I got the phone call - she lives right around the corner in the city of richardson texas - about what to do, did you check your virus/spyware software - ‘it only fixes viruses, not anything else and what is spyware anyway? That is when the phone call got a little bit longer than expected. Most parents have the notion that if there are no viruses everything is smooth sailing, they have done their part for kids and family internet security . But there are more things than viruses, browser hijack objects, rootkits, malware and spyware to constantly attack every computer in our homes today. The list I just mentioned is not complete in the tools of attack that hackers use to disable or destroy desktops all over the world. And if you don’t have the preventative software installed then your kids and family internet security for your home computers are at risk from attack or being used to attack other computers.

Desktop computer security in America’s homes has become a high priority for the guys who fight the good fight and keep hackers off your home computer. Every time a home is the victim of desktop computer security attacks it can be used to attack other networks or take control of larger networks. Computer information security has hackers drooling at the possibilities of massive identity theft and unwitting home users are already the next big target. As a reminder hackers use malware, software that does not aid the computer’s operating system, and may even harm it, and so is purely parasitic.

The defense against the hackers is increasing and that is why some software makers are including anti-spyware, anti-malware, anti-virus, and firewall packages to protect computers. It’s like having a moat around your computer with a few knights of the CPU protecting the tower.

Now our list of components your antivirus software should have: 1. Anti-spyware 2. Anti-spam 3. Antivirus 4. Firewall 5. Anti-malware

Software with the above components should also have a scheduled computer security scan so that it won’t just sit on your computer taking up space. There should be active scans for all kinds of bad bugs on a regular basis to insure computer information security. Hackers regularly scan computers all over for a weakness or opening and you need a computer security scan looking for those wholes in your system to fend them off when they come knocking on your computer’s digital door. Don’t let your child announce to you that there is a spy on their desktop, get the right software to protect them and your critical information.

For your kids and family internet security software that has these features ‘included’ will not only give you the best bang for your buck, it will place a digital moat between your computers and the ever increasing bag of tricks that hackers seem to enjoy creating.

Daviyd Peterson: 10-year consultant, instructor, trainer Helps african american and minority homeschools bridge the digital divide by becoming computer homeschools. Free article on "Computer Homeschooling" and other related articles http://www.homeschoolwireless.com/homeschoolwireless.htm

In Part 1 of Is Your Email Private; We covered the basics of most current email systems, including how they work and why they are not secure. We then started into the topic of encryption and provided a link to PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), considered by many to be the default standard for email encryption on the Internet.

In Part 2 of the series, we covered in more detail what PGP is and how to use it with your email client. Now we’ll move on to online email services.

Over the past couple of years a new kind of secure, online email tool has become available. Companies like HushMail.com, MuteMail.com, S-mail.com, CeritfiedMail.com, and StrongPost.net. offer products and services that combine strong encryption with easy to use web-based interfaces that allow anyone to send and receive secure email and attachments.

With these services, the encryption process is hidden from users so working with public / private key management is a snap. And since they are web based, they can be accessed from any computer, anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection and a browser.

So, how does it work? A user, when they first register for the secure service, are walked through a process that creates their key. Then after logging into the secure site, they compose secure emails just like any other email message. The content of the message is then encrypted with their key and transferred over the Internet via a secure connection. Just like the connections used on ecommerce sites. Here’s the twist… a message is secure as long as it is sent to another user of the system. This is how these companies can provide "end to end" security for your email. If you send a message to someone outside the system, it is sent in plain ASCII text and can be compromised as if you didn’t use a secure service at all.

However, this is just the flip side of PGP. With PGP you can send an encrypted email to a non-PGP user and the message is scrambled from "end to end" however, it will probably be trashed by the recipient since most users have no clue what to do with an encrypted message. At least with the online systems the recipient of your secure email can also sign up for the service and secure their communications without the learning curve of PGP.

One question you may be asking yourself is, "How secure is my key and my email if someone else controls the key creation process?" In other words, will the online service provider turn my email over to anyone in it’s unencrypted form? For most services, the key creation process relies on random data that you generate during the registration process. It is actually under you control and not the service provider.

As for turning over your email… Read the user agreements for each service provider. I personally like the way HushMail.com states their policy:

"What if my message is subpoenaed? Hush, like any company or individual, is legally bound to respond to court-issued subpoenas. However, because not even HushMail can access the encryption keys of individual users, in the case of a subpoena HushMail would only be able to provide the encrypted (coded) version of the transmitted email."

In other words, yes they would have to turn over your email if required by law but it would be worthless since it would be in encrypted form. And since they don’t know your key, they can’t decrypt your messages.

PGP - vs. - Online Secure Email

PGP Pros - Local key control. Key size control. End to end encryption of email and attachments without going through 3rd party.

Cons - Steep learning curve. Email recipients confused with encrypted messages. Encryption not available from every computer.

Online Secure Email

Pros - Easy to use. Available from any computer with Internet connection, End to end encryption within the system. Secure file storage. (most providers offer this service.)

Cons - No key size control. No encrypted messages outside the system. (however, some providers do provide PGP integration - still need to learn PGP)

With the proliferation of the Internet, online bill paying, and the transfer of personal or financial data across the web, it just makes sense to do everything in your power to protect your privacy. Considering how easy to use and effective PGP or online encryption can be, these services just may be the answer you’re looking for to keep people out of your business - personal or otherwise.

All in all, for ease of use and easy access, I would suggest using one of the online secure email providers. Most offer basic service for free. Upgraded services and increased storage space can be had for a small monthly fee.

Michael Ameye has been developing web sites since 1995. He started writing about online privacy issues to answer questions from family, friends and co-workers.

He is also the chief editor of PSS Online, A Privacy, Safety and Security eZine dedicated to bringing important information to people in order to foster a safer more secure environment - online and off. Visit http://www.pssonline.info to subscribe.

Little Known Network Security Threats

There are a number of common network security threats that can damage your network. Some prime examples include remote login capability, SMTP hijacking and backdoor entry to a computer network. There are however dozens of other ways someone can inadvertedly access your network and steal or damage your data. Here are just a few network security threats you should be aware of, whether you operate a private or corporate network.

DNS – DNS or denial of service involves a major attack on Websites. Usually this threat is reserved for large computer networks. When a denial of service attack occurs there is often little a company can do immediately to recover from the attack. When this happens a hacker connects to the server multiple times purposefully even though the hacker is denied access. Over time these repeated requests cause the system to slow and crash.

Macros – This is an application that allows someone to create a script of commands that can run on your network. These macros are capable of crashing computers and destroying data.

Virus – A computer virus is one of the most common threats any private or corporate network user faces. Fortunately viruses can usually be prevented using modern anti-viral software.

OS bugs – Operating system bugs occur when backdoors are accessed to operating systems. Usually a backdoor is left open to attacks when inadequate network security systems are in place. Fortunately adequate network security including use of firewalls can help limit ones exposure to this security threat.

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on network security for more information on network security http://www.networksecurityinsider.com

Top Reasons You Need Network Security

Whether you engage in global commerce or have a network established simply to communicate with others on the Web, there are a number of threats that exist when operating in the realm of the World Wide Web. Network security is an important function that ultimately will protect your computer and data from multiple threats. Here are some examples of common threats networks are exposed to every day:

Session Hijackers – Hijackers can access your computer in a number of ways. One way they can do this is through SMTP hijacking. This means a hijacker can gain access to your list of e-mail addresses through an SMTP server of an unprotected host. By doing so a hijacker is able to send spam to any users listed in the e-mail address book. This is actually a frequent problem networked computers have to deal with. It is usually very difficult to track the origin of a spammer in this case as email is usually redirected through various hosts.

Backdoors – Certain programs allow remote access through application backdoors. Still others have glitches or bugs in the system that allow someone to gain access to the network via a backdoor. This is very dangerous as the interloper can then take control of multiple programs.

Remote login – In some situations a person can connect to your computer network from a remote location and take control of certain computer functions. They may for example view or change files and run programs unbeknownst to you on your computer network.

Article by Frank Owen, visit his web site on network security for more information on network security http://www.networksecurityinsider.com