The world renowned PC Pitstop OverDrive Scan now scans for potentially dangerous Browser Helper Objects (BHOs) and Toolbar Add-Ons.
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Spyware
Botnets, Now What?
Just when I was becoming accustomed to using spyware removal tools and running the occasional Pitstop virus scan (few people keep their antivirus current these days), something new comes along.
Have you ever wondered why your machine seems like it’s operating in mud or is just ignoring you? Well that’s probably because it’s operating just fine for someone else. Yep, we’re talking Botnets. Botnets are using your CPU, draining your memory, just waiting to be told what to do by someone making money from your investment. You don’t mind do you?
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PC Pitstop Top 25 Spyware and Adware
PC Pitstop has long been a source of information about unwanted software and how it spreads. Now we’re using our test results database to give you weekly updates about which programs are the most prolific. The prevalence numbers indicate the percent of PCs tested at PC Pitstop where we detected that file running. Our detection works by file name, so some products may be listed multiple times if they consist of two or more files. To check for spyware, adware, unneeded programs, and many other common PC problems, try PC Pitstop Exterminate or our full system scan.
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Evolution of Malware
It was a cold day in South Dakota (circa 1990) as I entered the Gateway building. Unlike most days, the hustle and bustle of a rapidly growing computer company were missing, replaced by an eerie still and quietness. The security guard shook his head, and said, “The software download server got hit with a virus.” All of production was shut down.
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If I Knew You Were Coming…
Wow! I sure am getting popular. My old girl friend and my “soon to be ex” wife are sending me love notes.
After realizing I wasn’t suddenly the most important person in everyone’s heart I did some checking. It seems that there has been a huge, and I do mean huge, resurgence in the old e-card scam.
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P2P Programs: Popular and Perilous
It’s time for a confession. Many of us have peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing software on our home PCs. Teenagers most often use P2P to search for and download the latest songs from their favorite artists and adults can find the songs of their youth. PC Pitstop research has shown that many of us have P2P programs such as Kazaa, Grokster, and Morpheus.
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Spyware Information Center
Since PC Pitstop opened in March 2000, we’ve tested and optimized more than a million computers. During that time, spyware has become a growing problem that threatens the stability and performance of your PC.
Our statistics indicate that more than 20% of PC’s have some sort of spyware active in memory, stealing CPU cycles, using up system resources, delivering unwanted advertising, and often creating system instability. Worse yet, spyware can threaten your privacy.
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Dirty Spyware Tricks
If you had a complete knowledge of what most spyware was doing to your system, you would never agree to install it. So how does it end up installed on so many PCs? Here are some of the dirty tricks that spyware uses to worm its way onto your system and stay there. (Not all spyware uses every technique.)
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Gator Information Center
The Gator Corporation makes several free applications that are distributed over the Internet. (On October 30, 2003, the company changed its name to Claria Corporation, but continues to operate in the same way it did before the name change.) Gator/Claria products are often delivered to end-users by being bundled with other applications or through “drive-by downloads” that pop up an ActiveX dialog and start the installation process if you say “Yes”.
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Anti Spyware Software Prevalence Trends
The overall prevalence of Anti Spyware Software has been relatively steady with a slight decreasing tendency during the past year. For PC’s with Anti Spyware Software, the majority have more than one Anti Spyware title.
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Direct Revenue: Greed Triumphs Over Decency
The recent lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General against Direct Revenue provides an incredible amount of information about the sleazy activities of spyware and adware companies. In the past, we’ve pointed out that these companies were making lots of money from their invasive installations. We saw a glimpse of how much money was at stake when Claria filed to go public in 2004. In that filing, they revealed that they made about $100 million in 2003. However, that high-profile bid to go public was at the height of Claria’s power and profit; they quietly aborted the attempt in the fall of 2004 and just recently announced that they are getting out.
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April 2006 Newsletter
Microsoft’s Gaping Security Hole
A Peek Inside the Spyware Greed Machine
Australians Lead the World in Antispyware
Your Opinion–Worth $100?
Windows Tip: Don’t be a Slave to Email
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Anti-Spyware Coalition Workshop
On February 8 and 9, I had the opportunity to participate in the Anti-Spyware Coalition Public Workshop. The event brought together representatives from the software industry and government, including the Federal Trade Commission and the Center for Democracy and Technology. In the past year the FTC has filed suit against several of the worst spyware offenders including Enternet Media, and the CDT recently filed an FTC complaint against 180Solutions for its practices. The Anti-Spyware Coalition has been working to craft clear definitions of acceptable software installation behavior.
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February 2006 Newsletter
Anti-Spyware Workshop Exposes Industry Antics
Fragmentation Dropping as Drives Get Bigger
Tell Us What You Like–and Win $50!
Performance Tip: Trim System Restore’s Fat
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Taming the Wild West
Does everyone remember a few years ago the wacko guy that was blowing up mailboxes in the midwest? What I remember most of all is that suddenly everyone was afraid to open their mailboxes. The ramifications were huge. Millions of businesses rely on the US mail to deliver marketing materials, invoices, and other important communications. What would have happened if the US mail became unreliable?
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Spyware and Adware Statistics
Sony and Spyware
When I was going to high school in the late 70’s, required reading for all English students was George Orwell’s 1984. I still remember reading about the overly structured life created by a highly bureaucratic government dubbed Big Brother. The book is essentially an anecdote for many of today’s problems related to governmental power versus the privacy and self determination of citizens such as ourselves.
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December 2005 Newsletter
Rob Cheng’s Take on Sony’s Spyware
Nearly One-Third of Portables are Wide Screen
PC Pitstop Detects Sony Spyware
Sony Rootkit: Number 14 on the Top 25 Spyware
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