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Internet Scams 102 Hijackings And Spyware
y friend Janice is afraid if you keep getting things you
to go on the Internet didn't intend to get --
because of the terrible frequently pornographic sites and
things that might happen to her. popup ads. You change things back
She views a simple trip to get the way they were, but they won't
e-mail the way she views going stay changed.
alone, late at night, to a
dangerous part of town. These nasties nabbed you through
a security hole in Microsoft
Please... it's not that bad. Windows. If you haven't been
Though, come to think of it, it's caught and don't want to be,
ALMOST that bad: hijackers can http://www.spywareinfo.com/articl
now do things to people who es/hijacked/prevent.php says,
already have antivirus and
anti-spyware programs. To people "First and most simply, stop
who have carefully NOT clicked on using Internet Explorer. If you
scam e-mails. Some hijackers can use either Mozilla, Firefox or
disable your firewall, your Opera, you are immune to
antivirus software, and your virtually all browser hijackers."
spyware killers. Or they can
prevent antivirus and spyware Actually, it's not that simple.
from being updated. There are ways scammers can get
around Firefox. Microsoft is also
But there are solutions. Here's busy locking its barn doors,
what you do: though I'm afraid the horse has
already been stolen.
HIJACKINGS
If you decide to stay with
You know you've been hijacked if Internet Explorer, be sure to
your start page is different and keep it up to date, especially
with what they call "critical NOTHING -- OR WORSE
updates."
Unfortunately, an antivirus
PREVENTING ATTACKS program alone is not enough these
days. You need ANTI-SPYWARE.
The most basic and most necessary
protection, one you've probably Because the latest hijackers can
installed already, is antivirus disable anti-spyware -- AND keep
protection. The antivirus you from downloading updates --
programs upgrade constantly to you want some that is really,
protect us from the latest really good. The techie who
viruses. Norton is the most manages my website says, "Get
common, and a good choice. If you something that can WARD OFF
prefer a simple, uncomplicated attacks, not just remove them
solution, go to the site that after they've infected you. Once
sells Norton, really vicious spyware is on your
http://symantec.com/, and machine, it may be impossible for
download all the antivirus anyone but an expert to remove
protection you want. it."
If you're a thorough person, "But what about all the free
however, one who wants to learn anti-spyware?" you ask. If you go
about all the options, go to to
http://antivirus.about.com/od/ant http://www.apcug.net/Reports/Edit
ivirussoftwarereviews/, and you orial/2004.htm, you'll see under
will learn of problems and December 2004 an article "Beware
solutions you never dreamed of SCUMWARE Pretending to be
existed. Anti-Spyware" which tells one
man's experience. Sometimes what
WHAT YOU GET FOR NOTHING IS you get for nothing is nothing.
Or worse than nothing. http://lavasoft.com and download
their PROFESSIONAL type of
When my computer ran slower and Ad-Aware and Ad-Watch.
slower, some parts of my website
disappeared, and question marks If you prefer an in-depth
appeared all over my website investigation of anti-spyware,
homepage, I yelped for help. http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/ar
Should have yelped sooner, but ticle/0,aid,119572,00.asp can
better late than never. Asked my help you. They've tested most of
website manager what he uses. He the anti-spyware out there,
uses Lavasoft's PROFESSIONAL though I must say that Ad-Aware's
program of Ad-Aware and Ad-Watch. pro version was not tested, only
I bought it, and it found 17 the pc version.
pieces of spyware (Alexas and
tracking cookies), plus a Just don't wait until you're in
possible browser hijack attempt. big trouble. Do something now!
(The techie said, "That's
nothing. They found 83 pieces of IF YOU'VE BEEN HIJACKED
spyware on mine!" But then he's a
pro.) Ad-Aware removed all the A good, basic article can be
problems except the question found by going to
marks on my website home page, http://www.apcug.net/Reports/Edit
http://foodandfiction.com/Entranc orial/2004.htm. Scroll down to
e.html. These are probably due to September 2004 and download
the attempted hijack. I'm stuck "Help! I've Been Hijacked..."
with them. Fortunately they don't
show on any computer except mine. Another good article is, "How to
Remove Adware and Spyware,"
If you want to lead a simple http://antivirus.about.com/od/sec
life, come here to uritytips/a/removespyware.htm.
spyware information:
You might also read "Invasion of
the Browser Snatchers" at http://www.scumware.com/ - a
http://www.pcworld.com/news/artic website about nothing else but.
le/0,aid,84464,tk,dn021402X,00.as
p. The article will explain how http://www2.spywareinfo.com/categ
to undo the damage -- although ory/news/ has fascinating current
some hijack damage can't be Internet security news flashes,
removed that easily. which you will enjoy if you like
to feel that civilization as we
MORE INFORMATION know it is under constant threat.
Here are more good sources of
About the Author:
Find the best recipe, food gift, and healthy dieting sites on Janette Blackwell's Delightful Food Directory, http://delightfulfood.com/main.html -- or enjoy her country cooking at Food and Fiction, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html
Read more articles by: Janette Blackwell
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
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