2008 Woodie Awards
Spyware: More Dangerous Than You Think
Pesky Spyware has caused computers to freeze and even crash
Peter Simons
Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: News
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The first time Mike Chicoria took his work home with him, he returned from a quick trip to the bathroom to find that his computer had crashed.
An engineer for Berlin Steel, he'd been designing steelwork for Boston's Big Dig. He restarted his computer to find he'd lost an entire day's worth of work.
He didn't know what to do. But when he found out spyware was to blame, and all he wanted to know was how to remove it.
According to www.spychecker.com and www.spywareinfo.com, Spyware, also known as adware, is a type of tracking software that is installed on a user's computer without that user's knowledge. Downloaded inadvertently from many websites, spyware then connects to the internet, using up bandwidth to activate pop-up ads or track the user's movement.
It uses up memory within the computer, and total removal is often very difficult. Ultimately, it overwhelms the computer's processor, causing freezing and crashing.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 90% of computers are infected with spyware.
"I've seen the problem grow exponentially," says Chris Springer, 25, a network engineer for DiConnect. It "hurts the average computer user so much, someone who just wants to surf the web and write papers."
And spyware also opens up "a portal in your computer to let other spyware in." Once you get spyware, you'll keep getting more and more, Springer says.
You'll start with pop-up ads and pop-under ads. Then, your home page will be usurped (your browser will take you to a new home page, one decided upon by the spyware). Then, there is a possibility that pornographic websites will open up in greater and greater number whenever you use the internet.
But that is only the beginning. Your computer will slow. Downloads will no longer be possible. Your browser will crash. And then, your computer will crash.
And spyware comes from many places. Common websites like Google.com install spyware. But the biggest problem comes from peer-to-peer downloading programs like Kazaa and BearShare.
An engineer for Berlin Steel, he'd been designing steelwork for Boston's Big Dig. He restarted his computer to find he'd lost an entire day's worth of work.
He didn't know what to do. But when he found out spyware was to blame, and all he wanted to know was how to remove it.
According to www.spychecker.com and www.spywareinfo.com, Spyware, also known as adware, is a type of tracking software that is installed on a user's computer without that user's knowledge. Downloaded inadvertently from many websites, spyware then connects to the internet, using up bandwidth to activate pop-up ads or track the user's movement.
It uses up memory within the computer, and total removal is often very difficult. Ultimately, it overwhelms the computer's processor, causing freezing and crashing.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 90% of computers are infected with spyware.
"I've seen the problem grow exponentially," says Chris Springer, 25, a network engineer for DiConnect. It "hurts the average computer user so much, someone who just wants to surf the web and write papers."
And spyware also opens up "a portal in your computer to let other spyware in." Once you get spyware, you'll keep getting more and more, Springer says.
You'll start with pop-up ads and pop-under ads. Then, your home page will be usurped (your browser will take you to a new home page, one decided upon by the spyware). Then, there is a possibility that pornographic websites will open up in greater and greater number whenever you use the internet.
But that is only the beginning. Your computer will slow. Downloads will no longer be possible. Your browser will crash. And then, your computer will crash.
And spyware comes from many places. Common websites like Google.com install spyware. But the biggest problem comes from peer-to-peer downloading programs like Kazaa and BearShare.