Cynics Unlimited

(See also: Part 1)

Online computer hacking has evolved from harmless pranks to big business: gangs of data thieves operate from Russia and China with near impunity. Tens of thousands of stolen credit card numbers are offered for sale on a weekly basis with a single card number selling for as little as $0.40. Home computer users have been overwhelmed by a continuous stream of viruses, trojans, spam, spyware and adware that threaten to introduce unwanted data or steal sensitive data – all while slowing PC’s to a crawl.

A cottage industry has developed for computer “experts” who promise to clean and tune-up home computers for prices ranging between $35 and $100 per treatment. Many of these would-be entrepreneurs are using software tools (often free to download) that can be installed and operated by the average user.

In the second of a two part series, we will look at two more indispensable tools for securing your computer or home network. While this series is geared towards internet security, most of the tools described are useful even on machines with no internet access.

Weapon #3 – Spyware Remover

Definition

Spyware refers to software installed without the user’s direct and informed consent. Once installed, spyware can collect personal / behavioural information, change computer settings, redirect browser activity, deliver unwanted advertising or even download other malicious software. The main difference between spyware and a virus is that spyware does not self-replicate – rather, it is typically installed as part of a legitimate software package (e.g. ad-supported software) or acquired after visiting an infected website that forces the web browser to automate the spyware download. Some of the more infamous spyware includes Zango, HuntBar and Gator Software.

Spyware removal software works similar to antivirus software by scanning the computer for traces of known spyware then attempting to remove the spyware.

Benefits

Spyware consumes disk space, memory and other computer resources in addition to being a nuisance to the user. Removing spyware regains these resources and improves computer performance.

Costs and Risks

Spyware removal software also uses a lot of system resources and must be updated regularly to keep up with advancing spyware technologies. Many so-called Spyware removal tools have proven to be fakes which themselves install spyware (e.g. Spyshredder, Pest Trap, MacSweeper).

Recommended Software

Lavasoft is considered by many to be the original anti-spyware company. Their flagship product, Ad-Aware, comes in several flavours ranging from a freeware disk scanner to a commercial version that scans in real-time and integrates antivirus protection. Spybot – Search and Destroy is another popular tool while the tech-saavy have shown increasing interest in the heuristic methods of Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware.

Weapon #4 – Registry / Disk Cleaner

Definition

Registry cleaners attempt to scan and repair Windows’ system registry by removing outdated entries and fixing invalid references. Registry software is particularly useful for removing orphaned entries caused by uninstalling software. Some packages also defragment the registry for improved performance. Disk Cleaners can remove traces of internet activity, program history and windows temporary files.

Benefits

Fixing registry errors can correct system problems that cause Windows to malfunction or stop working. Removing temporary internet files (e.g. cached files, cookies) not only saves disk space but improves security by removing traces of web site activity and any accompanying passwords.

Costs and Risks

Fixing registry errors incorrectly can also cause Windows to malfunction or stop working (good packages allow the user to make a registry backup before making changes). Some users find the removal of web browsing history to be inconvenient.

Recommended Software

Webroot’s Window Washer is the most popular commercial disk cleaner and is constantly updated with plug-ins to remove program traces from the latest software. CCleaner is a freeware alternative that lacks WW’s government-strength disk erasing but adds basic registry cleaning. Registry Mechanic comprehensively cleans, repairs and optimizes the Windows registry.