Computer warnings –
Whilst on the web you will notice from time to time programmes that
pop-up warning you that you may have spyware*
installed on your PC or that your PC is vulnerable to
spyware and to click on a button for a free check.
Please do not click on any of these programmes or links.
eps
can advise on the protection
levels you require either at the desktop or server level as unfortunately
these attacks can be directed at both areas. Ideally, all anti
virus†
software should be installed on your servers and desktops. Anti
Spyware can be installed on servers but maybe
prohibitively expensive and desktop versions are available.
Should you ever be unsure
the first rule of thumb is
nothing in life
comes for free, so that toolbar download,
ask yourself ;
should I
?.
The first point of contact should be to phone or e-mail
eps
before you install or respond to these types of e-mails or links for
free software downloads.
If your computer starts to behave strangely or displays any of the symptoms
listed below, you may have spyware or other unwanted
software installed on your computer.
• I see pop-up advertisements all
the time. Some unwanted software will bombard you with pop-up
ads that aren't related to a particular Web site you're visiting. These
ads are often for adult or other Web sites you may find objectionable.
If you see pop-up ads as soon as you turn on your computer or when you're
not even browsing the Web, you may have spyware
or other unwanted software on your computer.
• My settings have changed and I
can't change them back to the way they were. Some unwanted
software has the ability to change your home page or search page settings.
This means that the page that opens first when you start your Internet
browser or the page that appears when you select "search" may be pages
that you do not recognize. Even if you know how to adjust these settings,
you may find that they revert back every time you restart your computer.
• My Web browser contains additional
components that I don't remember downloading.
Spyware and other unwanted software can add additional
toolbars to your Web browser that you don't want or need. Even if you
know how to remove these toolbars, they may return each time you restart
your computer.
• My computer seems sluggish.
Spyware and other unwanted software are not necessarily
designed to be efficient. The resources these programs use to track
your activities and deliver advertisements can slow down your computer
and errors in the software can make your computer crash. If you notice
a sudden increase in the number of times a certain program crashes,
or if your computer is slower than normal at performing routine tasks,
you may have spyware or other unwanted software
on your machine.
Other examples of these malicious
programmes are: Desktop calendars, search toolbars, Gator, Incredimail,
comic icons, AIM and many,
many more.......
*Spyware
Software
installed (usually surreptitiously) as part of another application installation
specifically to monitor and report back on a computer's use.
† Virus
A malicious computer program designed to cause at best annoyance and
at worst, damage to computer data. Viruses usually spread from computer
to computer by 'infecting' files that are passed between them, or by
automatically sending an email to everyone in your address book. They
are often hidden in innocuous-looking files or email attachments, and
may lie dormant waiting for a trigger date or event before they launch.
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