Miscellaneous

At Reliable Networks we like to keep our clients as up to date as much as possible on potential risks, such as viruses, spyware etc. By building their awareness it makes it less likely that they will fall victim to the growing number of indiscriminate attacks that their IT systems are currently under.

We also try to simplify such things, which allows our clients to understand what these malicious programs can do and how.

Latest Virus Threats

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/global/vinfodb.html

Latest Spyware Threats

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/security_risks/spyware

What is Spyware and Adware?

While there are many similarities across the definitions used by industry groups, academics, antispyware companies, and others, the industry has yet to arrive at a common description for this quickly evolving and often confusing area.We defines spyware and adware as follows:

Spyware

Programs that have the ability to scan systems or monitor activity and relay information to other computers or locations in cyberspace. Among the information that may be actively or passively gathered and disseminated by spyware are passwords, log-in details, account numbers, personal information, individual files, or other personal documents. Spyware may also gather and distribute information related to the user's computer, applications running on the computer, Internet browser usage, or other computing habits.

Spyware frequently attempts to remain unnoticed, either by actively hiding or by simply not making its presence on a system known to the user. These types of programs can be downloaded from Web sites (typically in shareware or freeware), email messages, and instant messengers. Additionally, a user may unknowingly receive and/or trigger spyware by accepting a EULA from a software program linked to the spyware or by visiting a Web site that downloads the spyware with or without a EULA.

Adware

Programs that facilitate delivery of advertising content to the user through their own or another program's interface. In some cases, these programs may gather information from the user's computer, including information related to Internet browser usage or other computing habits, and relay this information back to a remote computer or other locations in cyberspace.

Adware can be downloaded from Web sites (often in shareware or freeware), email messages, and instant messenger programs. Additionally, a user may unknowingly receive and/or trigger adware by accepting an End User License Agreement (EULA) from a software program linked to the adware or by visiting a Web site that downloads the adware with or without a EULA.

Our definitions do not imply a value judgment on the appropriateness of spyware and adware programs or the businesses that support their development and distribution. Our definitions describe the functionality of these programs so that they can then be classified according to their risk profile.