Re: Beware of Spyware
Re: Beware of Spyware
- Subject: Re: Beware of Spyware
- From: Fred Showker <email@hidden>
- Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2005 16:37:43 -0400
Thanks folks for the interesting thread.
The generally accepted definition of Spyware is
(n.) Any software that covertly gathers user information through
the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge.
Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the
Internet and transmits that information in the background to
someone else. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail
addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.
###
Spyware is not necessarily malicious beyond stealing information,
system resources and bandwidth from the user.
Someone said:
> If my understanding is correct, your cookie is not the
> same as Spyware. Your cookie requests your input,
> but doesn't "Update your records" all by itself.
Then someone said:
> To put it much more succinctly, cookies are not spyware.
This is not entirely true. While cookies are not regarded as spyware,
there ARE cookies which act very much like spyware, reporting information
back to the cookie owner. "Super Cookies" were in wide-spread use back
in the late '90s and early '00s, but most firms backed off.
However, with advertising reporting and link exchange companies, they
are still in use to track your online activities and clicks -- as is
the use of UID numbers to cross-reference you in various databases.
(I documented and demonstrated Super Cookies in use in my "Anti-Spam"
seminars and presentations at Macworld in '02 and '03.)
See:
http://www.computerbytesman.com/privacy/supercookie.htm
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/excerpt/p3p/p3p.html
http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2002jan/gee20020118009842.htm
We reported many articles and instances back when it was a hot
topic. Don't know why the issue blew over. Today we hear that
Value-Click, Double-Click and Hitbox allegedly still use them.
Check your cookies and see if you have some now.
Someone said:
> Your post implies that Macs are in danger from Spyware.
> Nothing could be further from the truth.
This is somewhat correct... but not that far from the truth.
It depends on your definition and threshold for "DANGER".
If the telephone company lets some 3rd party listen in on all
your phone conversations you may not consider that a "DANGER"
However, I'd be willing to bet you have some form of spyware on
your Mac this very moment -- even if it isn't dangerous.
Spyware doesn't necessarily have to be put on the Mac through
covert activities. Most of the spyware on the Mac these days is
put there unknowingly by the user. Mac users even waive right
to complain of activities (like spyware but not called spyware)
when they install software. Software companies don't like you
to know they are looking over your shoulder, but some are.
Install "Little Snitch" -- http://www.obdev.at/products/littlesnitch/
run some programs, and watch the port activity if you don't
believe me.
And read your licensing agreements very, very, carefully.
BTW: We ran the Spyware article by Nowshade Kabir in last week's
InfoManager because he's a frequent contributor, and for the benefit
of both our Mac subscribers who also use Windows, and our small but
faithful contingency of Windows subscribers.
The original poster was correct, we should have added a
note for Mac users. I'll be more careful. But we're all prey to
the loss of bandwidth caused by the criminals. If the InfoManager
helped one Windows user get rid of potentially dangerous software,
then it justifies running the article.
Just the same, we must always be diligent.
Online crime is resourceful, and it's not a matter of "if" but
"when" spyware in the 'bad' sense of the term will appear on Macs.
In all likelihood it will be there for a while before it's discovered.
Yes, we are lucky to be free of the most of the world of malicious
online crime -- by virtue of being Mac users.
But If we become too complacent we'll eventually become easy targets.
I believe even Randy would agree to that. :-)
Re-read Christina Zeeh's post "Re: 12 Beware of Spyware"
she's got a good handle on it.
See: http://www.pcwebopedia.com/TERM/s/spyware.html
... and have a great day
Fred
PS: It's interesting that the American people are moaning to the
high heavens about a quarter (25-cents) increase in the cost of gasoline,
but they'll pay 97-cents for a bottle of water and a buck-fifty for a
cup of coffee and not even murmur a single word about the 5-Billion
dollars lost each year in overall national productivity due to online
crime, spam and virus. Kinda makes you stop and think. I spent 18-days
in and around Kampala Uganda Africa in January, and if you think two-bucks
for a gallon of gas is bad -- try $4.75 for a liter of diesel -- more for
gas if you can find it -- a thousand shillings for a bottle of drinking water.
Count your blessings. You've got it good.
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