Information Security Training

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Spyware Protection Best Practices

Spyware is malicious software that has been designed to intercept or take partial control over your computer’s operation without the knowledge and consent of the machine’s owner. It can collect information about your computer activity and send this to another place on the Internet. Some types track where you go to on the Internet and send this to an advertising agency. Others intercept personal information such as credit cards and passwords. Others launch annoying pop-ups that are meant to distract you or attract you to malicious web sites. As of 2006, spyware is the leading security threat to computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems especially users of Internet Explorer. Linux and Mac OS X users have less of a problem with spyware.

The best practices for protecting against spyware include:

• Stay with known or trusted Internet sites. These sites are well monitored by their staff and rarely have spyware embedded into the web site.
• Always log into your account as someone other than “administrator”. This would be an account with restricted privileges. This will reduce the chance of a hacker gaining control over your computer and stealing personal information.
• Enable browser security levels as high as possible to avoid spyware but still allow legitimate traffic to flow.
• Disable the browser from automatically downloading cookies (which can be used for obtaining personal information).
• Download programs or software only from trusted web sites.
• Never click on unwanted pop-ups. Instead delete them by clicking on the red “X” in the upper right corner of the pop-up window.
• Install a pop-up blocker. These come with Windows XP Service Pack 2. Others can be obtained from Google and Yahoo.
• Install and use anti-spyware software that will protect your computer from receiving spyware. Keep it up to date and run it regularly like your anti-virus software. Towson University offers free Anti-Spyware software bundled with its Anti-Virus software on the Office of Technology Services web site. Other free packages include SpyBot and Ad-Aware. Microsoft Windows Defender also provides anti-spyware protection.

What more?

• Spyware Information
• Security at Home: Spyware
• How to Avoid Spyware
• Tuning your PC

If you need further assistance, email infosec@towson.edu for help.
 

Information Security Office
Office of Technology Services
Cook Library, 4
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
E-mail: infosec@towson.edu