Posted on 07/07/2005 9:45:11 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW YORK - Internet users worried about spyware and adware are shunning specific Web sites, avoiding file-sharing networks, even switching browsers.
Many have also stopped opening e-mail attachments without first making sure they are safe, the Pew Internet and American Life Project said in a study issued Wednesday.
"People are scaling back on some Internet activities," said Susannah Fox, the study's main author. "People are feeling less adventurous, less free to do whatever they want to do online."
Like no other Internet threat before it, spyware is getting people's attention, she said. "It maybe will bring more awareness of all kinds of security issues."
Linda Parra, a technology usability consultant at an insurance firm in Madison, Wis., is typical of the once-burned, now-vigilant crowd.
Hit twice by spyware, after which all her Internet searches went to a rogue search engine rather than Google, she bought the safer Mac computer, installed two layers of firewalls and began switching off her broadband-connected machine when she's out.
"I've become a lot more security conscious," she said, adding that she had to learn much more about how computers and the Internet work.
Parra also banned her daughters, ages 12 and 14, from game sites.
"All it takes is one click ... and you can end up going somewhere you don't want to go and getting a little bonus pack (spyware) with your freebie," she said. "I believe that's what happened."
Spyware generally refers to unwanted programs that often sneak onto computers without their owners' full knowledge. A subset called adware covers software designed to display targeted ads to subsidize another program's development.
While some computer users knowingly install spyware and adware, they often hitch rides with games, screensavers and other freebies, or exploit security flaws in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating systems and Internet Explorer browsers.
According to Pew, 48 percent of adult Internet users in the United States have stopped visiting specific Web sites that they fear might be harboring unwanted programs.
Twenty-five percent stopped using file-sharing software, which often comes bundled with adware. Rogue programs can also disguise themselves as songs or movie files awaiting download on file-sharing networks.
Eighteen percent of U.S. adult Internet users have started using Mozilla Firefox or another alternative to Internet Explorer.
In addition, 81 percent have become more cautious about e-mail attachments, a common way for spreading viruses, though rare for spyware or adware.
All told, 91 percent have made at least one behavioral change.
Users hit by spyware or adware were more likely than others to change their habits.
Avi Naider, president of adware company WhenU.com Inc., said he's not surprised.
Although in theory, adware is about exchanging value for value — free software for ads — in practice, some in the industry engage in deceptive practices and alienate consumers such that they "just stop visiting Web sites," Naider said.
Although many users have changed their online habits, they haven't necessarily fixed their machines, even as infected computers slow, often to a crawl.
Twenty percent of users who had computer problems did not attempt a fix. Among those who did, 29 percent waited a month or longer.
Two in five who tried to fix their machines did so on their own while others needed help from a friend, family member or a professional repair shop. In 20 percent of cases, the problem couldn't be fixed.
The survey also found that 43 percent of Internet users say they've been hit with spyware, adware or both. Those who report spyware were more likely to have previously engaged in "risky" behavior such as playing online games and visiting adult sites. Broadband users tend to be at greater risk.
Pew also found that three-quarters of Internet users do not always read user agreements and other disclaimers where spyware and adware are sometimes disclosed. The study was based on random telephone-based interviews with 2,001 adult Americans conducted May 4 to June 7. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.
Brother, spyware is in no way limited to those kids of sites.
"kids" should be "kinds". Ooops.
I stopped using IE because of spyware, and even with Mozilla I have to avoid Drudge. I'm trying to avoid ebay, but that's a bit more difficult. :(
First, that is not "spyware", it is a redirect trojan or other malware and can be removed albeit you may have to modify the registry.
Good grief. I go to game sites ALL the time. Just use a good (free) spyware blocker and virus check your downloads. I have not had a prob in a long time. Lots of free tools out there.
Buying a MAC and and turing off the broadband is just plain silly IMHO.
In 20 percent of cases, the problem couldn't be fixed.
Huh? The prob can ALWAYS be fixed unless you were such an idiot you broke hardware. And that is very very rare.
WHAT spyware?
I use IE and don't get spyware. Just need the right tools. :-)
I also monitor in realtime what programs and how many of them that are running on my machine at all times. If I see more than the normal 19 to run windows, explorer, and my malware blockers, I will see it in realtime.
Linda Parra, a technology usability consultant at an insurance firm in Madison, Wis., is typical of the once-burned, now-vigilant crowd.
Hit twice by spyware, after which all her Internet searches went to a rogue search engine rather than Google, she bought the safer Mac computer, installed two layers of firewalls and began switching off her broadband-connected machine when she's out.
"I've become a lot more security conscious," she said, adding that she had to learn much more about how computers and the Internet work.
Wow... what a "duhh" moment of clarity
As for Drudge, I hardly visit his site today. Total waste of time. Matt is making tons of money and more power to him. But, frankly, his celebrity news format just turns me off. Simply put, I do not care about what Cruise or Katie or other A list people are doing.
I should have scrolled down more.....you nailed it.
Apparently MS is buying the makers of Gator. MS anti spywhere now recomends ignoring Gator not deleting it as it did last week.
As someone said on slashdot. 'Never buy security software from the company that put the holes there in the first place!'. It's like Danes Gelt.
Just tell your browser to disallow any cookies, or if you have sites that you need to have cookies for (on-line shopping), then tell your browser that only those sites are allowed to set cookies.
Oh, you use a Mac too?
what the heck is that?
They make products (hardware, software, web sites) easier to use via various research methods and a knowledge of human behavior. They address things like web site navigation, the "user-friendliness" of software, placement of hardware buttons, etc. Usually a degree in engineering, design, or an advanced degree in psychology/human factors is required. It's a somewhat obscure field, but interesting, really. Most large companies, even some small, have departments devoted to this. And there's a large group of consultant firms that specialize in it.
Someone sent me an email with what they thought were "harmless Smiley's"! I started getting porn to my PRIVATE email -an email address I had never given out to anyone but friends.
Needless, to say, I checked on the "user agreement" for those dang Smiley's, and sure enough, they warned of 'possible adult sites' - which I immediately sent to this jerk - the former "friend" to whom I gave that very private email address.
He didn't read what I wrote -and a week later, sent another email with the same Smileys. Needless to say, I not only wrote this guy, but called him, to tell him about the problem, and also to tell him to "forget my name, my address and anything about me because clearly you are not bright enough to be my friend."
May sound harsh, but sheesh, I can't have people in my life who give away an address that I've now had to abandon, and who don't read emails that tell them of the error of their ways.
Meanwhile, I guess he must have appreciated the porn sites because he never complained about receiving emails with totally gross pictures in them.
I guess I'm just not as lucky and clever, because I'm positive the spyware acts up after a visit to Drudge, and it always appears when I'm in ebay. I've tried AdAware and lots of other anti-spyware programs, but nothing keeps it out permanently. Where it came from I don't know. I don't click on ads, or on any links in email, in fact I hardly ever use email on this computer. But I've got a bad case of homepage hijacker and nothing so far has cured it completely.
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