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Anti-Spyware Solution Provider Names Top Threats

BOULDER, Colo., December 8, 2004 Spyware and adware, as well as new and emerging potentially unwanted programs, are among the top 10 threats currently affecting businesses and consumers, according to Webroot Software. These findings are based on research conducted by the Webroot dedicated in-house Threat Research Team, which is overseen by Richard Stiennon, the vice president of threat research.
The people who write this stuff are gaining sophistication in their coding practices as they attempt to evade detection and removal, said Stiennon. These 10 are the most insidious programs in terms of prevalence and effect.

The 10 most significant emerging spyware and adware threats based on detection as well as potential impact:

PurityScan PurityScan frequently displays pop-up advertisements onto your computer whenever you are online. It induces you to install it by claiming to find and delete pornographic images.

n-CASE (msbb.exe) n-CASE is an adware program that delivers targeted pop-up advertisements to your computer. This program is usually bundled with freeware applications.

Gator (GAIN) is an adware program that has the ability to display banner advertisements based on your Web surfing habits. Gator is usually bundled with numerous free software programs, including the popular file-sharing program Kazaa.

CoolWebSearch (CWS) CoolWebSearch has the ability to hijack your Web searches, home page, and Internet Explorer settings. Recent variants of CoolWebSearch install using malicious HTML applications or security flaws, such as exploits in the HTML Help format and Microsoft Java Virtual machines.

Transponder (vx2) Transponder is an IE Browser Helper Object that monitors requested web pages and data entered into online forms, then delivers targeted advertisements.

ISTbar/AUpdate ISTbar is a toolbar used for searching pornographic web sites that has been reported to display pornographic pop-ups and to hijack your homepage and Internet searches.

KeenValue KeenValue is an adware program that collects personal information and delivers advertisements to your computer.

Internet Optimizer Internet Optimizer hijacks error pages and redirects them to its own controlling server at http://www.internet-optimizer.com.

Perfect Keylogger Perfect Keylogger is a monitoring tool that records all visited web sites, keystrokes and mouse clicks. For example, it can log passwords, account numbers and other sensitive information. It is usually installed manually.

TIBS Dialer T IBS Dialer is a dialer program that hijacks your modem and dials toll numbers, usually to access pornographic "pay" Web sites.

Its our goal to inform Internet users of the ramifications of having potentially unwanted programs on their systems, said Stiennon. It is their choice to keep or remove these programs based on the information available to them. Were making sure they have that information so they are making knowledgeable decisions.

Webroot recommends consumers and businesses alike take several precautions to combat these problematic applications. For increased security, install Microsoft security patches, avoid using freeware, and disable downloads via ActiveX in Internet Explorer.

Additionally, install an anti-spyware software program for desktop defense, such as Webroot Spy Sweeper for consumers with individual computers or Spy Sweeper Enterprise for businesses running on network architecture.

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