Hi guys,
I took 3 or 4 minutes reading to find the follow info. on the Help file of
MSAS.
Read the file, is very intersting.
You know the old say: When every thing fail, read the f******g manual. ;-)
Microsoft AntiSpyware is AntiSpyware software that helps to detect and
remove spyware and other potentially unwanted software from your computer.
Microsoft AntiSpyware helps protect you from spyware's negative consequences,
which can include a slower Internet connection, pop-up advertisements,
reduced computer performance, identity theft, and the loss of private
information.
Microsoft AntiSpyware takes a new approach to fighting and preventing
spyware by using three proven spyware trapping and detection techniques.
Types of Spyware
Spyware can be broken down into two different categories, surveillance
spyware and advertising spyware. Surveillance software includes keyloggers,
screen capture devices, and Trojans. These would be used by corporations,
private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, or anyone
interested in your activities. Advertising spyware is software that is
installed alongside other software or through ActiveX controls on the
Internet, often without your knowledge or without full disclosure, that it
will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads.
Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly gathering
passwords, e-mail addresses, Web browsing history, online buying habits, the
computer's hardware and software configuration, and personal information.
Adware. Adware is generally software that displays advertisements. Some
advertisers may covertly install adware on your computer and generate a
stream of unsolicited advertisements that can clutter your desktop and
adversely affect your productivity. The advertisements may also contain
pornographic or other material that you might find inappropriate. The extra
processing required to track you or to display advertisements can tax your
computer and hurt your computer’s performance.
Spyware. Spyware's primary purpose is to collect demographic and usage
information from your computer, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware is
usually silently downloaded onto your computer and performs covert
activities. Spyware programs are often bundled as an unknown component of
other programs downloaded from the Internet.
Browser Plug-in. A browser plug-in is an application that can be installed
in your Web browser. Plug-ins can come in the form of a toolbar that is
included in your Web browser, a search or navigation feature, or extra task
buttons on the browser. Although most plug-ins are designed to perform
necessary functions, some plug-ins are harmful to your computer because they
have complete access to your Web browser and can log, modify, and redirect
any task you perform.
Browser Redirector. Browser redirectors are programs that change your Web
browser settings, often altering designated default start and search pages.
In addition, a browser redirector can modify almost every aspect of a Web
browser including adding bookmarks, and redirects search traffic to
alternative sites.
RAT. A remote administration tool (RAT) is a Trojan type of software that
when run, provides an attacker with the capability of remotely controlling
your computer over the Internet. The attacker usually has full access to
functions on your computer.
Key logger. A key logger program runs in the background, recording all your
keystrokes to a file. Once keystrokes are logged, they are hidden on your
computer for later retrieval, or shipped secretly to the attacker through
email or over the Internet.
Remote Installer. A remote installer is a program that is installed on your
computer without your knowledge. Once the program is installed it can connect
to a remote server and download additional programs and files, installing
them on the computer without your knowledge.
Commercial Keylogger. A commercial keylogger is a program that is installed
by one user of a computer to explicitly monitor the activity of other users.
These types of program can be installed using stealth tactics to hide
themselves from other users. These programs can be purchased from commercial
organizations.
Dialer. A dialer is software that dials a phone number using your computer's
modem. Most dialer programs connect to toll numbers without your knowledge or
consent, causing you to incur these charges on your phone bill.
Low Risk Adware. Low risk adware is an adware application that is designed
to display advertisements through pop-up windows. However, this type of
adware program is installed with your knowledge and conforms to the program’s
End User Licensing Agreement which is usually presented to your prior to
download and during installation. A low risk adware program will not transmit
personal or identifiable information.
File Sharing Program. File sharing programs, also known as peer-to-peer, are
popular applications used to share files of any type such as movies and music
across the Internet. Many freeware and shareware file sharing programs
install different types of adware and even some spyware software with them.
Although most file sharing programs are not harmful, the adware and spyware
programs contained in their bundle could be.
Engel
