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Senior Alerts
FTC Halts Spyware Attackers, Posts Protection Advice
Seniors Can Use
May 4, 2006 – The Federal Trade Commission today
shut down two operators that deceptively downloaded "spyware" on the
computers of unsuspecting consumers. One of the unwanted downloads
changed settings and hijacked the computers search engines. The other
operator was stealing the personal information of the consumers. The
agency has also posted information about identifying and avoiding
spyware that can be helpful to many senior citizens.
(FTC advice on Spyware and recommended protection
software is below news report.)
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Related Stories |
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Are "Wired Seniors" Sitting Ducks?
by Susannah Fox
Pew Internet & American Life Project
April 12, 2006 - Currently, the
vast majority of Americans age 65 and older do not go online. But that
will likely change in a big way as the "silver tsunami" of
internet-loving Baby Boomers swamps the off-line senior population in
the next 10 years. That demographic shift, paired with a rising tide of
viruses, spyware, and other online critters, is cause for concern since
there is evidence that older users are less likely than younger ones to
take precautions against software intrusions and fraud.
Read more...
Don't Fall for Email Hoax about Cell Phone Numbers
Being Made Public
There is no need to add cell phone to any Do Not Call
Registry
Jan.
21, 2006 – Once again fake emails are circulating on the Internet
warning that cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers soon
and that senior citizens and other users should register their cell
phones with the National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry to be protected. It
is a hoax, says the Federal Trade Commission – cell phone numbers are
not being released and there is no need to register with any do not call
list. Read
more...
Read more
on
Senior Alerts |
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The FTC sued both operations charging that the
stealthy downloads of spyware were unfair and deceptive and violated
federal law. Although the companies used different techniques to direct
consumers to their Web sites and implement the downloads, the FTC
alleged that both operations hijacked consumers’ computers without the
consumers’ knowledge or approval, secretly changed their settings, and
barraged consumers with pop-up ads.
The spyware and other software the defendants
installed caused many computers to malfunction, slow down, or crash,
causing consumers to lose data stored on their computers.
The FTC alleged that Sanford Wallace and his
company, Smartbot.Net, exploited a security vulnerability in
Microsoft’s Internet Explorer’s Web browser in order to distribute
spyware.
The spyware caused the CD-ROM tray on computers to
open and then issued a “FINAL WARNING!!” to computer screens with a
message that said, “If your cd-rom drive’s open . . .You DESPERATELY
NEED to rid your system of spyware pop-ups IMMEDIATELY! Spyware
programmers can control your computer hardware if you failed to protect
your computer right at this moment! Download Spy Wiper NOW!” Spy Wiper
and Spy Deleter, purported anti-spyware products the defendants
promoted, sold for $30.
A default judgment against Wallace and Smartbot.Net
orders them to give up $4,089,500 in ill-gotten gains. The order also
bars them from downloading spyware onto consumers’ computers; from
downloading any software without consumers’ consent; from redirecting
consumers’ computers to sites or servers other than those the consumers
selected to visit; from changing any Web browser’s default home page;
and from modifying or replacing the search features or functions of any
search engine.
A settlement with defendants OptinTrade and Jared
Lansky, bars the same practices that are barred in the Wallace and
Smartbot.Net judgment. Lansky, an ad broker who disseminated ads
containing Wallace’s spyware, will give up $227,000 in ill-gotten gains.
In a second case, the FTC charged that Odysseus
Marketing and its principal, Walter Rines, lured consumers to their
Web site by advertising bogus software they claimed would allow
consumers to engage in anonymous peer-to-peer file sharing. According to
the FTC, the spyware and other software bundled with it hijacked search
engines and reformatted search engine results, placing Rines’ clients
first.
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The FTC has a site
specifically for protecting consumers on the Internet -
click to site. |
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The FTC recently amended its complaint, charging
that the defendants also distributed their spyware by exploiting
security vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer and other applications,
and that the defendants’ spyware captured consumers’ personal
information, including their names, addresses, e-mail addresses,
telephone numbers, Internet browsing and shopping history, and
information about their online transactions.
Once captured, the amended complaint alleges, the
information was transmitted to defendants’ Internet servers, where they
compiled the information into a database in order to sell access to the
data.
A revised preliminary injunction has been issued
against Odysseus and Rines. It bars them from downloading spyware
without consumers’ consent, and from disclosing, using, or further
obtaining consumers’ personal information, pending trial. The FTC will
ask the court to order a permanent halt to their activities and order
them to give up their ill-gotten gains.
The cases were filed in U.S. District Court for the
District of New Hampshire.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent
fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace
and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them.
To file a complaint in
English or
Spanish (bilingual counselors are available to take complaints), or
to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics, call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at
http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/complaint.htm.
See below for advice from the FTC and Spyware
protection software.
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What Senior Citizens Should Know
About Spyware
Just when you thought you were Web savvy,
one more privacy, security, and functionality issue crops up —
spyware. Installed on your computer without your consent,
spyware software monitors or controls your computer use. It may
be used to send you pop-up ads, redirect your computer to
websites, monitor your Internet surfing, or record your
keystrokes, which, in turn, could lead to identity theft.
Many experienced Web users have learned how
to recognize spyware, avoid it, and delete it. According to
officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s
consumer protection agency, all computer users should get wise
to the signs that spyware has been installed on their machines,
and then take the appropriate steps to delete it.
The clues that spyware is on a computer
include:
● a barrage of pop-up ads
● a hijacked browser — that is, a browser that takes you to
sites other than those you type into the address box
● a sudden or repeated change in your computer’s Internet home
page
● new and unexpected toolbars
● new and unexpected icons on the system tray at the bottom of
your computer screen
● keys that don’t work (for example, the “Tab” key that might
not work when you try to move to the next field in a Web form)
● random error messages
● sluggish or downright slow performance when opening programs
or saving files
The good news is that consumers can take
steps to lower their risk of spyware infections. Indeed, experts
at the FTC and across the technology industry suggest that you:
● Update your operating system and Web
browser software. Your operating system (like Windows or Linux)
may offer free software “patches” to close holes in the system
that spyware could exploit.
● Download free software only from sites you know and trust.
It can be appealing to download free software like games,
peer-to-peer file-sharing programs, customized toolbars, or
other programs that may change or customize the functioning of
your computer. Be aware, however, that some of these free
software applications bundle other software, including spyware.
● Don’t install any software without knowing exactly what it
is. Take the time to read the end-user license agreement (EULA)
before downloading any software. If the EULA is hard to find —
or difficult to understand — think twice about installing the
software.
● Minimize “drive-by” downloads. Make sure your browser
security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized
downloads, for example, at least the “Medium” setting for
Internet Explorer. Keep your browser updated.
● Don’t click on any links within pop-up windows. If you do,
you may install spyware on your computer. Instead, close pop-up
windows by clicking on the “X” icon in the title bar.
● Don’t click on links in spam that claim to offer anti-spyware
software. Some software offered in spam actually installs
spyware.
● Install a personal firewall to stop uninvited users from
accessing your computer. A firewall blocks unauthorized access
to your computer and will alert you if spyware already on your
computer is sending information out.
If you think your computer might have
spyware on it, experts advise that you take three steps: Get an
anti-spyware program from a vendor you know and trust. Set it to
scan on a regular basis — at least once a week — and every time
you start your computer, if possible. And, delete any software
programs the anti-spyware program detects that you don’t want on
your computer.
For more information about protecting your
computer and your personal information online, visit
www.onguardonline.gov. |
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Spyware Tools
Recommended on FTC Website
How FTC selects tools?
Acronis Privacy Expert Suite 8.0
Features: Manages cookies.
Manages computer history/cache. Hides browsing information.
Erases certain files on my computer. Erases remnants of my
computer work and makes them irretrievable. Detects/Blocks
spyware. Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $29.99/year
Ad-Aware SE Professional Edition
Features: Detects/Blocks spyware.
Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $39.95
Anonymizer Anti-Spyware
Features: Detects/Blocks spyware.
Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $29.99
EarthLink Spyware Blocker
Features: Detects/Blocks
spyware.
Available for: Windows
Cost: Free with Earthlink
TotalAccess 2005
GhostSurf (Platinum)
Features: Manages cookies.
Manages computer history/cache. Hides browsing information.
Detects/Blocks spyware. Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted
Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $39.95
Internet Cleanup 3.0
Features: Manages cookies.
Manages computer history/cache. Erases certain files on my
computer. Firewall. Detects/Blocks spyware. Blocks Spyware
Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Mac OS X
Cost: $29.99
McAfee AntiSpyware
Features: Detects/Blocks
spyware. Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $29.99
MSN Search Toolbar
Features: Blocks Spyware Pop-ups
and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: free
Platinum 2006 Internet Security
Features: Enhances the security
of online transactions. Filters or blocks unwanted email.
Firewall. AntiVirus. Detects/Blocks spyware.
Available for: Windows
Cost: From $24.99
Primedius Web Tunnel
Features: Manages cookies. Hides
browsing information. Is an anonymous Internet Service Provider.
Erases certain files on my computer. Erases remnants of my
computer work and makes them irretrievable. Detects/Blocks
spyware. Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows/Mac OS X
Cost: Starts at $39.99/year
Spy Sweeper
Features: Detects/Blocks
spyware.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $29.95/year
Spybot - Search & Destroy
Features: Manages computer
history/cache. Hides browsing information. Detects/Blocks
spyware.
Available for: Windows
Cost: Free (donation requested)
Sunbelt Anti-Spyware Bundle
Features: Filters or blocks
unwanted email. Detects/Blocks spyware. Blocks Spyware Pop-ups
and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $38.95
WinTasks 5.0 Standard
Features: Detects/Blocks spyware.
Available for: Windows
Cost: $29.95
Yahoo! Toolbar with Anti-Spy
Features: Detects/Blocks spyware.
Blocks Spyware Pop-ups and Unwanted Advertising.
Available for: Windows
Cost: free (donation requested) |
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