Harmful Software - 2 (Spy Software, Keylogger, Botnet)
Spyware is a general term used for software that performs certain behaviors such as introduction, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer without your consent.
Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements (adware) windows or software that tracks personal or sensitive information. This does not mean that all software that provides advertisements or tracks your online activities is bad. For example, you can sign up for a music service for free "in exchange for" agreeing to receive targeted ads. After you have understood and accepted its terms, you can decide whether it's a fair deal or not. Furthermore, you can also agree to allow the company to monitor your online activities to decide which ads it will display for you.
Other types of undesired software can make annoying changes in your computer and cause your computer to slow down or crash. These programs can change your web browser's home page or search engine page, or add additional extensions to your browser that you don't want or need.
Symptoms of Spyware Infection
- Frequently opening pop-up windows.
- Uncontrolled run of web browser.
- Changing of home page address you set as the home page.
- Web browser bars that are new and not installed by you.
- Too heavy or slow start of programs.
- Anti-virus software, internet security software, and various programs that find and destroy spyware can be used to protect against spyware.
Keyloggers are spyware that keep logs of every key pressed on the keyboard.
These software save the passwords and personal information you enter while surfing the internet in a text file and transmit it to another user.
How are keyloggers detected?
There are many keyloggers on the market and each keylogger keeps logs with a different logic. Therefore, it is not possible to get rid of all of them with the same method. In order to get rid of a simple keylogger, you can start by typing Start> Run> msconfig and go to the "Start-up" tab from the window that opens, and see the programs that start running at startup, and thus detect the keyloggers and stop them from running.
In this case, disable all processes and restart your computer. Moreover, when you Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, and see that admin etc. is written instead of SYSTEM opposite the services.exe in the processes tab, you may have a keylogger on your system.
If you see SystemDll32.exe and SystemDll32.log files in your c:/windows/system32 folder, again you may have a keylogger on your computer. In this case, delete services.exe in the directory of My Computer/C/windows/system. Nevertheless, the most effective method of getting rid of spyware is to reformat your computer.
Protection Methods Against Spyware
- Update your operating system and web browser software.
- Use anti-virus software, internet security software, and spyware programs. Activate your operating system's firewall.
- Download free software from places you know and trust.
- Do not install software on your computer that you do not know what it is intended for.
- Check your web browser privacy and security settings.
- Do not click on pop-up windows that do not know what they are intended for.
- Install a firewall to prevent undesired visitors from accessing your computer.
- If you suspect your computer is infected with spyware, do not perform your critical transactions such as online banking out of your computers.
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