Protect your system while downloading &
Peer 2 Peer file sharing

Shield yourself from adware & spyware

A major concern for Peer 2 Peer file sharers and media downloaders is exposure to adware and spyware, and the following section describes how you can best protect your machine from it.

Adware & Spyware

Over the years, it has become increasingly common to label adware and spyware as the same thing, and as a result the terms have become interchangeable. They are quite different though, and can be defined as:

Adware

Not at all dangerous, as many mistakenly believe. Adware is simply advertising that is integrated into a piece of free software, and installed with the user’s permission. The adverts will typically be random in nature and run in a small window as part of the software interface or as pop-ups on your desktop, and can be disabled by purchasing a registration key.

There are a growing number of developers who prefer to offer their software as ‘sponsored freeware’ (quite common on Peer 2 Peer networks) rather than disabling functions or imposing a trial time period, as they can still generate income from the ads that are shown.

Unfortunately a user’s permission is sometimes abused, and some companies have been known to produce unacceptable amounts of advertising or even leave the adware behind after the initial software has been uninstalled.

Spyware

Like adware, spyware is usually installed alongside a piece of freeware and is used to deliver advertising. The main difference being, it is done covertly without the user’s knowledge or permission, and is regarded as an invasion of privacy. Some types can also monitor your Internet activity, and send the information back to the spyware developer who can use it to display targeted ads, or sell it to a third party.

The worst examples can also provide a backdoor to your system, collect email addresses, passwords, and even have the ability to monitor your keystrokes and change your browser settings.

Symptoms of spyware include:

• Your system is running very slow
• Additional toolbars appear in ‘Internet Explorer’
• You experience pop-up advertising even when not online
• Your Web browser’s home page has been changed
• Getting online takes a long time
• Your Peer 2 Peer software starts on its own
• There have been new entries placed in your Favourites/Bookmarks folder
• Applications develop unusual quirks or take a long time to start
• You are alerted by your firewall that an unknown process or program is trying to connect to the Internet
• Clicking on a link takes you to somewhere you weren’t expecting
• Every time you run a search enquiry, you are taken to the same unknown, unrelated Website
• New shortcuts appear on your desktop, taskbar or system tray
• Your firewall or anti-virus software is mysteriously turned off
• You have trouble accessing the ‘Task Manager’, ‘Regedit’ or ‘MSconfig’

Anti-spyware software

As an avid media downloader or Peer 2 Peer user, it is essential that you have anti-spyware software installed on your system. Like firewall and anti-virus software, there is an anti-spyware solution included with the acclaimed ZoneAlarm Internet security suite.

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