Scumware, Spyware, Adware, Malware and other Pest Removal Services

Have you noticed any of the following while using your PC?

  1. Endless number of popup ads appearing?
  2. Computer running very slowly?
  3. Default home page (the page that comes up when you first run your browser) changes?
  4. New toolbars appear in your web browser?
  5. New items appear in your browser "Favorites"?

If you answered "Yes" to any of the above, your computer is almost certainly infested with with nasty little programs that are often collectively called scumware. These programs can cause ads to pop-up, send out spam, attempt to swipe personal information like passwords, hijack your browser's default home page and other nasty things. The end result is that your computer runs slower (or not at all) and possibly worse.

If you would like our technicians to remove these pests for you and prevent them from coming back, please Click Here to Contact Us.

What is Scumware?

Using the term scumware to describe all of these nasty programs clouds what is really going on. Here are some deffinitions of the various types of scumware. They can be found at http://www.scumware.com:

Scumware: Software, scripts or programs that are specifically designed to circumvent or steal revenue and traffic from legitimate web sites. Most scumware is also considered to be spyware since it usually includes programs which transmit your personal information. Scumware is usually installed without consent and bundled with other programs such as popular filesharing programs or Adware.

Spyware: Software components that are usually downloaded for free from the internet and installed with products that send information from the user's computer without their knowledge or consent. Although it is predominantly found in shareware, spyware can also be found in legitimately purchased commercial software that collects personal information from your computer. It is generally considered to consist primarily of 'stealth' components and background processes that may violate your privacy and/or expose your personal information and your computer to attack. Usually the information sent is benign in nature, mostly concerned with general marketing information (ie., spending habits) rather than specific information like credit card numbers, although some programs are capable of retrieving specific information as well. Spyware does not respect privacy as information is transmitted without consent.

Adware: Adware is advertising supported software. It can be downloaded free from the web but carries banner advertisements or links that attempt to create revenue for the company. It usually installs components on your computer that transmit marketing information to central servers which in some programs is then used to tailor the advertising presented for increased effectiveness. The main difference between Adware and Spyware is that Adware usually contains a disclosure which reveals exactly which information is being collected and how it is used.

Malware: This term has been shortened from "malicious software" and is usually applied to cover a wide range of 'hostile' software such as Viruses, Trojan Horses and Worms. It is software that is designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, files or its components.

 

Related Services:

    Preventative Maintenance Strategies
    Network Services
    Move Planning
    Web Usage Monitoring/Filtering
    Email Usage / Content Monitoring



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