Introduction to Free Computer Tools
About me Serge Aubin Technology Advisor / OLS-N Programmer / DBA - 9yrs Web design / Web applications Intranet/Extranet
Today s session Terminology Anti-Spyware software Photo Editing software Other free tools
What is Spyware? Spyware is a computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a computer to intercept or take partial control over the user s interaction with the computer, without the user s informed consent.
How is spyware installed Spyware gets on a computer through deception of the user or through exploitation of software vulnerabilities Software such as Kazaa, Bonzi Buddy, shareware Internet pop-up s, dialog boxes JavaScript vulnerabilities Installed via a virus or worm received via email, downloaded music, freeware
Effects and Behaviours Collects personal informatio Create CPU activity, disk usage, network traffic Stability issues, applications freezing, failure to boot, system crash Some display advertisement, pop-up's, banner ads Write cookies for business purpose
Collect personal information Can install other software Redirect browser activity Change computer settings Slow internet connection Loss of internet and other programs
Examples of spyware CoolWebSearch: uses IE vulnerabilities. Directs traffic to advertisement on Web Sites including coolwebsearch.com. Displays pop-up ads, alters searches. Internet optimizer: redirects IE error pages to advertising Zango: transmits detailed information to advertisers about websites which users visit. Redirects users to make profit sites. HuntBar: Installed via Active-X pop-up in IE. Can install other spywares and creates an open door to the internet. Movieland: A download service that opens popups and demands payment of $29.95 claiming you signed up for a 3 day free trial that expired.
SuperAntiSpyware There are other anti-spywares out there. This is an example of one available for free. Quick, Complete and Custom Scanning of Hard Drives, Removable Drives, Memory, Registry, Individual Folders and More! Includes Trusting Items and Excluding Folders for complete customization of scanning! Detect and Remove Spyware, Adware, Malware, Trojans, Dialers, Worms, KeyLoggers, HiJackers and many other types of threats.
Repair broken Internet Connections, Desktops, Registry Editing, Task Manager and more with our unique Repair System! Spyware application often disable system components to prevent removal - SUPERAntiSpyware resets and restores these items in seconds! Quarantine items detected and removed for complete protection. Items in the quarantine may be restored to your computer if desired. Detailed scan logs with complete information about detected and removed threats and their locations within your computer. Scan logs allow you to review scheduled scan results at anytime.
System Requirements Very little requirements Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, Vista or Windows 2003 400Mhz or Faster Processor with at least 256MB RAM
Where to get it? www.superantispyware.com Download the free version (also a professional version available for $29.95)
Other programs available Spybot Search and Destroy http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html Ad-aware http://www.lavasoft.com Avast anti-virus www.avast.com
Scans your computer for spyware Checks and updates your anti-spyware Allows you to manage spyware found. Shows when you last updated your anti-spyware Date you last did a scan
Select the drives to scan You can perform a Quick Scan or a Complete scan. Complete scan is recommended every 30 days.
Scan in Progress Displays any threats found. Number of items scanned and number of threats deleted.
Scan Summary The scan summary will give you the results of the scan.
Results The results window allows you to manage the threats found. Some items such as cookies may not be a threat. You can select those to be allowed and even report them to the Support team as False threats.
Quarantined and Removed Items
Photo Editing Software There are other anti-spywares out there. This is an example of one available for free Picasa v3 Simple and Easy photo editing Add text to your images Quick organization of images Create movies, collages, slideshows Share your images online with Picasa Web Albums
System Requirements Windows XP/Vista or Linux 256MB RAM 100MB available hard disk space Also runs on Mac OS X
Where to get it? http://picasa.google.com Click on Download Picasa 3
Other Photo Editing tools available Paint.Net www.getpaint.net PicKik www.picnik.com Gimp www.gimp.org
Live Demo
Questions?