1 / 12

Computer Protection

Computer Protection. Group 3 David Hutcherson Sabina Karkin Chris Kelly Andrew Kuo CS 4235B Daniel Lee March 16, 2005. Adware & Spyware Definitions. Adware - “any software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running”

sorcha
Download Presentation

Computer Protection

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Computer Protection Group 3 David Hutcherson Sabina Karkin Chris Kelly Andrew Kuo CS 4235B Daniel Lee March 16, 2005

  2. Adware & SpywareDefinitions • Adware - “any software application in which advertisements are displayed while the program is running” • Spyware - “computer software that gathers and reports information about a computer user without the user’s knowledge or consent” • Both usually run in the background hidden from the computer user

  3. The original form of spyware - tracking consumers’ web browsing habits through the use of cookies Primary use of spyware - figure out what kinds of things a consumer is interested in and then target ads specifically to them 91% of home PCs are infected by some kind of spyware today Background

  4. Alternatives • Using Linux, Mac OS, or UNIX • Using browsers other than Internet Explorer, such as the Mozilla Foundation’s Firefox browser

  5. Evaluation Criteria • Protection • Size of spyware database • Ability to track cookies, spyware resident in memory • Usability • Interface • Speed of the scan • Thoroughness of results • Support • Technical support • Documentation • Updates • Frequency • Ease of retrieval

  6. Spybot Search & Destroy • Background • Developed by Patrick Kolla and Team Spybot • 45 different language versions • Test Methodology • 10 minute browsing of various sites on the Internet using IE 6 with the privacy option set to “Low” & then executing the scan • Installing NetZero & then executing the scan

  7. Spybot Search & DestroyResults • Protection • Provides spyware and adware detection capabilities as well as dialers, keyloggers, and trojans • Blocks tracking cookies and potentially harmful Active X downloads • Spyware resident in memory and the registry are flagged • 6 types of spyware from Internet browsing • 1 spyware program from NetZero installation • Usability • Simple & intuitive • Default & advanced mode • Browsing: 2 min 39 sec; installation: 2 min 27 sec • Results not detailed • Support & Updates • Website tutorial • Monthly updates

  8. Ad-Aware • Background • Lavasoft established in Germany in the mid 1990s • As of 2005, Ad-Aware is Lavasoft’s award winning software • Test Methodology • Reference file updated • Ad-Aware used to detect existing spyware/ adware currently running on the computer

  9. Ad-AwareResults • Protection • Provides protection against spyware and adware programs • Checks for tracking cookies • Checks all the PCs files, drives, memory, and registry • 7 objects were recognized - all tracking cookies • Usability • Easy to use • Do not have to be computer savvy • Provides a data log with descriptive details of the objects found • Support & Updates • Home users & corporate users support • Allows for updates directly from the GUI • Reference file not updated frequently

  10. Firefox • Background • Free graphical web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation • Made available to Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms in over 30 languages • Test Methodology • Spybot Search & Destroy used to detect spyware and adware while using Firefox & IE • Two passes • Visiting sites • Navigating through sites

  11. Firefox Results • Protection • Both IE & Firefox successfully blocked pop-ups • Visiting IE, Spybot caught 4 variations of spyware and 5 specific instances in the form of “tracking cookies” • Visiting Firefox, no infections of spyware and adware were found • Navigating through IE, Spybot detected 3 new variations of spyware and 4 specific instances in the form of “tracking cookies” • Again, Firefox prevented any infections of spyware or adware • Usability • Easy to understand • Good features - tabbed browsing, pop-up blocking, incremental finding • Support & Updates • Forums, newsgroups, chat • Bugzilla

  12. Questions?

More Related