So you think that the free software you just downloaded was really free?
Guess again. Chances are you also downloaded adware , software that
reports back addresses of Web sites you visit. Unlike Trojan horses, which can
be controlled from outside your computer, adware programs are one-way beacons,
broadcasting your Web surfing habits to advertisers. What harm could that do?
Well, it could, for example, account for the increasing number of pop-up ads you
see when surfing the Internet. Though this won't impact other Internet users, it
will threaten your personal privacy online.
Fortunately, you can install software to protect against adware. Ad-aware
(download),
for instance, blocks any new adware programs that try to install on your hard
drive. It also removes any previously installed adware programs and checks your
RAM for temporary adware.
Those eavesdropping Web bugs
Unfortunately, Ad-aware can't completely clear the coast. Net snoops might also
track your surfing habits through Web bugs , clear images that send
back your ISP address, telling others that you are viewing their page or
content. But not all Web bugs are bad. Some companies, including CNET Networks,
use clear image files to count how many readers visit a particular page.
Check here for software that can remove your Internet cookies, browser history,
and any temp files created on your hard drive--a good way to keep your surfing
habits from prying eyes (download).
For a good, all-around, ad-blocking and privacy-enchancing
product for both Netscape and Internet Explorer, AdSubtract Pro.
Other eavesdropping on the Net
Someone could be reading your e-mail. Think we're paranoid? Consider this: Your
e-mail program probably sends your mail as an alphanumeric text file. That means
that anyone--whether at your company or at your Internet service provider--could
intercept, open, and read your mail with a text editor such as Windows Notepad.
Sharing banana-bread recipes online? You probably don't have much to worry
about. But if you discuss, say, big business deals via e-mail, you'll need extra
protection.
