With all talk on security vulnerabilities and what really poses the greatest threat to companies, it`s interesting that spyware seems to go relatively unnoticed. Although it`s already reaching epidemic levels, much of it is still undetected and is still very much a silent killer.
The reality is that with the high levels of rogue data traffic and clutter of spy applications residing on infected systems, many PCs will simply grind to an abrupt and damaging halt. You also shouldn`t allow any of it on your systems because you have no idea how it`s being used.
The implications are far-reaching to say the least. However, the good news is that if these PCs grind to a halt it means that the problem cannot be ignored any longer. Harsh, but companies will now have to deal with the problem head-on.
Spyware should be treated in the same manner as any other security vulnerability and subsequent problem, be it DoS (denial-of-service) attacks, malware, adware or spam.
Spam is a good example, when it was only a personal issue it wasn`t treated too seriously. When it became a corporate problem some started to take note and when it became a global network problem everybody woke up.
Whichever way you look at it, spyware could become a global problem by as soon as next year if not stopped in an effective and managed way.
Today, many spyware applications, such as "ad-herding" tool bars and pop-up launchers are very obvious to the user but there is also a plague of more covert tools which are finding their way onto users` machines.
Among the methods identified are lines of code which sit on Web sites waiting to commit a `drive-by` downloading, dropping onto users` machines as they navigate the Web. Many are left on sites which have been created solely for that purpose - using content users might be looking for as a lure. Traditionally this has been associated with pornographic Web sites and those in the darker corners of the Internet, but now even seemingly innocuous sites could be infecting users.
The good news is that there are solutions. Computer Associates` Anti-Spyware r5 detects tens of thousands of forms of malware, including spyware, adware, Trojans, denial-of-service attack agents and other backdoor Web-based threats, safeguarding PCs from unauthorised access, information theft and diminished system performance.
The impact of spyware can no longer be ignored, and should form part of your overall security strategy. It`s not just another fly-by-night threat, it`s here and firming its grip on a daily basis.
Share