A keylogger is a program that runs in your computer’s
background secretly recording all your keystrokes. Once
your keystrokes are logged, they are hidden away for later
retrieval by the attacker. The attacker then carefully
reviews the information in hopes of finding passwords or
other information that would prove useful to them.  For
example, a keylogger can easily obtain confidential emails
and reveal them to any interested outside party willing to
pay for the information. 

Keyloggers can be either software or hardware based.
Software-based keyloggers are easy to distribute and
infect, but at the same time are more easily detectable.
Hardware-based keyloggers are more complex and harder to
detect.  For all that you know, your keyboard could have a
keylogger chip attached and anything being typed is
recorded into a flash memory sitting inside your keyboard.
Keyloggers have become one of the most powerful
applications used for gathering information in a world
where encrypted traffic is becoming more and more common.

As keyloggers become more advanced, the ability to detect
them becomes more difficult. They can violate a user’s
privacy for months, or even years, without being noticed. 
During that time frame, a keylogger can collect a lot of
information about the user it is monitoring.  A keylogger
can potential obtain not only passwords and log-in names,
but credit card numbers, bank account details, contacts,
interests, web browsing habits, and much more.  All this
collected information can be used to steal user’s personal
documents, money, or even their identity. 

A keylogger might be as simple as an .exe and a .dll that
is placed in a computer and activated upon boot up via an
entry in the registry. Or, the more sophisticated
keyloggers, such as the Perfect Keylogger or ProBot
Activity Monitor have developed a full line of nasty
abilities including:

· Undetectable in the process list and invisible in
   operation
· A kernel keylogger driver that captures keystrokes even
  when the user is logged off
· A remote deployment wizard
· The ability to create text snapshots of active
  applications
· The ability to capture http post data (including log-
   ins/passwords)
· The ability to timestamp record workstation usage
· HTML and text log file export
· Automatic e-mail log file delivery

All keyloggers are not used for illegal purposes.  A
variety of other uses have surfaced.  Keyloggers have been
used to monitor web sites visited as a means of parental
control over children. They have been actively used to
prevent child pornography and avoid children coming in
contact with dangerous elements on the web.  Additionally,
in December, 2001, a federal court ruled that the FBI did
not need a special wiretap order to place a keystroke
logging device on a suspect’s computer. The judge allowed
the FBI to keep details of its key logging device secret
(citing national security concerns). The defendant in the
case, Nicodemo Scarfo Jr., indicted for gambling and loan-
sharking, used encryption to protect a file on his
computer. The FBI used the keystroke logging device to
capture Scarfo’s password and gain access to the needed file.

What does encryption do for me?
Encryption and cryptographic software has been used in many
different ways to make systems more secure.  This article discusses
only a few ways that such software can make your system more secure,
including:  

1) Encrypting your email  

2) Encrypting your files

Two programs are mentioned that will help encrypt information. There
are many more programs out there that will help, but these programs
are good and a good place to start as any. They have the added
benefit of both being free with source code available. 

Will encryption stop people from accessing my information? 
Encryption simply makes it harder for people to gain access to
important information, like passwords or sensitive information in a
file. The first thing you should know about encryption is that the
algorithm that is used to encrypt can be simple or more complex and
that affects how securely what you have encrypted is protected.
Encryption systems have been broken when the method of encryption is
understood by hackers and is easy to break.  

Why bother to encrypt my email?
It should be noted that email is far less secure than paper mail for
two very good reasons:  first, electronic data can be accessed easily
over an Internet and secondly, electronic data is really simple to
copy. There is a very good chance that someone has snooped around in
your email despite your best intentions to stop it.  

How do I go about encrypting my email? 
There are many programs out there that can help you encrypt your
email.  A very popular one is PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) or its Gnu
offshoot GPG.   

PGP (http://www.pgpi.org/) self-describes itself this way: This “is
a program that gives your electronic mail something that it otherwise
doesn’t have: Privacy. It does this by encrypting your mail so that
nobody but the intended person can read it. When encrypted, the
message looks like a meaningless jumble of random characters. PGP has
proven itself quite capable of resisting even the most sophisticated
forms of analysis aimed at reading the encrypted text.” 

Why bother to encrypt my files?  
The answer to this boils down to what you store on your computer.
If you have financial data with important information like social
security numbers, email addresses, account numbers and passwords,
then you open yourself up to losing very valuable information.  Most
corporate Internet security employees will attest to the widespread
theft of very valuable information. As long as you are connected to
the Internet you are vulnerable. 

How do I go about encrypting my files?
 AxCrypt File Encryption Software  (http://axcrypt.sourceforge.net/)
Self-described as “Free Personal Privacy and Security for Windows
98/ME/NT/2K/XP with AES-128 File Encryption, Compression and
transparent Decrypt and Open in the original application.”

Spyware is one of the fastest-growing internet threats.  According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, spyware infects more than 90% of all PCs today.  These unobtrusive, malicious programs are designed to silently bypass firewalls and anti-virus software without the user’s knowledge.  Once embedded in a computer, it can wreak havoc on the system’s performance while gathering your personal information.  Fortunately, unlike viruses and worms, spyware programs do not usually self-replicate. 

Where does it come from?

Typically, spyware originates in three ways.  The first and most common way is when the user installs it.  In this scenario, spyware is embedded, attached, or bundled with a freeware or shareware program without the user’s knowledge.  The user downloads the program to their computer.  Once downloaded, the spyware program goes to work collecting data for the spyware author’s personal use or to sell to a third-party.  Beware of many P2P file-sharing programs.  They are notorious for downloads that posses spyware programs.

The user of a downloadable program should pay extra attention to the accompanying licensing agreement.  Often the software publisher will warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested program.  Unfortunately, we do not always take the time to read the fine print.  Some agreements may provide special “opt-out” boxes that the user can click to stop the spyware from being included in the download.  Be sure to review the document before signing off on the download.

Another way that spyware can access your computer is by tricking you into manipulating the security features designed to prevent any unwanted installations.  The Internet Explorer Web browser was designed not to allow websites to start any unwanted downloads.  That is why the user has to initiate a download by clicking on a link.  These links can prove deceptive.  For example, a pop-up modeled after a standard Windows dialog box, may appear on your screen.  The message may ask you if you would like to optimize your internet access.  It provides yes or no answer buttons, but, no matter which button you push, a download containing the spyware program will commence. Newer versions of Internet Explorer are now making this spyware pathway a little more difficult.

Finally, some spyware applications infect a system by attacking security holes in the Web browser or other software.  When the user navigates a webpage controlled by a spyware author, the page contains code designed to attack the browser, and force the installation of the spyware program.

What can spyware programs do?

Spyware programs can accomplish a multitude of malicious tasks.  Some of their deeds are simply annoying for the user; others can become downright aggressive in nature.

Spyware can:

1.            Monitor your keystrokes for reporting purposes.

2.            Scan files located on your hard drive.

3.            Snoop through applications on our desktop.

4.            Install other spyware programs into your computer.

5.            Read your cookies.

6.            Steal credit card numbers, passwords, and other personal information.

7.            Change the default settings on your home page web browser.

8.            Mutate into a second generation of spyware thus making it more

         difficult to eradicate.

9.            Cause your computer to run slower.

10.        Deliver annoying pop up advertisements.

11.        Add advertising links to web pages for which the author does not get paid.  Instead, payment is directed to the spyware programmer that changed the original affiliate’s settings.

12.        Provide the user with no uninstall option and places itself in unexpected or hidden places within your computer making it difficult to remove.

Spyware Examples

Here are a few examples of commonly seen spyware programs.  Please note that while researchers will often give names to spyware programs, they may not match the names the spyware-writers use. 

CoolWebSearch, a group of programs, that install through “holes” found in Internet Explorer. These programs direct traffic to advertisements on Web sites including coolwebsearch.com. This spyware nuisance displays pop-up ads, rewrites search engine results, and alters the computer host file to direct the Domain Name System (DNS) to lookup preselected sites. 

Internet Optimizer (a/k/a DyFuCa), likes to redirect Internet Explorer error pages to advertisements. When the user follows the broken link or enters an erroneous URL, a page of advertisements pop up.

180 Solutions reports extensive information to advertisers about the Web sites which you visit.  It also alters HTTP requests for affiliate advertisements linked from a Web site.  Therefore the 180 Solutions Company makes an unearned profit off of the click through advertisements they’ve altered.

HuntBar (a/k/a WinTools) or Adware.Websearch, is distributed by Traffic Syndicate and is installed by ActiveX drive-by downloading at affiliate websites or by advertisements displayed by other spyware programs.  It’s a prime example of how spyware can install more spyware.   These programs will add toolbars to Internet Explorer, track Web browsing behavior, and display advertisements.

How can I prevent spyware?

There are a couple things you can do to prevent spyware from infecting your computer system.  First, invest in a reliable commercial anti-spyware program.

I recommend you follow this link  http://www.linkbrander.com/go/34613 and read more and you can also scan your PC for free. There are several others on the market including stand alone software packages such as Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware available for free at http://www.lavasoft.de/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php or Windows Antispyware.  Other options provide the anti-spyware software as part of an anti-virus package.  This type of option is offered by companies such as Sophos, Symantec, and McAfee. Anti-spyware programs can combat spyware by providing real-time protection, scanning, and removal of any found spyware software.   As with most programs, update your anti virus software frequently. 

As discussed, the Internet Explorer (IE) is often a contributor to the spyware problem because spyware programs like to attach themselves to its functionality.  Spyware enjoys penetrating the IE’s weaknesses.  Because of this, many users have switched to non-IE browsers.  However, if you prefer to stick with Internet Explorer, be sure to update the security patches regularly, and only download programs from reputable sources.  This will help reduce your chances of a spyware infiltration.

And, when all else fails?

Finally, if your computer has been infected with a large number of spyware programs, the only solution you may have is backing up your data, and performing a complete reinstall of the operating system.

Surfing the Web Anonymously – Questions to Ask

When you surf the web it is possible to learn information about you even when you don’t want to advertise who you are. This is true even if your system contains no virus or malware software. Specifically information that is easily available online includes your IP address, your country (and often more location information based on IP address), what computer system you are on, what browser you use, your browser history, and other information. It gets worse. People can get your computer’s name and even find out your name if your machine supports programs like finger or identd. Also, cookies can track your habits as you move from machine to machine.

How do people get this basic information about you?
When you visit another web site, information about you can be retrieved. Basically, information is intercepted and used by others to track your Internet activities.

How do you stop this from happening?
First of all, it is possible to surf the web anonymously and thereby stop leaving a trail for others to find. Note that this is not fool-proof, but it makes it much harder for people to know who you are. There are products called anonymous proxy servers that help protect you. The anonymous proxy server replaces your Internet address for its own. This has the effect of hiding your IP address and making it much harder for people to track you.

How do I get an anonymous proxy server?
There are many vendors who sell anonymous proxy servers. There are also free proxy servers available to you.

Three such products are YouProxy, ShadowSurf and Guardster.

Guardster offers various services for anonymous and secure access to the web, some paid as well as a free service.

YouProxy allows you to browse the internet securely. You can unblock popular social networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, YouTube, Friendster and many other sites. Feel free to browse 24/7 and don’t forget to tell your friends!

ShadowSurf ShadowSurf provides anonymous surfing at their site for free. Go to it and you will find a box to enter a URL that you want no one to track. There are many others, but here are three that are frequently used.

Another interesting product, given the recent news about the Google search engine filtering its findings for the Chinese government, is Anonymizer. This company, among others, recently (Feb 1st, 2006) pressed that it “is developing a new anti-censorship solution that will enable Chinese citizens to safely access the entire Internet filter free” (http://www.anonymyzer.com/consumer/media/press_releases/02012006.html).

With AnonyMouse you can unblock popular social networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, YouTube, Orkut, Friendster and many other sites. It’s a free web based proxy server which hides your IP and allows you to surf in complete anonymity without installing anything on your PC.

Does an anonymous proxy server make you 100% safe?
No. Still, you are much better off if you use such technology.
What other things should I be concerned about when trying to keep my private information private?

Three other items come to mind when trying to keep your information private.

First, you can use an encrypted connection to hide your surfing.

This article does not go into detail on this, but search the web and you will find a lot of information on this.

Secondly, delete cookies after each session.

Third, you can configure your browser to remove JavaScript, Java, and active content. This actually leads to limitations, so you need to think about the cost/benefit of this course of action.

Anything else?

Wishing you happy and safe surfing!