Do you have Parasites on your PC?

Have you ever gotten a popup window that prompts you to download a program or file that you didn't recognize? Has your Web browser homepage ever changed mysteriously to an unfamiliar commercial Web site? If so, you may have encountered a parasite.

What is a parasite?

A parasite is unsolicited commercial software that changes your PC functionality/performance in some way, usually for the worse. You might download it yourself because it promise to enhance your PC functionality (usually misleading claims), or it may be downloaded with out your asking for it. Parasites can plague you with unwanted advertising, add advertising to Web pages, reset your browser home page, create security holes on your PC, take over your modem and make unwanted calls, or degrade system performance. They can be difficult to uninstall, and most anti-virus programs do not detect/intercept parasites.

Is a parasite the same as spyware?

The terms are related but not the same. Think of spyware as a specific kind of parasite that displays popups and tracks some of your Web activities for a third party. Parasites are a broader category of nuisance software with effects that range from annoying popups to security holes.

What does a parasite look like?

An example of a parasite is the IBIS menu bar. Below is the popup window for IBIS commercial software, which appeared on a Lehigh staff member's machine.

If you click "no" you will see this box.

Note that the text in the first dialog appears within a standard Windows dialog box. The box suggests you already have the software and that this is an "upgrade." The text in the second box is more insistent -- like a sales pitch -- which can be a clue to help you identify what software is specious. Once you download this software it is extremely difficult to uninstall. The IBIS toolbar collects information about your searches and modifies ads that appear in your browser.

Another:

How could I get a parasite?

You can get a parasite in several ways:

• When you download some freeware, such as Kazaa, the parasites are "bundled" in the download that display ads
• You may be prompted to download a program that purports to improve your PC functionality
• Some parasites self-load onto your computer through a security hole.
  

How can I avoid getting a parasite?

Exercise care in downloading software from the Internet. Peer to peer programs are notorious for bundling parasites in downloads.

Never install software that pops up while you are searching, unless you are certain of the origin of the message and the publisher of the software. Call the help desk at 610-758-4357 if you have concerns or questions about a message.

Where can I go for further information?

For more information speak to your computing consultant or the help desk.