Was this spyware?

Question

Earlier today, I was reading an article about antique motorcycles when out of nowhere, somebody (or something) tried to install an isp on my computer. I heard a dial tone, and I saw a couple of new icons on my desktop. I immediately deleted the new icons, and while it tried to connect, I don't think it was successful.

What gives? Why would somebody try to install an isp on my desktop? Just to get me to look at their website? That seems like a really complicated way of going about it.

Answer 1

Spyware is any software that covertly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. However, it should be noted that the majority of shareware and freeware applications do not come with spyware. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information in the background to someone else. Spyware can also gather information about E-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers.

Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users can unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are readily available on the internet. But more and more, users can be infected with spyware simply by surfing the internet. Many times spyware objects are invisibly and unethically embedded into web pages by the webmaster. And by simply visiting one of these websites, the user is unsuspectingly infected.

Aside from the questions of ethics and privacy, spyware steals from the user by using the computer’s memory resources and also by eating bandwidth as it sends information back to the Spyware’s home base via the user’s Internet connection. Because spyware is using memory and system resources, the applications running in the background can lead to system crashes or general system instability.

Because spyware exists as independent executable programs, they have the ability to monitor keystrokes, scan files on the hard drive, snoop other applications, such as chat programs or word processors, install other spyware programs, read cookies, change the default home page on the Web browser, consistently relaying this information back to the spyware author who will either use it for advertising, and/or marketing purposes, or sell the information to another party.

Licensing agreements that accompany software downloads sometimes warn the user that a spyware program will be installed along with the requested software, but the licensing agreements may not always be read completely because the notice of a spyware installation is often couched in obtuse, hard-to-read legal disclaimers.


All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.After you install any of them,make sure you update them to get the full affect.


AVG anti virus/anti spyware remover.
AVG Removes I-Worm/Stration · BackDoor.Generic3.GBB and .GBC · Worm/Generic.FX · Exploit.WMF
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/...



Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free.
http://www.spybot.info/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

A bunch of 1's and 0's trying to take over other 1's and 0's.

Answer 4

Your computer may have a virus as well as spyware. Scan that sucker now before the problem gets much worse!

Answer 5

It is so scary out there. 'Internet Predators'..people trying to access your computer are now using it for any reason they can possibly find. Some do it for stupid tricks, jokes..and some do it to steal your identity....but now what is even scarier is they are using other's pc to store their illegal activities on yours..mine..whom ever's pc. I have a great example video for you to look at..from 20/20
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2796316
Internet crime is more serious than drug crime!

Answer 6

Might me a Dialer, run Spybot Search and Destroy, Google it.
Might want to update it first too,