Lately we at pcULTRAcare.com have been seeing customers PCs with various toolbars (alot, weatherstation,mywebsearch) installed. The end user does not even remember where that toolbar came from and assumes it is required. Of course some of these toolbars are actually spyware infections and are not easily removed. So be sure to keep an eye out for strange new programs or toolbars and have a technician check it out. After all your privacy and data are at stake.
February 16, 2008 at 7:22 am
I wonder why trojans and spyware a infiltraing our computers but attribute it to the increasing free stuff that is being bundled with these toolbars.
February 16, 2008 at 9:27 am
Yes that is correct, free software is being used to initially install toolbars and spyware. The free software developer is paid directly or indirectly to have it bundled with questionable software. This of course helps the developer continue to create free software but at what cost? A user is left with infections that can lower your PCs security, letting even more infections in.
One must avoid most free software and pay close attention when installing it. Most legitimate software will list and give end user a chance to choose what not to install.