Anti-Spyware Coalition Meets In Washington Today
- By Grey McKenzie
- Published 01/31/2008
Grey McKenzie
National Cyber Security Founder
Cyber security watchdog & one of the nation's leading cyber security experts, Grey McKenzie is also the Founder of SpyCop Security Software & Soft Media Publishing Incorporated.
His clients include members of the US Department of Homeland Security, US State Department, US Department of Defense, US Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Central Intelligence Agency, State & Local Law Enforcement not to mention over 50,000 companies & individuals worldwide.
He is regularly consulted by industry leaders regarding cyber security issues.
To schedule a procedural, technical and non-technical network security audit of your company call 902-532-2262
McAfee, Google, and the Pew Internet & American Life project will be some of the participants at the Washington meeting.
I'm going to make a statement that these companies don't want to here....
Spyware, as most people understand, it is DEAD.
Advertising spyware (adware)... the illegal software programs that were secretly installed on computers around the world to sell products and gather intelligence for retail companies has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Adware spyware got so much attention because it was causing millions of computers to crash on a regular basis and costing all of us to repair the damage.
Adware spyware made millions of dollars not only for the companies who employed it, but also for the companies who detected it.
Now, alas, the gravy train is screeching to a halt, and now the vendors like McAfee, Spy Sweeper, Pest Patrol and the like are scrambling to figure out the next problem to solve.
Spy Sweeper a publicly traded company has switched its focus from a spyware detection company to an antivirus vendor.
This is fantastic news.
McAfee is now shifting gears and focusing on a problem that I've been screaming about for years at my security software company SpyCop!
Legally sold spy software keylogging products are spreading like a massive virus around the world, infecting computers in unparalleled numbers.
Spy software is being used for financial extortion, Identity Theft & emotional blackmail.
McAfee is starting to wake up to this fact & has released a downloadable pdf document you can get here: Spyware: A Morphing Campaign (in PDF)
The author states...
"However, the reality of spyware has not changed and, if anything, has morphed into a less perceptible, more egregious security threat.
The threats have changed from the blatantly undesirable pop-up–delivering software to the silently installed piece of tracking software that is imperceptible."
and
"Spyware is not only a nuisance from a technical standpoint, but also carries the potential for criminal use.
There have been nationwide initiatives to educate the general public on the dangers that these types of programs present, and how to combat them.
Using spyware for surveillance in cases of domestic abuse is a serious matter. Installing software to track and control an unaware victim’s computer has social and legal implications.
With so much of our lives dependent on computers and other technologies such as cell phones, the use of spyware is ideal for abusers, who often feel the need to control all aspects of a victim’s existence.
Monitoring a victim’s online, cell phone, or general computing activity is of more value than ever in controlling or hurting a victim."
McAfee is finally awakening to a security problem that has be silently escalating & virally propagating, in seismic proportions for close to a decade.
Since 1999 to now, there have been millions of spy software products downloaded legally from sites like Download.com or Tucows.
Spectorsoft, just one spy software producer & the industry leader, has made millions of dollars selling computer monitoring software.
Although there are legitimate uses for spy software or keylogger products, there are far more illegitimate and vastly profitable uses...
Spy programs are often used by cyber criminals, identity thieves and many times even family members, to gain access to private personal or business information.
I for one am glad the immediate dangers of this international plague are finally starting to bubble up to the surface.
I'm going to make a statement that these companies don't want to here....
Spyware, as most people understand, it is DEAD.
Advertising spyware (adware)... the illegal software programs that were secretly installed on computers around the world to sell products and gather intelligence for retail companies has gone the way of the dinosaur.
Adware spyware got so much attention because it was causing millions of computers to crash on a regular basis and costing all of us to repair the damage.
Adware spyware made millions of dollars not only for the companies who employed it, but also for the companies who detected it.
Now, alas, the gravy train is screeching to a halt, and now the vendors like McAfee, Spy Sweeper, Pest Patrol and the like are scrambling to figure out the next problem to solve.
Spy Sweeper a publicly traded company has switched its focus from a spyware detection company to an antivirus vendor.
This is fantastic news.
McAfee is now shifting gears and focusing on a problem that I've been screaming about for years at my security software company SpyCop!
Legally sold spy software keylogging products are spreading like a massive virus around the world, infecting computers in unparalleled numbers.
Spy software is being used for financial extortion, Identity Theft & emotional blackmail.
McAfee is starting to wake up to this fact & has released a downloadable pdf document you can get here: Spyware: A Morphing Campaign (in PDF)
The author states...
"However, the reality of spyware has not changed and, if anything, has morphed into a less perceptible, more egregious security threat.
The threats have changed from the blatantly undesirable pop-up–delivering software to the silently installed piece of tracking software that is imperceptible."
and
"Spyware is not only a nuisance from a technical standpoint, but also carries the potential for criminal use.
There have been nationwide initiatives to educate the general public on the dangers that these types of programs present, and how to combat them.
Using spyware for surveillance in cases of domestic abuse is a serious matter. Installing software to track and control an unaware victim’s computer has social and legal implications.
With so much of our lives dependent on computers and other technologies such as cell phones, the use of spyware is ideal for abusers, who often feel the need to control all aspects of a victim’s existence.
Monitoring a victim’s online, cell phone, or general computing activity is of more value than ever in controlling or hurting a victim."
McAfee is finally awakening to a security problem that has be silently escalating & virally propagating, in seismic proportions for close to a decade.
Since 1999 to now, there have been millions of spy software products downloaded legally from sites like Download.com or Tucows.
Spectorsoft, just one spy software producer & the industry leader, has made millions of dollars selling computer monitoring software.
Although there are legitimate uses for spy software or keylogger products, there are far more illegitimate and vastly profitable uses...
Spy programs are often used by cyber criminals, identity thieves and many times even family members, to gain access to private personal or business information.
I for one am glad the immediate dangers of this international plague are finally starting to bubble up to the surface.
