Taking aim at spyware

By Ellen Messmer, NetworkWorld.com, 08/23/04

Spyware, as the plethora of adware, keyloggers, and trojans is often called these days, is starting to get the kind of attention from business IT departments that was once reserved for the traditional mess of computer viruses and worms. As our story this week notes that’s because spyware is causing operational problems as well as raising serious security concerns. In the midst of this, businesses that rely on anti-virus software are also beginning to wonder if they should be buying anti-spyware software, too.

Since several anti-virus vendors are taking a stab at spyware protection, the question circulating in corporate IT departments is whether spyware protection is going to get rolled into anti-virus products. Change is happening fast in this regard but the answer, for this week at least, is you can only expect to find limited anti-spyware protections in anti-virus, although anti-virus vendors are using the “spyware” word more and more.

While there aren’t many business-oriented anti-spyware products at all (most seem to be from start-ups that got their feet wet in consumer software and are now plunging into the corporate waters) that is changing quickly. Computer Associates’ acquisition of PestPatrol last week may well be a harbinger of what’s to come as larger IT firms focus their vision on spyware. Businesses want anti-spyware products to have the kind of IT management and reporting features they’ve come to enjoy in anti-virus software. And with IT managers these days casting a wary eye on spyware, that’s what’s likely to evolve.

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Comments

Spyware is definitely a problem which businesses large and small must stop. We receive thousands of 'hits' a day of spyware downloaded to our clients through internet browsing (port 80). We restrict browsing with Websense and it is still a major problem. We recently purchased Pest Patrol after carefully reviewing several products. While it is not a cure-all, it does identify and delete most of the problem spyware. Our testing is continuing, but our IT department is very pleased with it. Is anti-spyware software enough? No. But it is definitely a necessary component to include in any business security structure today.

Posted by: Rocky Karlage on August 27, 2004 10:59 AM

Ellen and Rocky are right on with their take on this ever increasing problem, which is reaching epidemic proportions. It (spyware)has also become a data mining ploy on behalf of the unscrupulous.

Posted by: Spyware Remover on August 29, 2004 07:54 AM

This is a common problem where I work. I am the only IT employee where I work. I have limited web surfing at my place of work, to help slow this down and have blocked Webmail access. But there is only so much I am able to block being our parts department needs the web to update catalogs and part lists/pricing.
It has helped out, Although I still run Checks daily and more in deepth scans weekly.

Posted by: Chad on August 31, 2004 04:47 PM

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