Industry's first comprehensive report on Spyware.Webroot Software Webroot Software is a company that creates computer security software. Webroot's corporate headquarters is located in Boulder, Colorado, and the company was founded in 1997. They currently employ about 300 people worldwide. has releasest the anti-spyware industry's first comprehensive report on spyware. The State of Spyware Report is an in-depth review and analysis of the impact of spyware, adware and unwanted software on consumers and enterprises. Included in the report is concise data of the pervasiveness of adware and the rise of system monitors throughout 2004 and for the first quarter of 2005 The report indicates that the spyware industry is generating billions of dollars in annual revenue and now represents a substantial portion of overall online advertising spending. The report also reveals that an exceedingly high number of consumer computers are infected by some form of spyware and chronicles the top spyware threats currently in the wild, as well as the growing number of websites and pages that host spyware. Also detailed are some of the most notorious incidents of spyware, as well as a full account of various legislative efforts to curtail the growing scourge. Report details infection rates and top threats The foundation for much of the analysis and trends reporting comes from Webroot's consumer and corporate SpyAudit tools and from online research culled by Phileas, Webroot's automated spyware research system The SpyAudit tools invite both consumers and enterprises to scan specific PCs and determine spyware infection levels. In the first quarter of 2005, 88% of SpyAudit scans found some form of unwanted program (Trojan, system monitor, cookie cookie File or part of a file put on a Web user's hard disk by a Web site. Cookies are used to store registration data, to make it possible to customize information for visitors to a Web site, to target Web advertising, and to keep track of the products a user wishes to or adware) on consumer computers. Research from the report also indicates that spyware--pop-ups, hijacking hijacking Crime of seizing possession or control of a vehicle from another by force or threat of force. Although by the late 20th century hijacking most frequently involved the seizure of an airplane and its forcible diversion to destinations chosen by the air pirates, when home pages, redirecting searches and using host file and DNS (Domain Name System) A system for converting host names and domain names into IP addresses on the Internet or on local networks that use the TCP/IP protocol. For example, when a Web site address is given to the DNS either by typing a URL in a browser or behind the poisoning--generates an estimated $2 billion in revenue annually. These numbers indicate that this previously unmeasured market may be approaching 25% of the already established market of online advertising as reported by the Internet Advertising Bureau The Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB) is a UK trade body created in 1997 to promote online advertising. It works across a range of areas, with internal bodies setting standards and best practices for a range of different online marketing techniques. . In addition to a full review and analysis of the spyware threat in general, Webroot's State of Spyware Report individually lists the ten most significant emerging spyware and adware threats based on detection, as well as potential impact. CoolWebSearch, an infamous piece of adware with over 100 different variants and a reputation for stymieing many anti-spyware programs, was dubbed dub 1 tr.v. dubbed, dub·bing, dubs 1. To tap lightly on the shoulder by way of conferring knighthood. 2. To honor with a new title or description. 3. the top threat. The report also offers an up-to-date review of the legislation actions surrounding spyware, listing all pending legislation at both the federal and state levels. The report also examines recent incidents of real exploits that have crippled crip·ple n. 1. A person or animal that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs: cannot race a horse that is a cripple. 2. A damaged or defective object or device. tr.v. some enterprises, including the attempted multi-million dollar theft from a major international financial institution, by a hacker A person who writes programs in assembly language or in system-level languages, such as C. The term often refers to any programmer, but its true meaning is someone with a strong technical background who is "hacking away" at the bits and bytes. using a planted keylogger. Attacks on financial institutions are just one example of the devastating dev·as·tate tr.v. dev·as·tat·ed, dev·as·tat·ing, dev·as·tates 1. To lay waste; destroy. 2. To overwhelm; confound; stun: was devastated by the rude remark. damage spyware can inflict in a corporate environment, Research shows that some form of spyware, adware or potentially unwanted software can be found on 87% of corporate PCs. This figure is disconcerting dis·con·cert tr.v. dis·con·cert·ed, dis·con·cert·ing, dis·con·certs 1. To upset the self-possession of; ruffle. See Synonyms at embarrass. 2. from a security perspective and also from an IT support perspective, as spyware can often slow down the performance of an entire network. In the future, an updated version of Webroot's State of Spyware Report will be released following each quarter. The complete State of Spyware Report is available at www.webroot-com/stateofspyware. |
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