New database category combats spyware. (Data News and Products).Websense Inc. have announced the launch of a new database category that blocks spyware programs from sending potentially sensitive data back to marketer servers. The category, which is included in the Websense Premium Group III In the periodic table Group III covered what are now called
Spyware--such as Gator, BonziBUDDY and others, works by collecting Web surfing Refers to jumping from page to page on the Web. Just as in "TV channel surfing," where one clicks the remote to go from channel to channel, the hyperlink on Web pages makes it easy to jump from one page to another. patterns, keystrokes and other information from employee computers, usually for advertising purposes. This information, once gathered, is sent via back-channel Interact connections to Web servers, where it can be used for market research or worse. In some cases, spyware secretly installs itself onto desktops without permission and performs other activities hidden to the user. Spyware applications are often bundled as hidden components in freeware Software that is distributed without charge and which may be redistributed without charge by its users. However, ownership is retained by the developer who may change future releases from freeware to a paid product (feeware). See shareware, free software and public domain software. and shareware Software on the "honor system." The concept is that users try a product, and if they like it, they voluntarily pay a set registration fee or make a donation to the program's creator. There are tens of thousands of shareware programs; some fantastic, some awful. downloaded from the Internet. in addition, popular peer-to-peer programs, such as KaZaa, BearShare, AudioGalaxy and others are frequent carriers of spyware. Unfortunately, many employees are unaware spyware is included in these programs, often automatically downloading it onto their computers or agreeing to install it without reading lengthy legal agreements. Once installed on corporate desktops, spyware applications not only compromise security by sending potentially confidential or damaging data back to unknown sources, but they also create serious bandwidth drains that can cripple crip·ple n. One that is partially disabled or unable to use a limb or limbs. v. To cause to lose the use of a limb or limbs. overall network speeds. In one test lab, only 12 computers infected with spyware sent more than 340 MB of information to spyware servers during one month alone. In severe cases, spyware has been known to cause system slowdowns, illegal operation errors, browser crashes and system failures Websense Premium Group III stops spyware by preventing back-channel information from being sent to marketers. Through proprietary processes and the company's WebCatcher feature--by which uncategorised Web sites accessed by customers are sent back to Websense for review--Websense is able to identify spyware servers and block employees from unknowingly sending data to them via back-channel port 80 connections. Most companies leave port 80 open to handle normal HTTP HTTP in full HyperText Transfer Protocol Standard application-level protocol used for exchanging files on the World Wide Web. HTTP runs on top of the TCP/IP protocol. traffic, allowing spyware to use the same port. Websense customers are able to isolate where spyware is appearing within their organisations. IT managers can identify, report on, and identify, desktops that are infected, and inoculate in·oc·u·late v. 1. To introduce a serum, a vaccine, or an antigenic substance into the body of a person or an animal, especially as a means to produce or boost immunity to a specific disease. 2. them before damage can be caused. PG III also includes a category related to Web sites infected with malicious mobile code (MMC See MultiMediaCard and Microsoft Management Console. ), allowing IT managers to proactively block employee access to sites infected with MMC. The database is automatically delivered to customers each day. http://www.spychecker.com www.websense.com |
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