For Students | For Staff | Directory | About | Sitemap
Spyware is the peeping Tom of the Internet. Sometimes called adware or malware, it is software that covertly gathers information about you and your computer usage and then transmits that information back to someone using your Internet connection, usually for advertising purposes. Spyware is usually installed without the user's knowledge since it is often bundled with freeware or shareware programs downloaded on the Internet (often peer-to-peer filesharing programs). Spyware can monitor keystrokes, scan files on your hard drive, snoop on other software applications, read your cookies, install other spyware programs, etc. In addition to the privacy concerns, spyware can also eat up your computer's resources and network bandwidth, causing your computer and/or network connection to be unstable or crash.
To avoid spyware:
Want to learn more? Visit our security overview and rules to live by.
Just like you wouldn't get undressed in front of an open window (unless you're an exhibitionist or don't care), don't give spyware a chance to get onto your computer. Spyware is often bundled with shareware or freeware programs downloaded off of the Internet and during installation, the program will give you a warning or notice about "additional" programs that will be installed (ostensibly for your benefit). Be sure to read all of these warnings and be on the lookout for anything that might be spyware or adware.
Not all software tells you that it is installing spyware-- they wouldn't be very good "spys" if they did, would they? As a result, you should download and install programs that will scan your computer and remove any spyware or adware it might recognize. Spysweeper is now available at Essential Stanford Software for all Stanford students.
Other programs you may also want to try are Spybot-S&D or Lavasoft Ad-aware. Some of these programs may also go one step further and actively try to prevent spyware from being covertly installed in the future.
Anti-virus software
Security patches
Email
Good passwords
Spyware
Essential Stanford Software
Secure Computing
BigFix at Stanford
BigFix FAQ for Residential Students
List of general security resources
Symantec
Security news at Stanford
Security news on the Web
Contact your RCC.