Net Q & A

Question of the Month: October 2002

What is "sleazeware and how can I fight it"?

Answer

Sleazeware refers to a variety of software that unscrupulous advertisers sneak onto the hard drives of unsuspecting computer users. These programs can surreptitiously spy on users to gather marketing information (see our previous article on spyware), or take more intrusive measures, such as adding a new toolbar to one of your applications, changing the default home page in your browser, or pelting you with pop-up ads when you leave a site. One of the worst offenders, Bonzai Software creates a directory on your hard drive, then downloads an animated purple gorilla that appears on your screen and tries to sell you things, whether you are on or off the Internet.

The problem is worse because of the aggressive ways in which advertisers install such software. In the past, they typically piggybacked such programs onto free software, such as FTP programs, or MP3 finders. Now, such software is frequently installed when the user merely moves a mouse over an advertisement.

In addition to the other disruption and annoyance, such programs can harm PC and network performance.

Here are some of the ways you can try to avoid sleazeware:

For long range relief, support legislation to outlaw sleazeware.

Jerry Lawson