Acronis privacy expert corporate Manuale Utente

Spyware threats glossary 

38 

Copyright © Acronis, Inc., 2000-2005

This glossary contains supplemental information on the most popular spyware from 
which Acronis Privacy Expert Corporate protects your organization computers. 

This is a kind of Web marketing where banners are integrated into freeware and 
shareware programs. To be able to use a program, a user has to watch ads 
downloaded from the Web. This increases traffic volume and slows down your 
Internet connection. 

Some Browser Helper Objects are useful at expanding your browser’s 
capabilities, but there are others that might not need your permission to install 
on your computer and that can be used for malicious purposes, such as 
gathering information on your Web surfing habits. This can cause problems 
ranging from incompatibility issues to corrupting important system functions, 
making these objects not only a threat to your security, but also to your system’s 
stability. 

Browser hijackers have the ability to change your Internet browser settings, 
redirect your Web searches through their own search engines, redirect mistyped 
or incomplete URLs, and change your default home page. They can redirect your 
searches to "pay-per-search" Web sites or pornographic Web sites. 

Keyloggers register which keys are pressed on a user’s PC and transmit this 
information via e-mail. Such applications can also store the time of running or 
quitting any applications. They can operate without the users’ knowledge. 

Dialers have the ability to disconnect your computer from your local Internet 
provider and reconnect you to the Internet using an alternate connection, such 
as an expensive pornographic, toll or international phone number. They do not 
spy on you but they can rack up significant long-distance phone charges. They 
have the ability to run in the background, hiding their presence.