Watch What You Download - Danger Lurks For The Unprepared
Posted on August 19, 2008
Using the internet often brings us to web sites where we are find something we like to download certain files onto our computer. We may well be attracted by free offers or special deals, and whilst many promoters are established and reputable companies there are also many less ethical in their sales techniques.
This page highlights the dangers, suggests caution and alertness before doing any download. We look at the results of bad downloads where you have been fooled into believing you have downloaded a single useful program or information, when in fact you have downloaded a load of trouble which may be hard to spot or resolve.
You may already have virus scanning which checks downloads for virus and ad ware, but you can be downloading a load of problems which will increase the amount of spam heading for your Inbox.
Typically free downloads of the following can cause problems including;
Screensavers
\r Games
\r Virus scanning programs
\r Spam blocking software
\r Ad blockers
\r Competitions
\r Music
\r Film clips
\r Pictures of film and TV stars
\r Pages of web sites
\r Free EBooks
\r Web scripts
\r Software programs
The promoters do want to make money from you and FREE is an encouragement to give them YOUR EMAIL address and/or DOWNLOAD what appears to be something useful to your computer.
The dangers are numerous, and you may not know the promoter, so can be too trusting of their credibility and ethics.
Normally before you can download anything on offer free you are asked for a valid email address, the problem can start with this simple request.
You should check for any opt out, or opt in choice for other information - you may get ALL by default and may need to uncheck many boxes - others offer NOTHING by default (best) and you have to check boxes to receive extra information.
Often some validation process is needed to ensure you entered a real email address - this can take several forms;
a) the download link is in an email sent to the email address
b) on receipt of an email sent on registering you are asked to click a link or reply to that email to confirm your request. This may then direct you to another web page for the download, or result in a further email with a download link.
c) This email they have is now proven valid so they can now use it to;
# email you to follow up the download to remind you to register, buy it or some other action usually requiring paying
# to offer you other products or services by the same company, unless you opted out
# pass onto to other firms within a larger group
# sell your email address to spammers
You may be able to SIGN OFF receiving emails, or they may stop after a while, 7, 14 or 28 days typically, or you can cancel the account. These processes can be simple and straightforward (professional) or downright tricky, complex and evasive.
Signing off, or cancelling an account does NOT stop email in dubious systems, it just comes from spammers rather than the firm you first signed up with.
The download may require some form of installation process which may add extra features and programs to your computer including;
# advertisement pop ups
\r # links to the promoters web page
\r # makes the promoters web page your HOME page
\r # adds links to your desktop
\r # adds a pop up ad feed bar to your desktop
Tips to be safe with downloads
Download only from known and trusted sources
Check every stage of the process and read well
Check (or uncheck) any boxes and options to ensure you get ONLY information on the product/service you are interested in.
Paying for a download although does not guarantee you will be trouble free does give you more legal rights. Best to try before you buy with free trials and shareware programs.
Use your Spam Solution EMail address in all suspect downloads. Have different SS accounts for different purposes.
If you realise you have made the wrong decision downloading a file DELETE IT
If you have installed a program which you later regret - UNINSTALL IT immediately\r Use Control Panel add/remove programs
Check to see if there is a separate uninstall within the program itself.
Double check for various extra parts to the program and remove them also.
Even then some features may remain - check the name of the program e.g ABCWEB , go to START - RUN and enter REGEDIT - search the REGISTRY for all occurrences of ABCWEB and delete them - if you are unsure of this routine ask an expert who does.
Reboot your computer to clear up the changes.
Even then the problems may remain - repeat the above process, also check for additional names the download may be known by - double check any found item is the program itself and not something similar - if in doubt do NOT delete the entry
Use MY COMPUTER and search for folders named after the download, look at the files in any folder found you may find an uninstall program there which does not appear elsewhere - run it. Otherwise DELETE the entire folder.
The nuisance here is it may take a considerable amount of time and effort to remove a simple download you later realise was rubbish, You may have downloaded one or many such problem downloads.
If you initially downloaded a installation file to your PC be sure and delete that. \r And Finally - scan your system for adware and spyware which may have been installed by 3RD PARTIES as part of the hidden agenda of this download.
Maurice Clarke is founding owner of http://www.internet-online-privacy.com a free and independent source of information about all aspects of online fraud and personal privacy issues. The site contains articles and web links highlighting the leading privacy issues and suggested preventions and solutions for both personal and business web surfers.
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