Web users get savvy to spyware

San Francisco Chronicle reports Fears of computer viruses and other invasive software have caused a profound shift in how people use the Internet, including which Web sites they visit and e-mails they open, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The survey found that 81 percent of Internet users say they no longer open e-mail attachments unless they know the contents are safe.

Good advice, and I let Norton check all of the attachments before I will even consider opening them.

Nearly half, 48 percent, said they have stopped visiting certain Web sites to avoid unwanted programs downloading onto their computers. The Pew study affirms largely anecdotal evidence of many Internet users taking serious measures through the years to protect themselves from the Web's dark side. But the findings also illustrate the unfamiliarity some people have with certain kinds of invasive software and their failure to read the fine print. For example, the survey found that 73 percent of people don't always read user agreements, privacy statements or other disclaimers before downloading or installing programs. By quickly agreeing to the terms, users may unknowingly download an unwanted program.

I must admit that I quickly agree to terms, but I really doubt that a program with bad intentions is going to be honest about them, and admit what it is going to do in a license agreement.

That may include spyware, which tracks which Web sites a user visits online and transmits the information back to a central source. Adware, another kind of program, does much of the same thing and bombards users with advertising. Such programs often come bundled with other software such as online games, file-sharing programs and screen savers. More than three-quarters of people said they already had a good idea of what spyware is.

They should use Spybot

Just over half were as familiar with adware, the study found.

They should use AdAware