Spyware software now disables anti-spyware software

[Mark R]

Recently saw this story over at /..

It seems that the latest version of one spyware program, now searches for and disables a popular anti-spyware program.

I should point out that this spyware, is not the harmless stuff that comes bundled with kazaa, gozilla, gator and the like. It is serious spyware.

This is software whose prime purpose is to capture e-mails, AOL/ICQ/MSN instant messages, passwords, credit card numbers, keep a copy of all web sites (even secure ones like your online banking), and other sensitive information (e.g. designs/source code for a latest project).

------

Message edited to provide a clearer explanation of the subject.

Spy software Spector is one of several programs designed to provide detailed logging of computer activity.

One of the most popular anti-spy programs is Who's Watching Me. And indeed, Who's watching me, has been designed to detect spector (as well as several other programs).

The problem is that the latest update to spector, brings with it an interesting feature. If spector is running, and it detects that Who's watching me is installed then it will corrupt the installation to prevent Who's watching me from working.

 

[Mitzi]

Another good reason to have an up to date firewall and virus checker???

 

[hooj]

it cant disbale the anti-spyware program as it isn't constantly running

 

[Mark R]

A virus checker won't help you against this software - it is commercial software - not a virus, or trojan.

Will your firewall block the track-log e-mails that it sends? Maybe, maybe not - a decent firewall should log these though.

As to how it disables the anti-spy software, it apparently deletes the anti-spy software from the startup folder and removes the configuration files for it.

See Spector Soft for the full specs of the offending program.

 

[mboy]

Go Here and d/l Who's watching me. This wil tell you if that software is installed. This spyware is more in the lines of what your company or significant other, or even law enforcement would load onto your computer. This isn't the sort of thing that would automatically install when you install the likes of kazaa etc. Thats for advertising purposes, this is to catch you doing stuff.

EDIT**** I just checked here and they list Spector as one of the offending programs it will catch.

See, now isn't that easy

 

[Mark R]

But, that's my point.

If the latest version of spector, detects 'Who's watching me', then it will disable it. (I've edited the original message to make this point more obvious).

 

[joinT]

so how does spector get installed if it's not through File-Sharing software ?

or is it some kind of trojan ?