Screensaver Safety - Virus, Spyware & Adware

Often times malicous coders try to install spyware, adware or virus on computers by bundling these apps with screensavers. Concerns over screensaver safety arise from the fact that a computer user must rely on software for creation of a screensaver. Anything that can alter the message in that software, can threaten the safety of the information in the computer.

Both Adware and Spyware demonstrate the reason for concerns about screensaver safety. Adware is advertising supported software. Adware contains a software package that automatically plays, displays and downloads advertising material, placing it among the files on that computer.

The Adware opens a pathway for the advertising material after it is installed, or in some cases, after the computer user opens the file with the Adware. While the possession of Adware might not seem like a threat to computer safety, look here at some comments submitted to one website, a website designed to help computer users.. In September of 2002, one woman named Dorothy wrote this after cleaning out old files on her computer:

“[I] came across one titled ‘music.’ I had no recollection of such a file and made the big mistake of opening it…an ad for screensavers kept popping up…” Dorothy then described the nature of the pop up message (a repitition of the phrase ‘we’re
 in the money!’). Dorothy found it next to impossible to delete that file.

She located all of her temporary files, her most recent files and her deleted files. None of them was the music file. She re-booted her computer, and she then discovered the problem. Her computer had been infected with the Wscript KAK worm virus.

Dorothy tried removing the virus using both AdAlert and Stuck and Pop-up. Still listening to that annoying message (we’re in the money!), Dorothy again sought help from the experts at the website that she trusted.. They told her to search for other viruses. .
While the message created by certain Adware can be very annoying, it is not always a threat to the privacy of the information on the computer. Yet any Adware software that is also Spyware can threaten the safety of information on a personal computer. Such software actually invades the privacy that one normally associates with the computer.

Fortunately, no computer owner has to worry constantly about the chances that his or her computer might admit Spyware onto its files. A computer owner can purchase a way to detect Spyware. Both AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy can detect Spyware. Once detected, Spyware can be eliminated, using the correct computer tools.

The availability of Spyware detection software has allowed more businesses to make use of screensaver software. Programs put out under the name “Essential Skills” demonstrate some of the ways that businesses can benefit from using screensaver software. The materials available from Essential Skills fall into four different categories.
Some of the screensaver software offered by Essential Skills focuses on workstation essentials. It calls attention to ergonomic issues. It shows employees how to use the right posture and the right lighting while at their workstation.

Other screensaver programs from the same company deal with stress essentials. They emphasize how certain aspects of the work environment can contribute to the creation of stress. Obviously, the Essentials software points out the importance of every issue touched on by that software.

Some of the software offered by Essentials software deals with evacuation essentials. It shows workers what to do in an emergency. Another group of software deals with risk assessment. Each piece of Essentials Software sheds more light on some particular and essential safety issue.

Posted in Screensavers