note: originally posted in member discussion thread

Several years ago I learned of firewall applications, and installed ZoneAlarm* to block intrusive attacks. What it ended up teaching me however, was that in it's recording of what programs were trying to connect to the internet and send out my personal or browser history information I had something (alot of somethings) known as Spyware*. I am now almost pyschotic in my attempts to control what programs are placed on my harddrive to avoid this happening again. I installed (still my favorite) Ad-Aware* to get rid of them, and keep these Spyware apps off. I invest alot of time, money and energy into my PC and dont like the idea of applications being loaded without my approval that greatly effect the performance of it.

Kyleah, what you have on your computer is a really dreaded application (ScumWare as it is termed now) called Ezula TopText*..Usually this beastie with virus traits is bundled in software such as Gator *, which should be avoided at all costs. Both need to be removed immediately and I'm going to list here different ways to prevent getting it as well.

Through a similar horrible application that is Spyware (and Scumware combined) I had my credit card number stolen about 3 years ago now, and have since been on a campaign to educate others so they can prevent this from happening, so please everyone don't think I'm on a mission to spread generic Paranoia!

• *ZoneLabs ZoneAlarm: FireWall product with a free version and a professional version. Be aware that in 4 years of using ZoneAlarm's free version, and trying MacAfee's firewall version that costs around 78 US dollars, that the latter DID NOT block any traffic from my own PC's software trying to get information or send info to the net.. such as RealPlayer etc. How often is it that the best is the free one? I am sure there are some who would dissagree, but to my mind is the best and easiest to use for the basic pc user.
  • Here is ZoneLabs site's comparison/info chart on the difference between the Professional and Standard(Free) versions.
  • And Here or Here is where you can download either versions.

• *SpyWare(/AdWare/ScumWare): These programs are usually different ad companies software that is found bundled into other software that you can download from all over the 'net, like Gator or KazAa. . These beasties are included usually to 'Keep this Application free for YOU!'.. serving you with advertisements and such which they pay the host software company dividends. Yeah right, ruining your harddrive and getting your personal info/credit is NEVER free folks! There are also a whole slew of freeware prog's that you would never know included items like this, such as the ever popular CuteFTP and the WinZip alternative PKzip.
  Also keep watch for a relatively new type of disaster, called Browser Hijakers. These programs install themselves all over your harddrive and even hide themselves in your registry often with self-reinstalling attributes should you ever try to remove them by hand. They sometimes force your homepage to go to their website, or fool you browser into only returning their paid for links when you search for info on the net (kinda like AOL? lol) One particularly nasty one that I found on my sisters pc is aolLop, which installed an added toolbar on top of her browser, and forced her to only visit their horrible gaming and pornography sites, and eventually rendered her Internet Explorer useless until it was removed and IE reinstalled. (!!) Some Spyware and most Browser Hijakers are NOT bundled into other software, but are automatically downloaded/caught from the web by your browser if the security settings allow 'automatic downloads'. Read bottom of this post for ways to prevent this.
• CEXX.org's All About AdWare was where I first learned what was happening to my computer years ago. Still an excellent source of information.. including a very common problem folks are having with POP UP messages from windows messenger, ie; pop up spam and how to get rid of it. Just a great site! Go here and bookmark it!
• GeekGirls' Spyware info illuminates the many companies that bundle it or allow it, and why.
• Computer Cops Beginners Guide to Scumware, talks about Gator and other ways of getting it. Great article, hellbent on educating net users against this sort of thing.
• TechRebates scumware info site brings you excellent information on what spyware/scumware is, how you probably got it, what it's purpose is and how to get rid of it.
• Scumware.com's all inclusive everything you ever wanted to know about Scumware but were afraid to ask!

• *AdAware from LavaSoft: This is a Adware/Scumware Remover Utility. They also have a free version and a pro version, learn info on both from it's host site here. One benefit of Adaware is that it has an excellent forum as well.. and links to similar forums and programs to stop Browser hijackers like Hijack This.
• Download AdAware free from Cnet.com.
• SpyBot is free, and according to some is updated more often than AdAware, though the first is still my favorite. Download SpyBot free from CNet.com

• *Ezula TopText: An isidious program that turns key words into links, key words purchased by it's clients.. such as 'breasts' will be highlighted and linked to a porn site, even if the word breasts you are reading are in a BreastCancer awareness site. Often confuses visitors into thinking that the link is hosted by the homesite you read it in.. obviously much to the concern of places like Breast Cancer.org!
  "Advertisers are buying words that lead users to THEIR websites. Computer users download software, unaware that software such as eZula TopText is being installed as well. (Or there's some cleverly confusing prompt to users which is so unclear that most users simply ignore it.) Once installed, certain words are automatically highlighted on your webpages and hyperlinked to the advertiser's website. You lose complete control of your website and links. If they buy your top keyword, you're sunk. " - excerpt from CRE8PC.com's site linked below.
• CRE8PC.com's ScumWare Resources - discusses TopText, and it's host app.
• GPWA.net's spyware listing on eZula and how to remove it.
• i4net's Ezula supersite - Want to know if YOU have eZula's TopText installed on your harddrive? GO HERE. They'll detect it for you, also provides info on removing etc.

• *Gator: A form filling application, but as we've discussed here, a SpyWare/ScumWare filled sucky one.. a much better (and spyware free) alternative is RoboForm. I don't use these form fillers at all, but have heard from others who do that they can be handy.