Spyware and Bloatware
Spyware
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Malicious software that is designed to gather and send information about a user or organization without their knowledge
- From browsing data to sensitive data
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Spyware can get installed on a system in several different ways
- Bundled with other software
- Installed through a malicious website
- Installed when users click on a deceptive pop-up advertisement
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Once installed it operates in the background
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It can also significantly slow down your system performance because it is continuously using system resources to moderate and transmit data back to the attacker
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To help protect yourself against spyware, you should only use reputable antivirus and anti-spyware tools that are regularly updated detect and remove any potential threats
- Only download software from trusted sources
- Read through the End-User Licensing Agreement (EULA)
- Make sure your OS is up to date and patched with the latest security updates
Bloatware
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Any software that comes pre-installed on a new computer or smartphone that you, as the user, did not specifically request, want, or need
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Other examples of bloatware are things like unnecessary toolbars or applications that promote certain services
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Bloatware isn’t malicious, but it can
- waste your storage space
- slow down the performance of your devices
- introduce security vulnerabilities into your systems
- All that extra code could have vulnerabilities/exploitable bugs
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Remember, anytime a piece of software is installed, that is one more potential threat vector for an attacker to exploit if you don’t properly update that application
- Remove any extra software or application that are not being used on a daily basis
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To remove bloatware, you can either do the following
- Do a manual removal process
- Got to the Programs and features section
- Navigate to the apps section and uninstalled any unwanted applications
- Use bloatware removal tools to uninstall the unwanted applications
- There are several third-party apps to do this
- Perform a clean operating system installation
- Ensures you will be starting up with the software you need to start your system
- Do a manual removal process