Protecting your PPC campaign is gradually becoming a must, especially that most of the time we don't even know when our ads create good leads or generating fraudulent activities. Well, so much for the ad-words or Yahoo's Search Marketining programs and their promises in increasing your ROI. However, you can put control in your hands and have a better transparency of your campaign by monitoring your PPC’s through fraud-protection software that allows you to manage and catch the leak before it hits your bottom line. Such audit oriented software and services can be acquired from company such as www.ClickFacts.com. Hoping that the fraud won’t touch your pay per click accounts, because your network said it will be safe, is like having a front door to your house but not installing the security.
If you thought click fraud was bad, consider this: your Google AdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing ads and Microsoft adCenter accounts are new targets for spyware applications, hackers and scam artists.
If thieves obtain access to your pay-per-click account, they are in complete control of your pay-per-click activity and could place ads on their behalf but charge your account for them.
Spyware Two likely fraud options
Unauthorized users are likely to do one of two things. First, the users could bury their own keywords and ads deep in your account without changing anything else, such as settings and budgets. The idea is to run ads quietly so the account owner doesn't know he's paying for somebody else's clicks.
Second, the users could go through a one-night rendezvous by dumping all sorts of high-cost keywords into your account and adjusting budgets to hundreds of thousands of dollars per day. The idea is to get as many ridiculously expensive clicks (even $90 a click or more) as possible on your credit card.
Regardless of the option your hacker would prefer, you could end up paying thousands of dollars for somebody else's clicks. To determine if you are a victim of this type of fraud: — Run keyword reports weekly and look beyond the first page (many advertisers tend to ignore keywords that are not in their top 50 list). — Look for keywords that shouldn't be there. Also, run ad reports to figure out if you have any unfamiliar ads. — Keep track of your normal ad spend and always be suspicious if there is a spike in costs. — Check on your accounts frequently.
Steps to prevent stolen passwords
Here's what you need to do to prevent your passwords from being stolen: — Set up free image protection in your Yahoo! Search Marketing login page (Yahoo! is the first one to recognize the seriousness of the issue). — Change your passwords each month. — Install and run spyware detection and anti-virus software, such as Google Pack, which has both for free. — Do not react to emails asking you to update passwords or verify something in your pay-per-click account.
If you have fallen victim to the fraud, contact your pay-per-click support team immediately. If you do not employ an outside agency, contact the search engines directly.
Alternatively, change all passwords in your pay-per-click accounts and pause all campaigns. Once the issue has been reported, it's out of your hands. Search engines will conduct an internal investigation and will contact you to resolve the situation. Be sure to stay on top of all requests from the engine's support teams and promptly respond to all messages. After all, it's your fault somebody hijacked your pay-per-click account.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Who's Watching What You Type
If someone entered your home, uninvited and installed numerous cameras and listening devices in order to monitor your activities, you would quite rightly be outraged. While such a situation, unless you are living in the Big Brother House, would be considered ridiculous, the same cannot be said for the humble home computer.
Recently released research alarmingly shows that home PCs are increasingly likely to host software which can watch each and every keystroke the user inputs. According to the research compiled from an audit conducted jointly by the software firm, WebRoot and services provider, EarthLink, the average home PC hosts 28 so-called spyware programs.
Whilst the worst examples of spyware are written by virus writers to steal passwords and hijack computers to launch denial of service attacks against web-servers, the vast majority are used to collate marketing information and then target advertising according to the end-users web surfing habits.
The WebRoot/EarthLink audit surveyed more than 1.5 million PCs during the last 12 months and discovered an amazing 41 million incidents of spyware; adware, Trojans, tracking cookies and other undesirable programs.
Most of these programs are loaded into the computer memory when the PC is started up. From here, the program will work silently, often giving no clues as to its existence. However, unexplained browser window pop-ups, often advertising adult services and mysterious alterations to the browsers homepage setting are more often than not an indication that spyware is present and active on a computer. One particular piece of spyware, which is proving to be very expensive for many home users, is that of Trojan Diallers. Diallers, often without any warning to the end-user, hang up the current net connection and then automatically reconnect using a Premium Rate telephone number, thus running up huge telephone bills. The activities of companies using this technology as a revenue stream are currently under investigation in the UK
by government watchdogs.
A hard-disk and memory overflowing with spyware used to be one of the unfortunate consequences of visiting sex and adult orientated sites; a kind of eSTD. Like most Internet marketing technologies, from the pop-up to the pop-under and the first snowball of Spam, spyware began life serving the adult industry. Then, just like pop-up, spyware filtered through all aspects of ecommerce. In an interview to the BBC, David Moll, CEO of WebRoot, said that spyware has now become so common across the whole of the Internet, that it can be contracted from nearly anywhere.
So-called drive-by downloads are now responsible for most infections of spyware. The term drive-by refers to the casualness of the infection. By simply visiting an ordinary webpage a user can unwittingly initiate an automatic download of spyware onto their computer. There are no clues and no warnings.
In a recent, carefully controlled and closed demonstration, it took me less than 20 minutes to create a spyware program and embed it into a webpage. Using colleagues who had previously been made aware of the nature of the experiment, I invited them to take a look at this special but very ordinary looking webpage. Within seconds of visiting this webpage, the spyware went to work taking a snapshot of their hard disk, a snapshot of their Favourites folder and a copy of their browsing history. Before they had even finished reading the webpage, the spyware was already transferring their information to my server. It’s as easy as that! Equally that same code could be manipulated to perform a total trash of the hard disk or some other equally miserable and criminal act.
Speaking to the BBC, David Moll explained.
"Some spyware programs lurk on misspelled URLs and strike those that type faster than their fingers can carry them. As a result you do not end up where you expect to be."
Alarmingly, users do not even need to visit a website to contract spyware. The preview window in Microsoft’s Outlook Express allows emails containing HTML and any other code which can be placed on a normal webpage, to be loaded, without warning. Companies looking to implant spyware using the drive-by principal are regularly exploiting this glaringly obvious flaw in the design of Outlook Express.
"If you get one piece of spyware, you will get five because the business model says they pay each other to pass on information about victims," said Mr Moll.
Thankfully anti-spyware/adware programs such as Ad-Aware free and WebRoots own offering, Spy Sweeper can clean up a PC and even help prevent further infections, but just like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software needs to be kept up-to-date to remain effective.
In addition to providing software solutions to this problem, legislators too are seeking to end this electronic intrusion. In the USA
an anti-spyware bill is moving towards approval in Congress. If successfully implemented, this bill will force firms who wish to use spyware to first receive permission from the end-user before it is installed. But even before any new laws come into place, spyware makers are already working on next generation coding which keep their programs intact and operational. Perhaps even on your PC.
Related Links:
WebRoot Spyware Audit http://www.webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm
Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
WebRoot http://www.webroot.com/
Recently released research alarmingly shows that home PCs are increasingly likely to host software which can watch each and every keystroke the user inputs. According to the research compiled from an audit conducted jointly by the software firm, WebRoot and services provider, EarthLink, the average home PC hosts 28 so-called spyware programs.
Whilst the worst examples of spyware are written by virus writers to steal passwords and hijack computers to launch denial of service attacks against web-servers, the vast majority are used to collate marketing information and then target advertising according to the end-users web surfing habits.
The WebRoot/EarthLink audit surveyed more than 1.5 million PCs during the last 12 months and discovered an amazing 41 million incidents of spyware; adware, Trojans, tracking cookies and other undesirable programs.
Most of these programs are loaded into the computer memory when the PC is started up. From here, the program will work silently, often giving no clues as to its existence. However, unexplained browser window pop-ups, often advertising adult services and mysterious alterations to the browsers homepage setting are more often than not an indication that spyware is present and active on a computer. One particular piece of spyware, which is proving to be very expensive for many home users, is that of Trojan Diallers. Diallers, often without any warning to the end-user, hang up the current net connection and then automatically reconnect using a Premium Rate telephone number, thus running up huge telephone bills. The activities of companies using this technology as a revenue stream are currently under investigation in the UK
by government watchdogs.
A hard-disk and memory overflowing with spyware used to be one of the unfortunate consequences of visiting sex and adult orientated sites; a kind of eSTD. Like most Internet marketing technologies, from the pop-up to the pop-under and the first snowball of Spam, spyware began life serving the adult industry. Then, just like pop-up, spyware filtered through all aspects of ecommerce. In an interview to the BBC, David Moll, CEO of WebRoot, said that spyware has now become so common across the whole of the Internet, that it can be contracted from nearly anywhere.
So-called drive-by downloads are now responsible for most infections of spyware. The term drive-by refers to the casualness of the infection. By simply visiting an ordinary webpage a user can unwittingly initiate an automatic download of spyware onto their computer. There are no clues and no warnings.
In a recent, carefully controlled and closed demonstration, it took me less than 20 minutes to create a spyware program and embed it into a webpage. Using colleagues who had previously been made aware of the nature of the experiment, I invited them to take a look at this special but very ordinary looking webpage. Within seconds of visiting this webpage, the spyware went to work taking a snapshot of their hard disk, a snapshot of their Favourites folder and a copy of their browsing history. Before they had even finished reading the webpage, the spyware was already transferring their information to my server. It’s as easy as that! Equally that same code could be manipulated to perform a total trash of the hard disk or some other equally miserable and criminal act.
Speaking to the BBC, David Moll explained.
"Some spyware programs lurk on misspelled URLs and strike those that type faster than their fingers can carry them. As a result you do not end up where you expect to be."
Alarmingly, users do not even need to visit a website to contract spyware. The preview window in Microsoft’s Outlook Express allows emails containing HTML and any other code which can be placed on a normal webpage, to be loaded, without warning. Companies looking to implant spyware using the drive-by principal are regularly exploiting this glaringly obvious flaw in the design of Outlook Express.
"If you get one piece of spyware, you will get five because the business model says they pay each other to pass on information about victims," said Mr Moll.
Thankfully anti-spyware/adware programs such as Ad-Aware free and WebRoots own offering, Spy Sweeper can clean up a PC and even help prevent further infections, but just like anti-virus software, anti-spyware software needs to be kept up-to-date to remain effective.
In addition to providing software solutions to this problem, legislators too are seeking to end this electronic intrusion. In the USA
an anti-spyware bill is moving towards approval in Congress. If successfully implemented, this bill will force firms who wish to use spyware to first receive permission from the end-user before it is installed. But even before any new laws come into place, spyware makers are already working on next generation coding which keep their programs intact and operational. Perhaps even on your PC.
Related Links:
WebRoot Spyware Audit http://www.webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm
Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
WebRoot http://www.webroot.com/
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Malware: Spyware and Adware
Malware is any program designed to do harm, though sometimes what's considered harmful is a bit vague. Viruses, Trojans, spyware, adware, pop-ups, even spam and more have all qualified. Sometimes, though, one man's junk is another man's treasure.
Adware
Adware actually has two flavors - software supported with advertising, or a more malicious sort. The first could be a useful utility released free of charge but using advertising to generate revenue to support development - similar to TV commercials. You're not required to watch, but if you do you get ads along with content. Often this type of software is also available in ad-free form for a modest price.
The other, more malicious, type monitors your browsing habits and delivers targeted advertising. This type of software may be considered a type of spyware, especially if it's installed without your knowledge and consent. When does adware becomes spyware? A gray area. Some software vendors claim that disclosing the inclusion of this type of software in the user agreement grants legal consent for its installation. Most users, obviously, don't read the fine print, which is full of legal jargon and unattractively formatted.
Spyware
Spyware can have a more insidious meaning, however. This can refer to software which does much more than simply monitor a user's browsing habits. It can also redirect your browser to advertising sites.
This type is almost always installed without the user's consent or knowledge. It may be hidden in another program or arrive as the payload of a worm or virus. It's also illegal in many countries. In the U.S.
the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has indicted, and in some cases convicted, several purveyors.
Some software vendors require the user to install spyware as part of a package. File sharing utilities like Kazaa or BearShare are notorious for this practice. Its inclusion is declared in the user agreement but users don't have the option of not installing it - if they want the main program they have to install the spyware as well. Annoying, but legal.
The spyware installed with these, and many other, programs gather information about web browsing habits so that targeted advertising can be delivered to the user. 'Targeted' advertising is designed to be presented to specific groups, selected by analyzing their buying or browsing habits. Selections are made by discovering gender, age, frequently visited sites or by other criteria.
Spyware vendors argue that it doesn't collect specific personal information and there's an active controversy over whether it constitutes legitimate market analysis or privacy violation.
Most users find it annoying at best and intrusive in the main. Advertisers claim it's the best way to deliver products and services to potential new customers who may actually end up wanting what's offered. Legally, they assert, it's just another form of free speech. Users retort that the advertisers' free speech doesn't reach to their browser or e-mail Inbox.
The argument isn't likely to be settled soon.
Adware
Adware actually has two flavors - software supported with advertising, or a more malicious sort. The first could be a useful utility released free of charge but using advertising to generate revenue to support development - similar to TV commercials. You're not required to watch, but if you do you get ads along with content. Often this type of software is also available in ad-free form for a modest price.
The other, more malicious, type monitors your browsing habits and delivers targeted advertising. This type of software may be considered a type of spyware, especially if it's installed without your knowledge and consent. When does adware becomes spyware? A gray area. Some software vendors claim that disclosing the inclusion of this type of software in the user agreement grants legal consent for its installation. Most users, obviously, don't read the fine print, which is full of legal jargon and unattractively formatted.
Spyware
Spyware can have a more insidious meaning, however. This can refer to software which does much more than simply monitor a user's browsing habits. It can also redirect your browser to advertising sites.
This type is almost always installed without the user's consent or knowledge. It may be hidden in another program or arrive as the payload of a worm or virus. It's also illegal in many countries. In the U.S.
the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has indicted, and in some cases convicted, several purveyors.
Some software vendors require the user to install spyware as part of a package. File sharing utilities like Kazaa or BearShare are notorious for this practice. Its inclusion is declared in the user agreement but users don't have the option of not installing it - if they want the main program they have to install the spyware as well. Annoying, but legal.
The spyware installed with these, and many other, programs gather information about web browsing habits so that targeted advertising can be delivered to the user. 'Targeted' advertising is designed to be presented to specific groups, selected by analyzing their buying or browsing habits. Selections are made by discovering gender, age, frequently visited sites or by other criteria.
Spyware vendors argue that it doesn't collect specific personal information and there's an active controversy over whether it constitutes legitimate market analysis or privacy violation.
Most users find it annoying at best and intrusive in the main. Advertisers claim it's the best way to deliver products and services to potential new customers who may actually end up wanting what's offered. Legally, they assert, it's just another form of free speech. Users retort that the advertisers' free speech doesn't reach to their browser or e-mail Inbox.
The argument isn't likely to be settled soon.
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Spyware search
Spyware can be extremely damaging to your home computer so you need to take advantage of free programs that will prevent it from harming you. The fact that spyware can allow others to access your personal information is very scary, and it is often linked to identity theft problems. It is vital that you know how to protect your information from being accessed and your files from being corrupted by various computer viruses.
With the number of people using their home computers to run online businesses, pay bills, and manage various accounts, it is just too important not to have a quality spyware protection program in place. You want to be confident that whatever you access on your computer or store on it will always be safe.
The biggest problem out there though is that criminals continue to be more advanced in the tactics they use to get spyware passed you and into your computer. Even with a good spyware program in place you need to pay close attention to the operating of your computer. If you notice any significant changes you need to immediately get your computer looked at.
Pay close attention to the pop ups you get on your computer because if they suddenly increase you may have been infected with spyware. Never click on any of these advertisements. Don’t assume the new tool bar on your screen is just an update of your browser. It may be due to spyware being added to your computer. Pay attention to your home page and the web pages that come up on your computer. If they are different there may be there coding in your computer that is dictating them.
The speed of your internet connection is something you should be familiar with. If you see significant changes something is slowing it down that shouldn’t be in place. This is also true if your computer starts to lock up when you are trying to run various programs. Any time your computer restarts on its own you have serious issues that need to be addressed. Ignoring them allows the spyware to continue attacking your information.
There are multiple types of free spyware you can find online. Make sure you choose one that has a good reputation for being reliable. You may find you like what is offered as a free trial and decide to purchase the entire program for your computer. This is a very worthwhile investment because it can be a nightmare if your identity is stolen or accounts wiped out due to spyware on your computer.
Look for spyware that continually scans and removes any questionable materials. Even if these materials aren’t found in your computer when you look for them, a quality spyware program can track them down. The removal of spyware is a simple process and one that is done without you having to do anything but allow the spyware scan to run.
Since there is no way to tell what advertisements contain spyware, you need to always be careful about what you are accessing. Avoid those pop ups and watch for signs that your computer isn’t functioning as it should. You really want to be carefully about the information you download to your computer because you really don’t know what it contains. Don’t wait until your computer has been compromised by spyware before you take action. Taking preventative measures is a very important aspect of protecting all of your information on your computer.
With the number of people using their home computers to run online businesses, pay bills, and manage various accounts, it is just too important not to have a quality spyware protection program in place. You want to be confident that whatever you access on your computer or store on it will always be safe.
The biggest problem out there though is that criminals continue to be more advanced in the tactics they use to get spyware passed you and into your computer. Even with a good spyware program in place you need to pay close attention to the operating of your computer. If you notice any significant changes you need to immediately get your computer looked at.
Pay close attention to the pop ups you get on your computer because if they suddenly increase you may have been infected with spyware. Never click on any of these advertisements. Don’t assume the new tool bar on your screen is just an update of your browser. It may be due to spyware being added to your computer. Pay attention to your home page and the web pages that come up on your computer. If they are different there may be there coding in your computer that is dictating them.
The speed of your internet connection is something you should be familiar with. If you see significant changes something is slowing it down that shouldn’t be in place. This is also true if your computer starts to lock up when you are trying to run various programs. Any time your computer restarts on its own you have serious issues that need to be addressed. Ignoring them allows the spyware to continue attacking your information.
There are multiple types of free spyware you can find online. Make sure you choose one that has a good reputation for being reliable. You may find you like what is offered as a free trial and decide to purchase the entire program for your computer. This is a very worthwhile investment because it can be a nightmare if your identity is stolen or accounts wiped out due to spyware on your computer.
Look for spyware that continually scans and removes any questionable materials. Even if these materials aren’t found in your computer when you look for them, a quality spyware program can track them down. The removal of spyware is a simple process and one that is done without you having to do anything but allow the spyware scan to run.
Since there is no way to tell what advertisements contain spyware, you need to always be careful about what you are accessing. Avoid those pop ups and watch for signs that your computer isn’t functioning as it should. You really want to be carefully about the information you download to your computer because you really don’t know what it contains. Don’t wait until your computer has been compromised by spyware before you take action. Taking preventative measures is a very important aspect of protecting all of your information on your computer.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
What is Spyware?
Wouldn’t you be shocked to find that your personal sensitive information, like files, credit card information, operating system / software and other non-disclosed data to be penetrated by unscrupulous prying eyes even worse...
"Is your computer infected by Spyware"
What is Spyware Spyware are infectious programs developed to secretly subtract and transfer electronic information over the Internet, without a Users apprehension.
Norton Anti-Virus or any other "virus protection" solution will not protect your computer from malicious applications like Spyware.
Ever downloaded any kind of Music, Video or "Free Software"
On the Internet, anything "free" has a hidden cost... much more than the cost of a highly-priced product.
How much is your Privacy worth to you
To diabolic marketing companies, your identity my friend, is worth thousands of dollars... they get rich by capitalizing and selling your privacy to third parties, who will in return, sell again! Or use you as a guinea pig for their promotions -
Your Anti-Virus won’t protect you from Spyware!
Hint: Some even sell your information to telemarketers, or bulk e-mail marketing companies.
The question is... are the gigantic companies selling "anti-virus solutions", a part of this greedy industry
"Is your computer infected by Spyware"
What is Spyware Spyware are infectious programs developed to secretly subtract and transfer electronic information over the Internet, without a Users apprehension.
Norton Anti-Virus or any other "virus protection" solution will not protect your computer from malicious applications like Spyware.
Ever downloaded any kind of Music, Video or "Free Software"
On the Internet, anything "free" has a hidden cost... much more than the cost of a highly-priced product.
How much is your Privacy worth to you
To diabolic marketing companies, your identity my friend, is worth thousands of dollars... they get rich by capitalizing and selling your privacy to third parties, who will in return, sell again! Or use you as a guinea pig for their promotions -
Your Anti-Virus won’t protect you from Spyware!
Hint: Some even sell your information to telemarketers, or bulk e-mail marketing companies.
The question is... are the gigantic companies selling "anti-virus solutions", a part of this greedy industry
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