Use Secure and Supported Applications

Did you know that applications such as HotBar, Gator, and Kazaa can increase e-mail spam, collect and transmit personal data, and leave your machine and the university open to network attack?

Disguised as fun add-ins or programs, these applications (known as adware and spyware) covertly gather user information through an Internet connection, usually for advertising purposes. They are typically freeware or shareware programs and monitor your activity on the Internet. Their objective ultimately is to transmit your personal information (e-mail addresses, passwords, credit card numbers) to someone else.

Hackers distribute such software to collect user ids and passwords. Others use them to collect e-mail addresses, which they sell to junk e-mailers. Similar to a computer virus, you could unknowingly install one of these insidious programs just by clicking an enticing link on a Web site. Never download an application or click on any link about which you are uncertain.

A list of spyware programs is at http://www.spywareguide.com/product_list_full.php.

One application that will safely remove spyware from your computer is Spybot: http://beam.to/spybotsd.
Call User Services before downloading any questionable software. Additionally, User Services only recommends and supports the software listed at http://www.csuchico.edu/usrv/software/supported.shtml.