Anti-spyware Solutions from SECURE COMPUTING®

Combatting the Spyware Threat

Spyware is a type of program that gets into your network and onto your PCs, and tracks information about the user. The spyware program can collect information about things like web surfing patterns for the purpose of delivering targeted adware, but it can also be used to collect information like passwords and account numbers for the purpose of identity theft. Spyware can come into your network in the same way as a Trojan, hidden in a piece of seemingly innocuous freeware or shareware, or even as a piece of active code on a Web page. Because it is not always obvious that spyware is even present, it may be challenging to determine how to address the problem.

Because spyware can come from any one of many different sources, any single anti-spyware strategy will be inadequate. Anti-spyware signature databases, like anti-virus databases, are useful, but only up to the point where the spyware has already been recognized and categorized. A common way for spyware to enter the network is through P2P file sharing systems or instant messaging, and so an effective anti-spyware strategy is to use a firewall like Secure Computing's Secure Firewall (Sidewinder) to block usage of these types of programs.

Spyware can also come in through recognized Web sites, so Secure Computing's Secure Web Webwasher and Secure Web SmartFilter make effective anti-spyware tools. Secure Web SmartFilter's accurate control list accurately identifies spyware sites, and prevents users from accessing them. In addition, Secure Computing's suite of messaging products, including Secure Mail IronMail and Edge, providing anti-spyware protection for spyware that comes in through email, including phishing emails.

Secure Computing's anti-spyware strategy closes the door to spyware on all fronts, starting with the Sidewinder firewall appliance, which blocks certain file types at the gateway. At the browser level, spyware is prevented with content control from Secure Web SmartFilter and Secure Web Webwasher, and at the email level, Secure Computing's anti-spyware strategies filter out types of emails that often contain spyware. Also, Secure's anti-virus tools also function as anti-spyware tools, since many pieces of spyware are recognized as Trojans by Secure's virus prevention suite. The final element of Secure's anti-spyware strategy includes Secure Firewall Reporter, which generates detailed reports that show where spyware exists, and spots it immediately if it attempts to transmit data back to its host.

For more information on Secure Computing's Secure Mail Anti-spyware solutions,
Secure Web Anti-spyware solutions, and Secure Firewall Anti-spyware solutions, please visit our Anti-spyware pages.