Spyware Packages

CoolWebSearch: this group of programs is effective because it uses an Internet Explorer vulnerability to get onto your computer and then display pop-ups, change search engine results, and change files on the computer to direct your to websites of the advertisers choice.

Internet Optimizer – Internet Optimizer takes advantage of broken links and incorrect URLs on Internet Explorer. Whenever a user clicks on a broken link or inputs an incorrect or non-existent URL, rather than have the regular error page show up Internet Optimizer directs you to a site filled with advertisements.

180 Solutions – These programs simply send information about what sites you are visiting to ad agencies and also create pop-ups that pop-up overtop of competing ads.

If you see these types of pages, you should get rid of them as soon as possible. If you collect enough of these programs in your computer, they can seriously degrade your system’s performance, even to the point of disabling your PC entirely! Beyond that, they are annoying and unethical and if we don’t stop allowing them to reside on our computers then these people will continue to get away with these scumbag methods of advertising.