Lavasoft News - July 2007


The release of Ad-Aware 2007 has ushered in widespread acclaim for Lavasoft's all-new anti-spyware, from editorial reviews to customer feedback. What better time to bring you news on Lavasoft, the company that put anti-spyware on the map? Read our Lavasoft profile article for a look at the evolution of spyware, and how Ad-Aware has come to be one of its greatest foes. Along with having the latest in our line of anti-spyware products, we cannot stress enough the importance of user awareness in order to stay out of spyware's way. Personal computer safety begins with you; a little caution really can go a long way in terms of protecting your privacy and security. In this issue of LN, you will find helpful tips on avoiding spyware, and specific guidelines for younger Web users. Also in this issue - you may have heard about the posse of spyware bills that have been making their way through the U.S. Congress, but this month read about how the European Union is stepping up its cyber crime effort. Your feedback is always welcome at editor@lavasoft.com. Lavasoft: A Profile of "the Original Anti-Spyware Company" Virtually everyone with a computer has now heard of spyware, but where and when did it rear its ugly head? Take a look at what prompted Lavasoft to begin its battle against this Internet menace, and how we stay ahead of the game to keep you protected from spyware's latest advancements. Read more Real Solutions for Battling Spyware Day after day, we hear about the growing rate of malware and Internet crime, and the truth is that most of us have already come up close and personal with online scams. Get tips from the experts at Lavasoft on how you can be proactive in keeping your PC and private information secure. Read more Shaping the Next Generation of Cyber Citizens Just like in the real world, kids need guidelines for how to navigate the Web. Find out what every adult needs to know about cyber space and young computer users, in order to keep the family PC secure and to set the groundwork for good online practices. Read more EU Urges Coordinated Effort Against Cyber Crime When it comes to laws and enforcement, there is no question about it - cyber crime is not an easy area to legislate. Not only is it difficult for countries to pass pertinent and timely laws to combat ever-developing threats, once laws are created, operating across borders becomes a major a challenge. Get the news on Europe's latest efforts to get to the bottom of online crime. Read more Amero Case Sparks Spyware Awareness PC World Before a classroom incident in 2004 that brought on a highly publicized trial, American substitute teacher Julie Amero was a self-described novice in the area of computer security. While Amero still faces charges even after being granted a new trial, a project in her name, The Julie Group, has set out to help others who may be falsely accused of crimes because of spyware, and to produce educational material for users, law enforcement, and prosecutors. Read the article on PC World and tell us what you think at editor@lavasoft.com. Read more Security Shorts Lavasoft News has compiled a list of "security shorts" - summaries of other online security stories making news around the world this past month. Read more New Targets in Detection (June 2007) Protect your privacy with a complete list of new targets for June 2007. Read more Lavasoft Blog If you want to go behind the walls of Lavasoft, hear what we are up to, what we are thinking and what is happening in the industry, the Lavasoft Company Blog is the place to go for regular, up-to-date information. Read more Star Reviews Following its worldwide commercial release, Ad-Aware 2007 is getting rave reviews through Lavasoft's worldwide download portals. Read more To get all news on one, printable page, click here Home		Stats By the end of 2008, there will be more than one billion personal computers in use worldwide. Forrester Research Inc. predicts that the number of PCs in use will more than double by 2015. It took 27 years to reach the billion-PC mark, but it will take only five years to reach the next billion, due to advanced technology, lower prices, and emerging technology-aware populations. Source: Forrester's "Worldwide PC Adoption Forecast to 2015" Term of the Month An End User License Agreement, or EULA, is a software license agreement that indicates the terms for an end user to utilize certain software. That fine-print legal jargon that makes you want to check the box next to, "Yes, I have read and accept these terms," without fully reading the text, is an official agreement between you and a software vendor. Tech Tips It is important to read all EULAs and privacy statements carefully before installing new software. If the EULA is hard to find or difficult to understand, reconsider installing the software. You should never install software without knowing exactly what it is. By not fully reading the EULA, you may agree to questionable activities by the software vendor, and even to installing spyware and adware on your computer. The Zlob/Smitfraud Trojan (fake codecs most notably) actually DOES include proper disclosure of what will be downloaded to your PC. Take the time to read EULAs carefully! Helpful Homepage WiredSafety.org is the world's largest online safety, education and help group. Adults can visit the site for information on safely navigating the World Wide Web, and there are also specialty directories designed for kids. While it originally formed to help and protect Internet users of all ages, Wiredsafety.org's work has become increasingly dedicated to children, tweens, and teens. Lavasoft AB Lilla Bommen 1 411 04 Gothenburg Sweden www.lavasoft.com editor@lavasoft.com