Digital Home Thoughts: Computer Associates Rates Kazaa As Worst Spyware Threat

"Computer Associates International Inc. has launched a list of the worst spyware threats as part of a new program to combat unwanted software "pests." At the top of that list: the peer-to-peer application Kazaa. The company initiated its Spyware Information Center earlier this month with the launch of eTrust PestPatrol Anti-Spyware r5, enterprise-oriented software designed to tackle unwanted spyware, adware and trojans, a category of threats it calls "pests" to distinguish them from viruses and security vulnerabilities. But out of the entire category, the top threat is the Kazaa peer-to-peer application, which CA characterized as prone to degrading network performance, consuming vast amounts of storage and creating security issues."

Yet another reason NOT to use peer to peer software. A quick look through C|NET's Downloads.com shows that nearly every popular peer to peer client for Windows comes with Spyware embedded into the software. LimeWire, Bearshare, Morpheus, Grokster, eDonkey, Kazaa...all of them are Spyware magnets. If you plan on downloading any of these p2p clients, think again. And if you already do happen to use them, do yourself, and your PC, a favor by uninstalling. Download a good Anti-Spyware client like LavaSoft's Ad-Aware and cleanse your PC of all impurities.