Skip Maine state header navigation
A Publication Featuring The Information
Services Technology of Maine State Government
| Volume VII, Issue 2 | February 2004 |
|
|
By Bob Dudley
"Hey! A web-based Internet Explorer search tool bar! Just what I need! And it’s simple to download and install."
How many state employees
have this thought on a daily basis? I don’t know, but I can assure you that
once someone has downloaded and installed a “free” program that makes e-mail
colorful or animated, or changes the way you access the web, it seems everyone
else has to try it the very next day!
For the support techs with
DHS’s Division of Technology Services (DoTS), Bureau of Information Services,
and other departmental support folks, this creates lots of work and more than a
few headaches. Upwards to 20% of individual tech support work centers on
unauthorized software installs and their subsequent removal.
Something simple like
“Hotbar” that adds a menu bar to both the Outlook e-mail client and MS Internet
Explorer, can change how you access the Internet or make web sites no longer
accessible. “Hotbar” blocks access to Time and Attendance System (TAMS) on the
Intranet. You will not be able to log your hours. Worse yet, when you try to
access TAMS and error out, a work order is generated that will be forwarded to
the BIS Helpdesk for resolution. You’re BUSTED! “Hotbar” became such a large
problem, DoTS techs created a script that runs at most DHS locations, as a part
of the DHS Updater program, which looks for and removes “Hotbar” from the
desktop PC with each login.
Let’s face it: 99.44% of
the free downloads from the web are not free. They contain programming that will
monitor your Internet activity (Spyware) or cause massive popup problems when
you try to use the Internet (Adware). Both are headaches for the techs. Almost
all of these programs are disguised as “nice-to-have” utilities that will
“Improve Internet speed”, “Prevent Pop-Up Ads”, or “ALERT: Virus Found”.
 |
Spyware will sit and watch you browse the Internet and report back to its owner what and where you have gone on the web. Some of these will actually record logins and passwords. These are rare, though. But, imagine logging into your bank account on the web and find that your account is empty? OUCH!! Maybe a piece of Spyware reported your account and password info back to its owner. Adware presents different problems. Like Spyware, some of the adware will monitor how you use the Internet and then generate advertisements, called pop-ups, that “pop-up” whenever you try and use MS Internet Explorer. Very annoying! Some of these little gems actually modify the MS Internet Explorer making removal a real pain. |
Never, ever, say YES to install any program offered on the Internet.
This will save you
headaches on your home PC as well, not to mention the cost of a service call to
remove the ensuing problems.
Bob Dudley is an
Information Senior Systems Support Specialist 1 in the Department of Human
Services' Division of Technology Services and is assigned to Region One for
support in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford offices. He may be reached by
e-mailing
robert.dudley@maine.gov.
