Xupiter Spyware in Your Computing Universe
Spyware has become a huge
threat in the world of computing and a significant threat to anyone surfing the
web. One of the most commonly deployed
spyware programs is an application by the name of Xupiter. Similar to BHOs (browser helper objects) such
as Gator, Xupiter is typically installed without a user's knowledge when their
internet security settings are not configured properly. It may be installed when visiting a site
compromised by malware or by clicking on an advertising link, a process known
as a drive-by download.
Xupiter is a browser
plug-in and is often downloaded on a computer by way of an Active X
control. Active X is a set of
technologies, or simply an applet, developed by Microsoft. While it is intended to enhance a user's web
surfing experience, Active X is often exploited to download spyware, Trojan
horses and other types of malware.
Once installed on the
victim's computer, Xupiter launches pop-up advertisements as the user attempts
to surf the net. It may also hijack the
homepage of a web browser, adding links in the bookmark section and additional
toolbars to Internet Explorer.
Xupiter poses a great
threat to a user's privacy as it tracks surfing patterns and reports that data
to a centralized ad server. The software
comes with no removal function and can not be uninstalled through the Windows "Add/Remove"
utility. Because it's design differs
from that of a virus, Xupiter usually cannot be detected or removed by most
anti-virus software.
How to Detect Xupiter
Although Xupiter is quite
difficult to remove manually, detecting this infection is fairly easy. This can be done by checking the list of "Startup"
items in the configuration utility of your Windows operating system. To search for this program, follow these
directions:
• go to "Start" from your Desktop
screen
• scroll down the menu and select "Run"
• type in "msconfig" and click "OK"
• when the new menu displays, click on
the "Startup" tab
• scroll down the menu, and if you
notice something that reads "XupiterToolbarLoader", your computer has been compromised
by this spyware
Another way
to detect Xupiter is to implement a reliable firewall application similar to
those found in ZoneAlarm products. While
most firewalls cannot prevent this type of spyware from being installed on your
system, they can detect the program as soon as it has been installed. This is because many firewall components
monitor both inbound and outbound communication between a computer and the
internet. When a new application
attempts to access the internet for the first time, the firewall displays an
alert asking if your want to grant the program access. Such an alert will be displayed when the
Xupiter attempts to access the internet.
For many users, this is the first indication that they have been
infected with spyware. If the system isn't
completely consumed by malware, an anti-spyware application can then be
installed to remove the infection.
Although
firewalls are a very essential part of today's computer security, not all of
them are as effective as others. For
instance, Microsoft's Internet Connection Firewall that comes included with the
Windows XP operating system cannot detect Xupiter and other forms of spyware
because it doesn't have the ability to monitor outbound communication.
