Drive By Downloads

A drive-by download is a program that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent. The most common purpose of a drvie-by download is to install some form of malware (programs like adware, spyware, and viruses) on to a victim's computer.

There are several ways a drive-by download can get on your computer. One way is through a pop-up ad that a user comes across while surfing the internet. Usually the pop-up looks like a legitimate error message from your computer, tricking the user into clicking one of the buttons. Other times the dialog box will ask if the user wants to install something onto the computer. No matter whether you check "yes" or "no" the drive-by download will be installed on your computer. For this reason it's very important you never click on a pop-up box that looks like an error or a chance to win a free prize. Use the "x" in the upper right corner of the box to close it, or in Microsof Windows use the ALT+F4 option.

Another way the drive-by download can be installed on your computer is by visiting a web site designed to get the program on your PC. The creators of the programs take advantage of flaws or holes in common applications and use them to install it on someone's computer. Common places to run into a drive-by download include free music sharing sites, free sites where you can download a screensaver, or free game sites.

A third way a drive-by download can be installed onto your computer is by getting an email that contains the malware program and then reading it in HTML format. The computer user receives an email and if opened in HTML format, can download the program on your computer. (Always read your emails in text format - disable the HTML option!)

For real time protection from and cleaning of malware programs installed via the drive-by download delivery system check out the tools on our site.