DoubleClick
Posted: March 26, 2005
Threat Metric
The following fields listed on the Threat Meter containing a specific value, are explained in detail below:
Threat Level: The threat level scale goes from 1 to 10 where 10 is the highest level of severity and 1 is the lowest level of severity. Each specific level is relative to the threat's consistent assessed behaviors collected from SpyHunter's risk assessment model.
Detection Count: The collective number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular malware threat. The detection count is calculated from infected PCs retrieved from diagnostic and scan log reports generated by SpyHunter.
Volume Count: Similar to the detection count, the Volume Count is specifically based on the number of confirmed and suspected threats infecting systems on a daily basis. High volume counts usually represent a popular threat but may or may not have infected a large number of systems. High detection count threats could lay dormant and have a low volume count. Criteria for Volume Count is relative to a daily detection count.
Trend Path: The Trend Path, utilizing an up arrow, down arrow or equal symbol, represents the level of recent movement of a particular threat. Up arrows represent an increase, down arrows represent a decline and the equal symbol represent no change to a threat's recent movement.
% Impact (Last 7 Days): This demonstrates a 7-day period change in the frequency of a malware threat infecting PCs. The percentage impact correlates directly to the current Trend Path to determine a rise or decline in the percentage.
| Threat Level: | 1/10 |
|---|---|
| Infected PCs: | 67 |
| First Seen: | July 24, 2009 |
|---|---|
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
DoubleClick is a subsidiary company of Google that focuses on tracking information that's related to viewers of online advertisements. Contact with DoubleClick is typically-caused by the presence of DoubleClick-based tracking cookies that are used by a wide variety of websites. Although DoubleClick tracking cookies only keep track of information that would be difficult to use for malicious purposes, many PC security brands have, nonetheless, categorized DoubleClick as a low-level threat due to limited opt-out options and other privacy issues. DoubleClick cookies have also been exploited by unrelated hackers for more serious attacks than DoubleClick's default behavior.
DoubleClick – a Double Tracking Feature That You May Not Know is There
Although DoubleClick is considered a benign utility by advertisers, those who are exposed to DoubleClick tracking cookies without realizing it may have reason to believe otherwise. DoubleClick tracking cookies are often included in a variety of advertisement-related content and, like many cookies, may be automatically-downloaded without your consent. After being downloaded, DoubleClick will monitor your activities in the following ways:
- DoubleClick will monitor which advertisements you view and which advertisements you interact with during your visits to various websites.
- DoubleClick may also track your IP address (a series of numbers that can be used to identify your PC) when you visit particular websites.
Although DoubleClick is low-key enough in resource usage that DoubleClick will not cause performance issues for most computers, the basic invasion of privacy that DoubleClick represents causes security researchers to suggest deletion of DoubleClick cookies if you're worried about these cookies seeing things that you'd rather they didn't see. In addition, you should also be aware that opt-out options for most types of DoubleClick cookies will often exclude the ability to opt-out of the IP-tracking feature even if you are allowed to opt out of other forms of DoubleClick's monitoring features.
The Incidental Threat to Your Safety – from Google
DoubleClick cookies may also be exploited to cause other attacks against your PC, although these exploits are always caused by hackers who take advantage of DoubleClick without Google's knowledge. Such exploits are often fixed ASAP, but their existence in the first place makes malware analysts recommend that you disable cookies for sites that you distrust. DoubleClick-based exploits have been used to install PC threats, such as Trojans, without acquiring consent beforehand.
Besides disabling cookies (a standard security option that most types of browser provide), keeping anti-malware products installed will allow you to detect and remove DoubleClick cookies at will. However, you should be aware that if your security settings don't block further cookie-based intrusions, visiting a site where you acquired a DoubleClick cookie may only cause you to re-download DoubleClick. Since this is often the work of rotating advertisements by third-parties, blocking advertisements altogether is another and popular method to protect your computer from DoubleClick tracking cookies, although it's not a substitute for appropriate PC security software.
Hello,
How do I block cookies in Vista? I have Trend Anti Virus and it detects the same cookies every day. How do I prevent this? Thanks
thank you for your information and help, I've been having trouble with doubleclick spyware browser entries on spybot S&D
I did not ask for this doubleclick,.net you put on my computer and request you take it off.
It is inteferring with everything I do.
Hi having problems with web pages not opening due to DoubleClick spyware.
Can you please send me some instructions on how to get this \"DOUBLECLICK COOKIE\" off my computer? Thank You..........
I 'am gone try it out
HOW THE HELL DO I GET RID OF THIS COOKIE......MY NORTON KEEPS DETECTING AND FIXING EVERYTIME I DO THE SCAN......PLEASE HELP!!
To see cookies stored on your computer [this works only for Mozella FireFox]
Right click on an open space on most any web page you are on.
Look for “View Page Info” near the bottom, and click on it.
{If you don’t see it at first, try a different location on the page or try a different web page.}
A small window will open, look for “Security” at the top, click on that.
Look for “View Cookies” in the middle right of the box, and click on that.
A new box will open [you can now close the first box]
There is a blue x at the right end of an address bar at the top [not the Window “close” X] click on the x.
You will now see ALL the cookies stored on your computer.
You can either selectively remove individual cookies, or remove all the cookies (recommended)
HINT NOTE: Keep this box always open on the side and watch the continuous stream of cookies flowing in as you surf.
You can periodically or continuously click the “Remove All Cookies” to keep the little buggers out.
Small drawback: If you are signed into a site such as an email account, avoid removing their specific cookie as doing so will necessitate re-signing back in each time you remove that sites cookie(s). [very annoying]