How Spyware Can Expose You to Rogue Dialer Scams

Have you received any unusually large phone bills lately? Did the list of calls include suspicious numbers with high rates that you have no recollection of calling? Then it is possible that you have been victimized by a rogue dialer scam, most likely due to spyware that has secretly and maliciously planted infected your computer system.

A dialer, by itself, is harmless enough. It is just a piece of software that allows your computer to connect to the Internet through the phone line. Computers that use a dial-up modem to access the Internet require a dialer. Computers on broadband Internet connections do not need a dialer, but if such computers are also connected to a dial-up modem, then they can also be victimized.

How does a rogue dialer scam work? First of all, the rogue dialer software must get into your computer. It usually does so in the form of spyware--apparently harmless software that downloads to your computer and secretly resides there. These fraudulent dialers search for security holes in your system and exploit them to change the phone numbers your computer uses to dial to the Internet.

The rogue dialer can make your computer modem connect to the Internet using the premium-rate number instead of a regular phone line. You then end up paying the premium-rate service for the use of their phone lines, though you had not made any conscious choice to use them. You may end up paying as much as $4 a minute or more, so that a web surfing session lasting an hour or longer can rack up significant costs. The worst of these scams bills you for time even after you have disconnected from the Internet!

How can you avoid such a scam? The best way is to be vigilant about the software that gets into your computer. There is no way you can guard your system with your own eyes, however. You need an effective and reputable firewall to be installed on your system, as well as anti-spyware software. Good anti-spyware programs can detect rogue dialers and remove them from your system. Tighten the security settings on your web browser, and make sure it has been updated with the latest upgrades and patches.

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