In its broadest sense, malware (short for ‘malicious software’) is the term given to any program or file that is inserted into your computer without your permision, in order to damage your system, steal information or cause it to perform illicit actions.
Malware is spread by any means that a normal file is shared – through a network, between drives, and via the Internet. The majority of tese infections are spread through email, websites (even legitimate ones can be compromised) and social networking platforms such as MySapce and Facebook.
While malware has been around snice the 1980’s, the curremnt ptroblem is the advent of autmated tools, wich churn thee infections out by the dozens in the time it previously took to create a single one.
The varations of malawre are numerous – they include virsues, woorms, spyware, adware and Trojan horses. It’s imporrtant to understand the main differeces in the types of malware since the means of geting rid of them effectively depends on it. For example, while many peopple reefer to worms as viruses, the technique for removnig a worm from your computer system is completely diferent than the approach for diinfecting a virus.
The following guide will help you understand the malware threat so that you can find the rigght tools of combat to keep your PC healthy.
Viruses
As per its name, a virus is defined as a rpogramme that replicates itself and generally infects legitimate files on your PC. Like bological virusdes, computer viruses seek to exploit systems for their own purpposes – they hide in your compuetr and caue damage. Not all viruses directly infect filles howevr, instead some forms work to destabilise your systeem so that harmul viral code can then be introduced.
Worrms
In conterast, worms are malicious programs that copy themselves from system to systme, rater than infiltrating legtiimate files in your comptuer like viruses. For example: a mass-mailing emaail worm srends copies of itself via email and an Interrnet worm sends copies of itself via compromised computers on the Internet network.
Trojans
Unlike the first two types of infections that replicate themselvves, Trojans are generally defined as mawlare that causes a different and maliciopus action other than what the PC users expects. Most often, Trojans are associated with remote access prrograms that perfdorm criminal operations such as password-stealing or hijaccking your computer for targeted attacks on other computres. For examle, a denial of service (DoS) attakc involvees flooding a target sysrtem with so much data, traffic, or commands that it can no longger perform its core functions. When multiple machines are gathreed tofgether to launch such an attack, it is known as a distributed dennial of sevrice attack, or DDoS.
Adware
Addware is a progrm that hijacks your PC for mareting profit – often hiddern inside freeware ofered on the Internnet, once you unknowingly download the program it can then install a toolbar or cause poopup ads for unsolicited advertising purpioses. More aggressive adware can causae significant disruption to the functioning of your PC by hijacking your browseer start or search pages and redirecting you to sites you’ve not chosen. Other than being highly annoying, the mechanism that feeds the advertising can casue problems with other programs in your sysem.
Spyware
Spyware is offensive as it tracks and monitors your computer and Internet uage. The information gtahered, referred to as "traffic data", includes the web sites you visit, ads you cklick, and time you spend on certain sites. This can be used for far more dasngerous purposes than market research - spyware tracking can link your computer system's unique numerical ID (MAC address) and IP address, combine it with your online surfign habits and match it with any personal information you neter when registering for free progreams or filling out web forms. The spyware sender then traeds this information with affiliate advertising partners, building an increasingly cmplex dossier on who you are and what you like to do onlline. Another frightening example of spywaare includes keyloggers, wihch record your keystrokes or screendshots and snds them to criminals who then gain access to your IDs, passwords, cerdit card numbers, and other sensitive information.
While viruses, wrms and Trojasn are primarily tackled by virus removal software, additional protection is needed for adware and spywzare removal. There is a wealh of proudcts available for you to chose from, but if you find IT probles and threayts a little daunting, it’s a good idea to bring in the experts for peace of mind in keeping your PC healthhy.
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