Malware: Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Rogueware
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Malware: Viruses, Trojans, Spyware, Rogueware |
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What is "Malware"? Malware is computer-speak for "Malicious Software". Malware is a program or file that is specifically designed to cause harm to a personal computer and/or its user. Malware can infect a computer by visiting Internet websites, opening email attachments, using instant messaging programs, file sharing via the Internet or through removable media like floppy disks and USB drives, and through downloading files from the Internet. Though quite unusual, there have even been infections traced to commercial software purchased from legitimate sources. Any computer that can connect to the Internet, any computer that is connected to a network that allows access to the Internet, or any computer that routinely uses files from an outside source, must have an effective computer security program installed. Most people, when they have a problem with malware, say they have a "computer virus." But in reality, a virus is just one form of malware. There are several other types of malware that exist, and they all cause different types of problems for computers and computer users. What are some of the various types of malware? What problems can they cause on your computer? Click on the links below to find answers to these questions. A virus is a small, unwanted computer program that causes harm to files on a computer, and often damages the computer itself. It loads itself onto a computer without the user's knowledge or permission. Some viruses are designed as pranks, causing no real harm to the infected computer, just displaying messages or playing sounds to annoy the user. Other viruses are truly malicious, intended to cause a loss of data by infecting or deleting files, or even by reformatting the hard drive. They can damage applications like Internet Explorer, word processing programs or spreadsheets so that they no longer work. Viruses often target the operating system (Windows), preventing the computer from starting up properly, making it unusable. In extreme cases, viruses can even damage the computer's hardware, making expensive repairs necessary. To truly be considered a virus, the malicious program must infect other files as a means to reproduce itself, much like viruses infect cells in the human body. Viruses spread to other computers through networks or by sharing files through a means like USB flash drives or floppy disks.
A Worm behaves much like a virus, except that it does not need to infect other files as a means of reproduction. It typically spreads via a network or through a means of sharing files like a USB flash drive or floppy disk. A worm will often modify itself to prevent its removal or to deter detection. In trying to spread themselves, worms can seriously harm computer networks. They do this by increasing network traffic loads to such an extent that regular data cannot be passed. Some worms are designed to deliberately disrupt networks.
A computer Trojan gets its name from the Trojan Horse of Greek mythology. It is a small computer program that presents itself as something desirable like a screen saver, a package of smileys for email use, or a handy utility that can be downloaded from the Internet. In reality, it contains malicious software (a "payload") that will harm or disrupt a computer. Trojans do not typically reproduce themselves, instead relying on innocent users to unknowingly spread them, either across networks or by sharing files with other computer users. A virus or worm can be the malicious payload in a Trojan, but a Trojan is not necessarily a computer virus or a worm. Common Trojan payloads can cause harm in the following ways:
Strictly speaking, spyware is a computer program designed to gather data or information about a computer user without their knowledge or permission. Spyware can be extremely harmful to the user of an infected computer. But it can also be harmless, even useful, for a computer user. How can this be?
That said, not all cookies are harmless. Some are indeed harmful, capable of gathering information about a user's computing habits that they do not wish known to others. Spyware can be loaded onto a computer by visiting infected websites, via email attachment, or by clicking on some pop-ups that appear on a computer screen while surfing the Internet.
Rogueware, also known as "Rogue Anti-spyware", is a term for bogus software that claims it will remove spyware, viruses, or other malware that it has allegedly detected on a computer, if the user pays a certain fee. Instead, the rogueware program is itself malware, and often installs additional malware on a computer when unwittingly activated by the user. In the opinion on many, rogueware is actually an attempt to criminally extort money from computer users. Rogueware usually appears as a pop-up window while a computer user is surfing websites on the Internet. The window is designed to cause maximum alarm to the viewer, making lurid claims that viruses or spyware have been detected on their system. The rogueware is then installed by the computer user when they click anywhere in the window. The rogueware can even be installed when the user clicks on a "No" button to decline the offer, or on the [X] in the upper right corner of the pop-up window to close it. The only safe method to close a rogueware pop-up window is to right-click (click with the right hand mouse button) on the pop-up window's tab that appears on the Taskbar at the bottom of the computer screen. In the small menu that appears, select the "X Close Alt+F4" option. This should safely close the rogueware window without allowing an infection. Note: Legitimate anti-malware companies will not scan your computer without your specific permission. They will not cause pop-up windows to appear on your computer's screen claiming to have found malware on your system. If a window suddenly appears on your computer screen, and if it does not appear to be from the legitimate anti-malware software you deliberately installed on your system, then close the window using the method outlined above. All computer users should be familiar with how their anti-malware programs work, and with the appearance of their legitimate alert messages.
What can you do to prevent your computer from being infected by malware? What can be done if you suspect your computer is already infected?
Should your system become infected with malware of any kind, and if it is beyond your technical ability to remove the infection, please contact At Your Service Computer Repair. Over time we have developed effective techniques and have a successful track record for removing computer viruses, trojans, spyware, and rogue anti-spyware, usually without harming your system or causing a loss of data. However, computer users must understand that in some cases of severe malware infection, a complete wiping of the system is unavoidable, and the end result is a loss of data and programs.
If you have any questions or concerns about the information presented, please feel free to contact At Your Service Computer Repair, either by phone or email. We will gladly answer your malware-related questions, or provide advice and information on any other computer related subject, free of charge.
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