| Viruses, Spyware and Malware |
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| Introduction |
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What is a Virus?
A computer virus is malicious software or code that's designed to reproduce itself, spreading from computer to computer, sometimes carrying out malicious actions such as deleting files or modifying your operating system. These actions are often referred to as the "payload."
Sometimes you'll see the term "worm" used instead of (or together with) the term virus. Technically speaking, a computer virus needs to attach itself to another program (the "host program") in order to spread, but a worm is self-contained and can spread by itself. The difference is largely academic since the precautions that you'll need to take are the same in either case.
What is Spyware?
Spyware is software that's installed on your computer, usually without you knowing about it. It then monitors what you do on the computer and sends that information to another computer or system.
The most common effect of Spyware is that the program tracks your Internet surfing, reports this back to an Internet advertising company, and then presents you with a series of pop-up ads that relate to your surfing. In theory, this means that the ads are more likely to appeal to you. However, some forms of Spyware are designed to be malicious. These programs try to monitor and record what's happening on your computer, for example: passwords and account numbers that you type, images that are displayed on your screen, and contents of files on your hard drive. The program will send this information back to a hacker or criminal. This clearly represents a major security risk!
What is Malware?
Collectively, software that carries out malicious actions is known as "malware" (short for 'malicious software').
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| Featured Links |
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- The WildList Organization International
The WildList is a list of computer viruses that are 'in the wild.' The list is created each month by a team of volunteers based on reports from over 70 researchers and corporations worldwide. The list is used for the certification of anti-virus products by the ICSA, Virus Bulletin and Secure Computing.
- Adware is not Spyware
A short note discussing the difference between 'Adware' and 'Spyware.'
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| Threats and Alerts |
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| More Links |
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- Some useful articles from Wikipedia:
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