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What is Malware?

Malware is a type of software designed to take over and/or damage your computer's operating system. Once installed, it is often very difficult to remove, and depending on the severity of the program installed, its handiwork can range in degree from the slightly annoying (such as unwanted pop-up ads), to irreparable damage requiring the reformatting of the hard drive.
The most common types of malware include:

• Virus - A parasitic program written intentionally to enter a computer without the users permission or knowledge. The word parasite is used because a virus attaches to files or boot sectors and replicates itself, thus continuing to spread. Though some virus's do little but replicate, others can cause serious damage or effect program and system performance.
• Worms - Similar to viruses but are stand-alone software and thus do not require host files (or other types of host code) to spread themselves. They do modify their host operating system, however, at least to the extent that they are started as part of the boot process.
• Wabbit - Self-replicating malware. Unlike viruses, they do not infect host programs but repeatedly replicates itself on a local computer
• Trojan - Harmful software that is disguised as legitimate software.
• Backdoor - Software that allows access to the computer system bypassing the normal authentication procedures
• Spyware - Software that collects and sends information (such as browsing patterns in the more benign cases or credit card numbers in more malicious cases) about users or, more precisely, the results of their computer activity
• Key Logger - Software that copies a computer user's keystrokes to a file, which it may send to a hacker at a later time.
• Root kit - Software inserted onto a computer's system after an attacker has gained control of the system.
• Exploit - Software that attacks a particular operating system or application security vulnerability.
• Browser Hijacker - A program designed to alter a computer user's browser settings (bookmarks, homepage, etc.). They can also produce pop-up ads and, in the worst case, redirect your browser to undesirable websites.

How does Malware Spread?Virtually all malware cannot spread unless you open or run an infected program. More often than not, victims of malware will have unwittingly brought the infection on themselves, as malware is designed to take advantage of the carelessness or laxness of those who don't take enough steps to secure their computers against attacks.

Opening and running unknown e-mail or Instant Messaging (IM) attachments is the most common way to become infected.

Other common methods of spreading malware are:

• Downloading infected files using Peer-to-Peer file sharing programs (e.g. Kazaa).
• Downloading infected files from the web.
• Putting an infected computer disk (floppy, CD, USB Memory stick, or DVD) into your computer.
• Clicking on a web site dialog box.
• Connecting an unsecure computer to the network.

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