Malware has become a very common word, but many people still don’t know exactly what it means. Malware is simply the name given to MALicious softWARE. There are many types of malware present in the virtual world today, and if your computer is acting funny, chances are you’re experiencing the annoying effects of one or more of the following:
Virus
A computer virus is a string of code that embeds itself in an executable (.exe) file. When that file is executed, or launched, by the computer, it allows the virus to spread and infect other files on the SAME computer. The traditional method of spreading a virus among different systems is removable media such as floppy disks, CD-ROMs, USB-drives etc. Infected programs can also be attached to emails, but can only infect a system if the program is run. An infected computer will usually produce infected media. When the compromised program is executed on a new machine, the virus is then able to infect it as well. Viruses typically erase data on the machine they infect, cause pictures to appear or play music on some predetermined date. Computer viruses have become very rare, due to anti-virus programs and the fact that people don’t share executables very often. Viruses are NOT programs themselves; they must embed themselves in a program file to spread. The only way to get a virus on your computer is to execute an infected file. Many other types of malware that are abundant today are often mistakenly called viruses.
Worms
The nasty “bugger” that is most often mistakenly called a virus is what we call a worm. Worms are programs that spread themselves over a network. They run on the infected computer and look for other network systems to attack. Since most computers these days are part of some type of network, worms are very common. They can do a variety of things such as carry a virus payload, but most commonly are used to open a “backdoor.” This turns the computer into a “zombie,” allowing the worm creator to take over the machine remotely and use it for some other malicious purpose. This uses up system resources and can seriously degrade performance locally but can also hinder a network, since that is the worm’s means of propagation. Worms are especially nasty because they can spread among networked computers without notice by the user.
Trojans
Trojans get their name from The Trojan Horse used to sack Troy in ancient times. A Trojan is designed to make the user think it is something harmless, but when it is accepted, it has some unexpected affect on the computer. It is kind of a catch all name for anything that appears to the average user as something useful but is really something bad. They are like worms in that they often open a backdoor, but they are also capable of delivering some sort of payload, such as a keystroke logger. Keystroke loggers record what a user types and then sends it to the Trojan’s creator. They can capture passwords as well as credit card information, social security numbers and other privileged data. Trojans can be very harmful, but they have no method of self-replication. They must be accepted by the user in order to infect a computer.
Ad-ware
Ad-ware is a program that is often bundled in with legitimate software. While they do no actual harm to a computer or its files, they can be very annoying. They are able to cause advertisements to pop-up on the desktop, or force you to view certain ads while browsing the web, etc. They are purely written for marketing purposes, and in some rare cases can inform you about a product you might be interested in, but for the most part you do not want these running on your computer. In addition to displaying annoying ads, Ad-ware can bog down system performance since it is a program running in the background. While the first three types of malware are illegal, ad-ware still falls in a kind of grey area concerning its legality.
Spy-ware
Also existing in this grey area is spy-ware. It is similar to ad-ware in that it is usually bundled with good software and is ultimately used to sell you things. Spy-ware monitors something about the way you use your computer, such as the websites you visit, what you buy online, where you download from, etc. This information is then sent to the spy-ware author who can use it or sell it. It bogs down a system much like ad-ware and compromises ones privacy. Since a majority of these programs are very poorly written, they can have a negative affect on a network’s traffic because they are uploading the user’s computer habits.
Conclusion
While there are many programs available that can remove various types of malware, the best defense is education. No program out there can protect a computer from its user. If you suspect an infection it is highly recommended that you have your machine inspected by a professional. Allow your machine to run fast again and protect yourself from identity-theft and credit card fraud.
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