Malware, Spyware, Adware Or Trojan - What's the Fuss?
Very often, malware is spoken of as viruses, trojans, dialers, adware and sypware. Being knowledgeable about how to diagnose a service running as a malware is an important part of fighting this nuisance. The problem of malware is getting worse by the day, and it is not just for funny any more. Fighting malware is a daunting task. This is because rootkit-shielded malware is installed in the system. This makes it difficult for traditional antivirus scanning applications to see the malicious program. Also, many new malware codes are being written everyday. As a result, the only good solution to malware sometimes, is a complete Operating Systems reinstall.
Malware
Malware is usually installed on your computer without your knowledge. Frequently, malware is designed to send itself from your contacts e-mail account to your computer and vice versa. Until now, most malware is limited to Windows systems. This is however changing as more and more malware are being written for the Linux system. One of the first signs of malware is the speed of your computer. Indications of the presence of malware can also be found in the temporary decompression folders. If the only signs are in the temporary decompression folders it is unlikely that the malware has been activated. The usual way of detecting malware is through heuristics. Most malware is easy to remove. Once the presence of a malicious code is confirmed, it could be removed with a scan and remove software. Files that contain the known codes are quarantined and scheduled for deletion.
Trojans
Trojans take their name from the term 'Trojan Horse'. They are typically malware with a payload. It spreads itself by posing as legitimate software. The term Trojan has usually been used to refer to malware that performes unexpected or unauthorized actions. For instance, a Dialer Trojan is malware coded to secretly dial phone numbers. This leaves the infected victim with a large phone bill. The trojan can also install spamming malware. It can present itself as a legitimate Windows Live Messenger advertisement from Microsoft. Unlike Viruses or Worms, Trojan Horses do not replicate themselves. Their danger is in causing damage to networks by delivering other types of Malware. The trojan malware can hijack web browser form data to capture online banking credentials and send the stolen data to the owner party. Catching the threats of a Trojan Horse would require the use of a Trojan scanner.
Spyware
Spyware has become a generic term that also includes adware, malware and many trojans. For the most part, these have inter-related behavior and features and are commonly referred to as Spyware. Most spyware can be broken up into two major groups- adware and malware. All spyware are rogue software programs that typically install themselves without a user's knowledge. You can get infected with spyware, malware and other malicious programs just by visiting a website. You can also get infected by installing a software which seems genuine but is bundled with malicious codes. Getting rid of spyware is not instant, and certainly not a one time event. It is a process. It requires the use of detection and removal tools that scan explicitly for spyware. However, many spyware experts have noted that no one anti-spyware product catches all malware and spyware. That's why some spyware appears so invincible.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we have seen that malware is short for malicious software and a catch all phrase for viruses, worms, adware, spyware, trojans, etc. Malware we also learned is getting more resistant due to the fact that rootkit-shielded malware is installed in the system. This makes it difficult for traditional antivirus scanning applications to see the malicious program. As a result, the only good solution to malware sometimes, is a complete Operating Systems reinstall. Malware we noted can be distributed through email and other file sharing. Some of the early signs we observed is a system slow down. Fortunately, most malware can be easily removed by a simple scan and remove application. The difficulty and reason why some seem invincible is because no one application can take care of all the threats.
Related Tags: spyware, adware, trojans, dialers, browser hijacker, internet security, computer protection, identit
Austin Akalanze is an Educator, a Freelance writer and webmaster at http://www.allspywarefree.com
He has been published on several article directories across the net.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Never Undervalue Secure Backups
The Internet can be a very intimidating place. It is full of information, and every day new busi - Lack of Internet Privacy - One Step Away from Identity Theft
Four Reasons to Use Privacy Software Unless you are a spammer, hacker, terrorist, or other such - Site Security Issues Abound
It has happened web wide and it has happened to the best of the best - NASA, DOD, Google, Micros - Online Security: How Secure are You When You Get on the Internet?
Internet technology specialists widely agree that security is becoming the primary concern of th - Software Engineering Standards Providing Industry Integrity
Software engineering is a relatively new career field in technology today in comparison to other - Protect Your E-mail by Obfuscatoin
E-mail harvesting is the process of obtaining lists of e-mail addresses from the internet. This is u - Antispyware Host File - Protect Your Computer Now With This Simple Fix
An antispyware host file is a simple defence mechanism against rogue sites that are out to get you a - What Key Features Make The Best Spyware Removal Programs?
Range Of FeaturesThe best spyware removal programs should combine multiple features so that you get - Online Job Scams and Identity Theft-What Every Job Hunter Needs to Know
There are three main types of common online job scams:1. Phony Job Offers-With this type of scam, In - Spybot Sickness - Spyware Flue
When we talk about spyware symptoms, we talk about both how you get spyware and what the symptoms of
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Parental Control Software - How Will It Help My Family?
Parental Control Software such as Safe Eyes, is a set of tools that allows parents to control what o - Designing IE Exclusive Sites Is Counterproductive And Puts Your Visitors At Risk
Excuse me for being so forthright, but designing a web site exclusively for a specific browser is do - Mind the letters and words in your password.
Radhika Venkata (c).1. Don't choose predictable passwords like asending or desending numbers or lett - Safe Password Tips for Better Computer Security
With so many online accounts to manage, most people tend to use the same password for everything. M - Minimising Credit Card Fraud - For Online Retailers
Well organized criminal organizations steal credit card numbers in many different ways (virus progra - Fraud Prevention Tips
Current areas where mail order, telephone order, and Internet fraud are most prevalent include:* Wes - Money Scams: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
Scams take many forms: overseas lotteries, get-rich-quick schemes, work-from-home jobs and hundreds - Protecting Your Websites From Search Engines
There are a great number of scenarios in which you should be protecting your websites from the searc - The Best Internet Privacy Software
Detect, Protect, Dis-infect, Reject, Delete, then - RepeatThe best internet privacy software isn't a - The Most Effective Spyware Removers
There are a number of things you need to look for when you are seeking the most effective spyware re