malware

malware

1. computer virus

   • A virus will often be designed to delete or corrupt data.

2. trojan

   • Disguises itself as legitimate software

3. spyware

   • Spyware stays hidden out of view and is designed to spy on your computer, looking for personal information, passwords and so on. It does this by using a key logger to record every key pressed on the keyboard. It might also take screen shots. This information is then sent secretly over the internet to the criminals. Spyware is often used for identity theft or to gather passwords for bank accounts.

4. adware

   • This malware can force your browser to display unwanted pop-up advertisements. It can cause pages that you didn't request to open up taking you to unwanted web sites. It can also take over your browser home page and direct you somewhere else every time you open up your browser (e.g. a porn page)

5. pharming

   • When you want to visit a website, you type a web address into your browser. Pharming malware will infect your browser, redirecting you to an identical looking, but fake website. It does this by telling your browser to look for a different IP address to the genuine site to that of the fake website thus redirecting you to the phoney site.

6. click fraud

7. ransomware

8. rootkit

9. scareware