Malware

Malware

1. Virus

   • This is a piece of code that is designed to replicate itself throughout the computer or network.
   • Viruses can be difficult to get rid of since, if a single infected file is left, it will eventually re-infect many other files on your system.
   • A virus will often be designed to delete or corrupt data.

2. Scareware

   • Scareware will cause a pop-up to appear on your screen which will say something like 'Your computer has a virus. To clear the problem please purchase this software', and a link is provided in the pop-up".
   • In reality, you do not actually have a virus. The scareware it trying to frighten you into purchasing and downloading the software which itself may actually contain malware.

3. Trojan

   • A trojan appears to be a harmless application - a downloaded game for example.
   • You play the game, but meanwhile it is running in the background carrying out its real intent - maybe letting someone else access to your computer.

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.

5. Ransomware

   • Ransomware encrypts critical files and data, making them unusable.
   • Eventually it presents the user with a ransom, demanding money be sent to the attackers to unlock the system.

6. Pharming

   • 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.
   • The only difference that you might notice is that the URL will be different from the genuine shop's address.
   • When you enter details such as your user name and password or credit card number the fake website will be recording the information.

7. Rootkit

   • Rootkits give other people permissions and access to your computer, allowing them to take it over remotely and do whatever they like.
   • It is designed to run even before the operating system itself is booted up and it continues to stay active in the background while you are using the computer.

8. 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.

9. Worm

   • This behaves just like a virus, but does not necessarily harm files.
   • It tries to copy itself so many times that the whole system runs out of resources and crashes.

10. Click Fraud

    • Click fraud malware aims to use your computer resources to open certain web sites and send a mouse click to the adverts.
    • The activity is hidden in the background.