Threats and their works

To know what can threat
your data you should know
what malicious programs
( Malware) exist and how
they function. Malware can
be subdivided in the
following types:
Viruses: programs that
infect other programs by
adding to them a virus code
to get access at an infected
file start-up. This simple
definition discovers the main
action of a virus – infection.
The spreading speed of
viruses is lower than that of
worms.
Worms: this type of
Malware uses network
resources for spreading.
This class was called
worms because of its
peculiar feature to “creep”
from computer to computer
using network, mail and
other informational channels.
Thanks to it spreading
speed of worms is very
high.
Worms intrude your
computer, calculate network
addresses of other
computers and send to these
addresses its copies.
Besides network addresses,
the data of the mail clients'
address books is used as
well. Representatives of this
Malware type sometimes
create working files on
system discs, but may not
deploy computer resources
(except the operating
memory).
Trojans: programs that
execute on infected
computers unauthorized by
user actions; i.e. depending
on the conditions delete
information on discs, make
the system freeze, steal
personal information, etc.
this Malware type is not a
virus in traditional
understanding (i.e. does not
infect other programs or
data): Trojans cannot
intrude the PC by themselves
and are spread by violators
as “useful” and necessary
software. And still harm
caused by Trojans is
higher than of traditional
virus attack.
Spyware: software that
allows to collect data about a
specific user or organization,
who are not aware of it. You
may not even guess about
having spyware on your
computer. As a rule the aim
of spyware is:
Trace user's actions on
computer
Collect information about
hard drive contents; it often
means scanning some folders
and system registry to make
a list of software installed on
the computer.
Collect information about
quality of connection, way of
connecting, modem speed,
etc.
Collecting information is not
the main function of these
programs, they also threat
security. Minimum two known
programs – Gator and
eZula – allow violator not
only collect information but
also control the computer.
Another example of spyware
are programs embedded in
the browser installed on the
computer and retransfer
traffic. You have definitely
come across such programs,
when inquiring one address
of a web-site, another web-
site was opened.
One of the spyware is
phishing- delivery.
Phishing is a mail delivery
whose aim is to get from the
user confidential financial
information as a rule.
Phishing is a form of a
social engineering,
characterized by attempts to
fraudulently acquire
sensitive information, such
as passwords and credit
card details, by
masquerading as a
trustworthy person or
business in an apparently
official electronic
communication, such as an
email or an instant message.
The messages contain link to
a deliberately false site
where user is suggested to
enter number of his/her
credit card and other
confidential information.
Adware: program code
embedded to the software
without user being aware of
it to show advertising. As a
rule adware is embedded in
the software that is
distributed free.
Advertisement is in the
working interface. Adware
often gathers and transfer
to its distributor personal
information of the user.
Riskware: this software is
not a virus, but contains in
itself potential threat. By
some conditions presence of
such riskware on your PC
puts your data at risk. To
this software refer utilities of
remote administration,
programs that use Dial Up-
connection and some others
to connect with pay-per-
minute internet sites.
Jokes: software that does
not harm your computer but
displays messages that this
harm has already been
caused, or is going to be
caused on some conditions.
This software often warns
user about not existing
danger, e.g. display
messages about hard disc
formatting (though no
formatting is really
happening), detect viruses in
not infected files and etc.
Rootkit: these are utilities
used to conceal malicious
activity. They disguise
Malware, to prevent from
being detected by the
antivirus applications.
Rootkits can also modify
operating system on the
computer and substitute its
main functions to disguise its
presence and actions that
violator makes on the
infected computer.
Other malware: different
programs that have been
developed to create other
Malware, organizing DoS-
attacks on remote servers,
intruding other computers,
etc. Hack Tools, virus
constructors and other refer
to such programs.
Spam: anonymous, mass
undesirable mail
correspondence. Spam is
political and propaganda
delivery, mails that ask to
help somebody. Another
category of spam are
messages suggesting you to
cash a great sum of money
or inviting you to financial
pyramids, and mails that
steal passwords and credit
card number, messages
suggesting to send them to
your friends (messages of
happiness), etc. spam
increases load on mail
servers and increases the
risk lose information that is
important for the user.
If you suspect that your
computer is infected with
viruses,