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| What is Malware? | |
| Simply put, the term “malware” is short for "malicious software". This is a blanket term covering a variety of forms of damaging software such as spyware, viruses, worms, and dishonest adware just to name a few. Malware is any software whose creator’s purpose is to infiltrate with the intent of doing harm to your computer and ultimately to you. For example, if a piece of software captures your credit card information and leads to hours of hassle for you clearing fraudulent charges with your credit card company, this software could be called "malware". Another example would be if a virus gets into your computer and deletes important information. This virus could also be called "malware". | |
| What is Spyware? | |
| Spyware is termed for software that is usually installed in a stealthy way and without your consent. Most spyware is geared towards collecting private information about you, however some can also interfere with your control of your computer, e.g. redirecting your web browsing and forcing your computer to access unwanted websites, changing your web home page, changing your computer settings. The common ways to get spyware are by downloading free software over the internet or by visiting non-reputable websites. Not all free software contains spyware and most actually disclose any additional software added on that may be spyware within their license agreement. Always read carefully before you install things on your computer. | |
| What is a Virus? | |
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A virus is a self-replicating computer program that infects a computer without the knowledge or permission of the computer’s user. It can only be spread when it’s host is taken via a network, the internet or removable mediums like floppy disks, CD’s or USB drives to an uninfected computer. Viruses can be programmed to damage programs, delete files or reformat hard drives within computers. |
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| What is a Worm? | |
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A worm is a computer program that is self-replicating, that uses a network without any user intervention to send copies of itself to other computer terminals on the network, thus doing harm to the network. A worm, unlike a virus, does not need to attach itself to an existing program. |
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| What is a Trojan Horse | |
| A Trojan horse is a computer software program that has the appearance of performing a particular purpose, but instead performs an entirely different one such as installing a back door program to gain access into your computer. | |
| What is Adware? | |
| A software package that automatically displays or downloads advertising material after it has been installed or while the application is in use is referred to as “adware” which is short for “advertising-supported” software. | |
| What is Phishing? | |
| Phishing is an attack through an email to you by an unknown party who disguises him/her or itself as a trustworthy entity such as a bank, eBay or Paypal to name a few, to criminally and fraudulently gain sensitive information from you such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, user logins, passwords, etc. | |
| What is Spam? | |
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Much like the regular junk mail you receive out of your postal mailbox which includes offers you didn’t ask for and tons of advertisements, spam is a term for all the junk mail you receive via e-mail on your computer. |
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