Spyware and Computer Viruses: They Are Out to Destroy Your Computer!

Spyware, malware, adware, trojans, worms, computer viruses, you name it, they are coming after your computer. Are you ready for them?

Problem 1: Studying about Malware, Spyware and Computer Viruses is Confusing

The biggest problem for non-technical computer users is the confusing jargon used. Some of the words overlap in definition. Some of the words defy definition.

I've been reading about all the different types of computer viruses, their histories, their permutations and the challenges they pose. Scary stuff. Even after all of my reading I would still have a hard time passing a multiple choice test defining what each one meant.

Problem 2: Studying about Computer Viruses is NO FUN!

And really, when I think about it, how much do I want to study this stuff anyway? Not much. It's like taking a dreaded high school social studies course all over again.

Unfortunately, it's very important to understand computer viruses to some degree. This is one of those issues where what you don't know WILL hurt you. Ignore the problem completely and you risk a slow running computer at best or having your identity stolen at worst.

When it comes right down to it though, we don't personally want to deal with the problem. We wish the problem would just go away. Or at least have someone else take care of the problem for us.

Maybe some super hero is on the way ready to swoop in and wipe out all of the badware from our computers. Maybe you'll win the lottery too. Who knows?

Problem 3: Millions of Spyware Aliens on the Attack!

As I said, this subject is confusing. To makes matters worse, new computer infections are being created every day and marched out to destroy computer happiness like so many clones from the Star Wars movies. You kill one virus and a million more are lined right behind him.

Problem 4: Over-Hyping and Under-Delivering on Anti-Malware Software Products

Here's another problem. Many anti-malware and anti-spyware software creators over-promise on their goods claiming their programs see everything, find everything, and destroy every bad thing on your computer. But according to tests conducted on spyware programs they all fall short of 100% accuracy.

My beef about this kind of marketing is that it encourages people to fall into a false sense of security. This sets people up for a big surprise when they discover that their anti-virus program doesn't work as well as promised.

Conclusion

This post doesn't go into any details about how to prevent or cure any of these problems. I just want you to stop ignoring them and start thinking about them. I'll be providing future articles that will point out a few software programs that can help rid your computer of infections and also help prevent infections from getting on it in the first place.

For now, a good place for you to start is to read the definitions I found at Wikipedia about Adware, Computer Virus, Malware, Spyware, and Computer Worms.

Regards,

Mark

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Wikipedia Definitions:

Adware

Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Some types of adware are also spyware and can be classified as privacy-invasive software.

Computer Virus

A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the owner. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability.

A true virus can only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive.

Malware

Malware is a combination of the words malicious and software. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, including true viruses.

Software is considered malware based on the perceived intent of the creator rather than any particular features. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware and other malicious and unwanted software.

Spyware

Spyware is computer software that is installed surreptitiously on a personal computer to collect information about a user, their computer or browsing habits without the user's informed consent.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behavior, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring.

Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habits, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, and redirecting Web browser activity.

Spyware is known to change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and/or loss of Internet or functionality of other programs. In an attempt to increase the understanding of spyware, a more formal classification of its included software types is captured under the term privacy-invasive software.

Computer Worm

A computer worm is a self-replicating computer program. It uses a network to send copies of itself to other nodes (computers on the network) and it may do so without any user intervention. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program.

Worms almost always cause at least some harm to the network, if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or devour files on a targeted computer.

 

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