Syllabus Detail

  • Malware types; viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, spam and phishing

What is malware?

  • Is software designed to MALfunction other softWARE
  • It is software that people accidentally load onto computers by clicking links in emails, or other methods.
  • Malware can be hidden inside a computer collecting information as the computer is used, or it can be aggressive and stop the computer from working.

Viruses

  • Software that can spread from computer to computer.
  • It attaches itself to a file and spreads when that file is sent.
  • It is usually an executable file, therefore needs to start up to do damage.
  • It can delete files, reformat hard drives.
  • Need humans to send files for a virus to spread.

Worms

  • Similar to a virus, but doesn't need humans to send files.
  • It can spread by itself, usually via email.
  • An example is it can send a copy of itself to all people in your contacts list, then do the same to their contacts list, etc, etc

Trojans

  • Is unwanted software that comes into a computer usualy by clicking on an attachment in an email.
  • When the link is clicked it saves a file to your computer that links back to a controller on the internet.
  • This controller can then get banking passwords, other passwords, IP address and more.
  • More from wikipedia

Spyware

  • Software that sneaks itself onto a computer and collects information without you knowing it is happening.
  • It can gather your internet sites, log keystrokes to get passwords and more.

SPAM

  • Is an unwanted email.
  • It can have advertising, links to phishing sites (see below) and spread more malware.

Phishing

  • Is collecting information from a website setup to look like a common website eg a bank.
  • When the username and password is entered, it stores it and then uses your details to get into your bank account at your real bank website.

 

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