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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