>Know the threats

Defining The Computer Invaders: A starter glossary

Adware

Just as it sounds, adware is advertising components. They generally show up as pop-up ads while you're surfing the Internet. Not all adware is destructive – but it should all be treated with caution.

Hijacker

A hijacker is a kind of Trojan that gets into your computer and alters the settings of a browser – literally “hijacking” it – to change the user's home page. It can also alter other pages within your browser, including your search page, favourites or history.

Keystroke Logger

Keystroke loggers, also known as keyloggers, are out to get your passwords and personal data. Taking the form of either a hardware device or software program, a keystroke logger records each stroke typed on a keyboard and transmits it to another party, often with the goal of identity theft.

Malware

Malware is short for “malicious software” and is a broad term used to describe a wide range of programs and program coding designed to damage. Malware may destroy data or harm your computer's system; or it may gather information on behalf of a hacker.

Pharming

Pharming begins with the installation of malicious code on your computer or server. That code then pushes or misdirects you towards fraudulent websites without your permission.

Phishing

A widespread form of email fraud. The phisher sends out email messages, which look as if they have come from a legitimate, reliable company. In reality, these messages are designed to gather personal and financial information, generally for ID theft.

Pop-up

An advertisement that literally “pops up” as you're surfing. They're not all destructive or fraudulent – but many are.

Spyware

Spyware is designed to spy on you: to gather information about you from your computer and send it to outsiders. These outsiders could be advertisers; they could be identity thieves. This software may disrupt your computer use along the way.

Trojan (Horse)

A Trojan horse is a mild-mannered computer program that hides a malicious program inside, tricking you into downloading it. In other words, the Trojan horse may contain a virus.

Virus

A virus is an infectious computer program. The offending program gets into your computer, usually through something you download or a link you follow, and affects files, applications, system areas and possibly your entire hard drive. Once in, the virus makes copies of itself, spreading throughout your computer network and onwards. Some viruses are quite minor and even benign – others will destroy data or corrupt your hard drive.

Worm

A worm is a type of virus, but one that tends to get into a computer system without you mistakenly downloading it. You might not even know you have a worm until it has multiplied many times and begins to slow your system down. Worms are often used by remote identity thieves and hackers to get into your computer and search out information.

 

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