What are Spyware, Adware, Keyloggers, Diallers and Root Kits?

Are you at a loss or intimidated by the complexity of computer security and viruses?

Knowing the jargon is the first step to protecting your data and your computer system so that you can concentrate on more important work or play. This is the definitive guide to all you need to know about malicious code.

What are Spyware, Adware and Diallers?
Away from the realm of viruses, Trojans and worms but closely related is the infamous spyware, adware and diallers. Any software that collects information on the user without his or her knowledge is spyware. This software usually transmits the information (email addresses, passwords, URLs visited, credit card details) gathered via the Internet to a third-party. Most applications use the data collected for advertising purposes - others write spyware to collect data and, once collected, to sell that data to third parties. Spyware applications are usually bundled as a hidden component of free- or shareware that are downloaded through the Internet. Similar to a Trojan horse, users unwittingly install the product which contains the spyware (disguised). Spyware uses up computer memory and other resources while also effecting your bandwidth as it sends all the collected data through your Internet connection. The often leads to crashes and/or general system instability.

ISTbar is a rampant low threat spyware program that installs other spyware and adware programs while displaying pop-ups adverts from adult sites, changing your Internet explorer homepage to slotch.com, and adding a toolbar to your Internet Explorer.

While Spyware is illegitimate, Adware is very legitimate. Sometimes software companies offer their programs, games or utilities free of charge with sponsored links or adverts offering products until you pay to register (and remove the adverts). In most cases you will be able to use the full features of the product but you will be unable to disable viewing the adverts until you purchase a registration key. This is a legitimate source of revenue for companies offering their software free to users (for example, Eudora). However, while Eudora in its sponsored mode is not malicious others track your habits and provide information about you to third parties.

Diallers are programs that disconnect your telephone connection to the Internet and initiate another call to a premium-rate number (often international) with the obvious consequence to your phone bill!

What are Keyloggers, Hijackers and Trackware?
Keyloggers or trackware are often considered as spyware in that they are applications that record your key-strokes (on your key board) on to an encrypted log file. Keyloggers can record instant messages, emails and any information that you are typing at the time. Some even record email addresses you use and the websites you visit. These surveillance tools will send information to third-parties without your knowledge. Hijackers change user information such as browser home and search pages, interfering with search pages. Some programs allow hackers to actually hijack your system completely.

What are Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks?
DoS Attacks are designed flood networks (including Internet) it with useless traffic. To Internet Service Providers, for example, this means that their service network which connects hundreds of thousands of users to the Internet is brought to a halt for a number of hours.

What are Root Kits?
Recently, a friend of mine told me a story of how, last year, her network was threatened when hackers breached her web-hosting system with the intent of searching for and stealing credit card details. These hackers installed what is called a root kit which overwrites certain operating system files with the hacker's version of the program and eventually the system. Once the root kit is installed onto the system, the hackers will kill the original processes to start their own. If reboots are needed, hackers may trick administrators into thinking that a critical system has become unstable - so the administrator would reboot the system. When the computer is restarted, the hacker's program is loaded and the critical operating system files are at the mercy of the hackers to do as they bid.

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