Malware is short for malicious software and is usually used as a catch-all term to refer to any software which causes damage to a single computer, server, or computer network. Some of the most common types of malware are:
Eight seconds... That's how fast a computer can get infected once it connects to the Internet, according to K-State IT staff.
Viruses
Viri are self-replicating pieces of malware that require a host file and depend on human action to spread.
Viruses attach to files in such a way that when the infected file executes, the virus also executes. Some
viruses can sit in a computer's memory and infect files as the computer opens, modifies, or creates new files.
Worms
Worms are parasitic computer programs that self-replicate and spread, but unlike viruses, do not infect host
program files. They are independent pieces of code that exploit known system vulnerabilities and often run
malicious payloads - without the need for a user to activate them.
Trojan horses
A Trojan horse, in software terms, refers to a malicious piece of software that is hidden inside an apparently
useful and innocent application. Users systems generally become infected by trojan horses when they install software
or a fake "patch" from an internet download or an email attachment.
Spyware
Spyware and adware are small software programs that get stored on your computer without your permission, usually
when you visit a website, sign up for "free" mailings, or download "free" software. These programs gather information
about your computer use, web browsing, and online purchasing and send it to sites that may sell it to others.
Rootkits
Rootkits are designed to give an attacker "root" or administrative access to a victim's computer. With root access,
an attacker can perform a variety of tasks on the computer including browsing the infected computer's hard drive,
making new user accounts or changing existing ones, or even using the computer's network connection for nefarious purposes.
The dangers of infection can vary quite a bit based on they type of Malware and the intention of the attacker.
An infection on your computer can lead to:While many of these dangers can render a computer or the data on it useless, there are ways to mitigate the damage, and in many cases to stop the attack before it becomes a problem at all.
It is essential to protect your computer on a daily basis. Most viruses are written for PCs, but some target Macs. K-Staters are required to use the university-supplied antivirus software made available to faculty, staff, and students at no charge for campus and home use. The software is available at antivirus.k-state.edu and in the CatPack software CD.