There are many types of Malware. All gain unathorized access to
your computer or disrupt normal operations. Some programs are
blended, performing more than one type of harm. Different
malware types are:
A virus is a program that runs without you launching
it, and reproduces itself on your computer. (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/v/virus.html
) Most viruses can attach themselves to other programs. The only
way to get a new virus is to get a new file, but you get new
files constantly through web downloads, email attachments and
many other ways. Anti-virus programs protect you with both scans
of your disk and scans of any new entries to your disk, like
e-mail attachments.
A worm is a malicious program that will spread to
other computers without the user's knowledge. They can enter
your computer through browser and operating system security
holes, as email attachments, email links, itstand messaging
links or pop-up ads, as well as through any file that is added
to your system. A mass-mailing work will send itself to everyone
in your address book. Some even infect mobile phones.
A trojan does not replicate itself. Instead, it
masquerades as a useful utility or program, but actually
performs another unintended function. They might steal
keystrokes or open a back door so someone can look at the
contents of your computer.
A bot (sort of short for robot) is an intelligent
agent that can be a good program. It can automate a task and run
automatically when it is scheduled. Bots can be set to get their
instructions from another computer, in which case, they are
called zombies. Bots can help with linking up many computers
together to form a botnet. The computing power of those linked
computers can be used to do any task the hacker wants.
A Spyware program collects personal information from
your computer and sends it back to its own site. It can collect
innocuous information such as your web surfing habits, or it can
collect financial and password information. (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/s/spyware.html)
An anti-spyware program (such as spybot) will protect against
spyware. Often download agreements tell you that spyware is
being included in the program, but these are not read.
Adware is a form of spyware that is less dangerous. It
displays advertisements, but uses your computer resources. (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/a/adware.html).
Lavasoft's ad-aware is great for removing these. A pop-up
stopper will treat the symptom, which is good too. Pop-up
stoppers do not stop the adware from running and using memory,
just from popping.