Anti-Virus Protection

What is MALWARE?

Malware is an umbrella term that stands for ãmalicious software.ä Primarily the term refers to software classified as Worms or Trojan Horses. Often Malware is associated with computer viruses.

 

Viruses

A virus is a program in executable code that replicates itself and spreads by attaching itself to a host and usually damages the host in the process. The host is another computer program, usually its operating system. Just like all code, viruses use the hostâs memory, hard disk space, and other resources to replicate. They can be deliberately destructive or they may allow others to access the machine without authorization across a network. Windows is by far the most popular operating system for virus writers, although a handful have been seen on Mac OS X and other UNIX based operating systems. Basically any operating system that allows third-party programs has the potential to be exposed to viruses.

 

Trojan Horses

Trojan Horses are programs that do not attach to other programs or they move from one computer to another on their own. They are ãinvited in,ä usually by emails claiming to do something useful for the computer user. When the user executes the email attachment, it now has the same authority as the user for operating the computer. With this power, it may modify or delete files, among other harmful actions. The more recent Trojans can attack networks and flood them with messages. Trojans have executable code in the form of email attachments in a binary file like .exe, .scr, .bat, .pif, and other formats in a Windows setting. In a UNIX setting, Trojans must be intentionally executed so they are more likely to advertise themselves as useful programs.

 

Worms

Worms are also self-replicating computer programs like a virus. They usually exploit existing flaws in program software security. Often worms are spread through junk emails. However, worms are self-contained and do not need to be part of another program to replicate. Besides replicating, worms also may delete files on a hostâs computer system and may send email documents. Some may leave Trojan Horses or other software on operating systems. More famous worms include Sobig and Mydoom.

This packet as well as the Conference CDRom was made possible in part by contributions from students at the LBJ Graduate School of Public Affairs, participating in a Policy Research Project:Ê http://www.communitynetworking.org