Article 18 - Jargon (viruses)

Viruses etc. - Jargon

In general, people know a bit about computer viruses, but get very confused when the topic is expanded to terms such as “Adware” and “Spyware”. Hopefully, the following will make things a bit clearer…

Adware

This is a program that installs without your knowledge or consent, often a trade off for using free versions of computer programs. Adware is usually used to track how you use the internet so that you can be more effectively targeted with in-page advertising, however, there are security concerns which stem from the fact that Adware may also carry Malware (more malicious programs).

Backdoor Program

This term refers to any program which arrives on your computer without your express permission. This can happen when you download another program from a web site and even some reputable sites sometimes download more than you expect. As with Adware, these programs are not always harmful.

Firewall

This term refers to computer programs, or a piece of equipment, that prevents unauthorised access to your computer or network. A Firewall also monitors outgoing emails and outgoing internet traffic. While such a system is essential these days, a Firewall can cause problems when you try to set up a network, particularly when you want to share folders between computers on your network.

Keystroke Logger

This is a program which gets into your computer and then logs every keystroke you make. This clearly has privacy implications, and is also very dangerous as it undermines security on the computer – particularly when you use the computer for things such as internet banking, ebay and shopping over the internet.

Malicious Code

This is computer code which has been designed to exploit vulnerable computers, often in the form of an innocent sounding “.EXE” file that fires up and delivers its information when an email recipient clicks on it.

Malware

This is the current term in computer jargon which refers to any malicious program on your computer – so includes Adware, Spyware, Viruses etc. It can also refer to a program that changes some of your settings without your permission, for example your internet Home Page.

Spyware

This term refers to computer programs which monitor what you do on your computer, including where you go on-line, and then reports back to it’s owner. The information collected can include passwords, credit card details, names and addresses, and any other information it thinks might be useful. In my view, Spyware is now more dangerous than Viruses in many ways.

Trojan Horse

This term is taken from the mythical wooden horse. This is a computer program which sneaks into your computer disguised as something else (e.g. useful utility program or cool screen saver), then may allow others to access parts of your computer or sends information from your computer to others.

Virus

This is probably the best known of these terms. It refers to a harmful piece of computer code which either self replicates or works it’s way onto your computer by way of an email or application, and is then spread to other computers, often by way of your email address book.

Zombie Computer

This refers to a computer that has been taken over by a remote user without the owner's knowledge. The remote user may not be able to access or delete any of the files on the computer, but a zombie computer can be used to help a hacker perform a 'Denial Of Service' attack (where hundreds or thousands of zombie computers simultaneously ask a website for information, making the website inaccessible to the general public, and in the worst cases, slowing the whole internet).

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