The Most Common Computer Threats Explained

Posted by Chad in Explained on Nov 26th, 2009 | no responses

computer-bugs There are so many threats lurking on the Internet trying to infect your computer it would be impossible to identify them all. They do, however, fall into some very simple categories to understand, based on how they operate. Understanding the basics of how these threats work and terminology used to identify them will help you to make the right decisions when it comes to protecting your computer. Protection, after all, is more than just installing Norton Antivirus and calling it a day.

Viruses

“Is this a virus”. How many times have you asked that? Did you know viruses aren’t what they used to be? In fact, they are actually quite uncommon nowadays. A computer virus is defined by its ability to infect a computer then replicate itself to another computer. Just like a virus that infects humans. Viruses can do harm to your computer by erasing information or causing other problems, like crashes or instability. However, not all viruses do such damage. Many are created by their authors just to see if it was possible. To see if an exploit can be found and taken advantage of, and to test the creators programming skills.

But, don’t let your guard down. You still need to protect yourself from viruses by using an anti-virus program.

The security provided by your computer, assuming it is up to date, is actually pretty good for the average user when it comes to viruses. Having an up to date anti-virus program installed will protect you from the unseen, but your role in the protection is just as important. In most cases, a virus needs your permission to infect your computer. This is where the pop-ups, suspicious email attachments and fake Internet links come in.

Pay close attention to those pop ups when you’re using the Internet. Those windows that appear on websites telling you you’re computer is infected, yeah, not real. Ignore them, and certainly don’t click on whatever it is they are telling you to click. Also, be weary of *all* email attachments. If it comes from an unknown source or just looks strange, ignore it. The rule about emails and their attachments is simple – if it was important, the sender will follow up with you.

Spyware

Spyware has taken over as the most common type of threat to your computer, and in many cases, the most dangerous. It represents a shift in the purpose behind computer infections. No longer interested in doing damage, spyware creators want your information. They do not want you to know you have been infected. The longer a spyware infection goes unnoticed, the more time it has to gather information about you. As a result spyware is seen by many as being worse than viruses.

System-infected Spyware typically does not have the ability to replicate itself to other machines. That would make it easier to detect. Instead, spyware will infect your computer and do it’s best to remain unseen. It will track your usage, maybe steal your passwords, and regularly “phone home” with that information – sending it back to it’s creators. That information can then be used to target you with ads, or worse, steal your identity.

You know how your computer gets slower and slower over time? How it eventually gets more and more pop ups, becoming a serious pain to even use? That’s typically the result of spyware infections. Since spyware is working to gather information and send it off, it is using up your computer’s resources. The more spyware infections you have, the more resources get used up, and the slower your computer gets. See how that works?

Protecting your computer from spyware is similar to staying protected from viruses. Make sure you have an anti-spyware program running and keep it up to date. Be suspicious of pop ups, strange websites, and email attachments. Make sure your computer is up to date.

Malware

Malware or “malicious software” is the term used to describe anything that could harm your computer or annoy you, the computer user. It consists of the above, viruses and spyware, as well as other forms like trojans, rootkits, worms and even intrusive advertisements. As threats to your computer get more diverse, it is important to pay attention to terms like that as they include all things “bad”.

For the average user looking to survive the Internet and maintain a safe, working computer, it’s time to upgrade your terminology. Retire the words virus and spyware, replace them with malware. Maybe then you’ll hear that word or see it online somewhere and know its something that could affect you.

Spam

Spam differs from all forms of malware since it, by itself, is not intended to do any harm. The term spam is used to describe any unwanted email. Yes, those joke emails your friend thinks are so funny they must be forwarded to everyone they know count as spam. Spam is a relative term, because only you know if the email is wanted or not. Maybe those Viagra ads work for you, or maybe you find that weekly email from the Red Cross really annoying. Only you know that. Simply put, if it’s email you don’t want to receive, it’s spam.

Spam can bring with it things that are dangerous to your computer. Many types of spam show up disguised as a message from your bank, and want you to fill out a form. Others have attachments promising nude photos of your favorite celebrity, that, when opened will infect your computer with malware. The list goes on and on. And as with other dangers on the Internet, you need to protect yourself.

Since spam is an annoyance to just about everyone, even your email provider, many options exist to protect your inbox. Check with your email provider to see if they offer anti-spam protection. Most major providers do, especially the free ones like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. This is usually the best line of defense, as these companies have small armies of people working constantly to combat spam. If you get too much, you will likely use your email less or maybe even switch to another service, no provider wants that.

There are applications you can install on your computer to combat spam as well, just like anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. And, many of those have all of these types of protection rolled up into one program.

Wrapping Up

Having a computer comes with responsibilities that are new and constantly changing. Only you can protect your computer from yourself, no one is going to do it for you. All of the anti-malware applications in the world can’t replace you. Nonetheless, you should always make sure your computer is up to date, you are running anti-malware software, and that it too is up to date at all times.

No matter what software you use to protect your computer from malware, you will still be faced with decisions to be made about protecting your computer. Generally, a good rule to follow when on the Internet: be suspicious of everything. Think before you click.

Be vigilant and pay attention at all times. If it looks suspicious, it probably is.