Internet Security | Data Recovery

Internet Security

Malware

Malware (malicious software) may be considered any software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system.

The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to indicate a variety of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program codes. In law, these types of software are sometimes known as a Computer Contaminants.

Software is considered “malicious” based on the perceived intent of the creator rather than any particular features.

Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, and other surreptitious and unwanted software.

Some malicious programs contain routines to defend against removal: not merely to hide themselves, but to repel attempts to remove them. For example, the software starts a number of processes which monitor one another and restarts any process which is killed off by the operator.

Go Home from Malware.

Anti Virus Software

Up-to-date Anti Virus software is crucial to maintaining a clean, safe computer.

Important Security Steps:

• Create a hard-to-guess personal password, and change it often (every 30 days is best).
• Never open an e-mail attachment unless you expect it, recognize the attachment name and document type.
• Avoid opening e-mail messages with confusing, misspelled or nonsensical subject lines.
• Configure the computer operating system for automatic updates.
• Turn the computer off when not using it.

If you become infected with a virus…

• Immediately disconnect the computer from the network.
• Run a complete computer scan using good anti virus software.
• Attempt to remove all viruses, worms and other malicious software found.
• After removing infections, reconnect computer to the network.
• Download all recommended operating system and application updates/fixes.

Did you just receive an attachment in email and you’re not sure who sent it, or what it is? Don’t open it!

When visiting a web site, did you get a pop-up asking if it’s ok to install some software you’re not sure of because you’ve never heard of it? Don’t say “OK”!

The rule is “If You’re Not Sure, Don’t Do It”.

If you are faced with a suspicious popup, don’t click ok and don’t click cancel (either of which can prompt a download). Close the window from the Task Manager.

Not sure about some security warning you’ve been given? Don’t ignore it.

Mac users in the past have not been exposed to the same threats and attacks as PCs. Because Apple’s market share was so small, virus and spyware authors got little publicity or financial gain from infecting the Mac, but that has changed with Mac’s rising popularity.

Go Home from Anti Virus.

Rootkit

“Rootkit” is a term applied to cloaking techniques and methods applied at the “Root” (Administrator) level of a computer. A successfully installed rootkit allows unauthorized users to act as system administrators, and take full control of the compromised system.

Most anti-virus and malware removal tools are ineffective against this villain.

In general, rootkits limit themselves to maintaining control of one system, whereas a computer virus attempts to spread to other systems. A program that automatically scans and exploits network vulnerabilities is referred to as a computer worm.

These insidious programs invariably leave a “backdoor” often called a trojan horse to capture passwords and facilitate future logins. A root shell is often simply bound to port 31337 (“ELEET” in cracking jargon). Trojans are the core of rootkits.

Although all rootkits are serious security concerns, the kernel rootkit is especially dangerous because of its difficulty of detection. It operates at the same level as the operating system, and can modify or subvert any request made by software on the running system. In a situation such as this, the system itself cannot be trusted.

Since the task of reinstalling a “clean” OS is almost trivial, most experienced administrators consider it impractical to try and dig out a rootkit.

Go Home from Rootkits.