1.0 Introduction
Spyware, viruses and worms have all become common annoyances while
braving the wilds of the global Internet. They come running out
of the cracks from emails, web pages, download software and sometimes
from nowhere at all. Causing data loss, computer instability and
information gathering of the user’s activities.
All this can be avoided and this document will cover some basic
topics on how to prevent infections from this software.
2.0 What are they?
These software programs are design for a specific activity on a
target computer, with the programs activities generally concealed
from the user. Then activities that these programs accomplish on
your machine are frequently malicious or at best annoying.
- Spyware
Any software that covertly gathers information about a user while
he/she navigates the Internet and transmits the information to
an individual or company that uses it for marketing or other purposes;
also called Adware. They are often spread by Emails, downloads
and web pages.
- Virus
A program that searches out other programs and `infects' them
by embedding a copy of itself in them, so that they become Trojan
horses. When these programs are executed, the embedded virus is
executed too, thus propagating the `infection'. This normally
happens invisibly to the user. They are often spread by Emails,
downloads and web pages.
- Worms
A program that propagates itself over a network, looking for vulnerable
computers to infect. The worm then `infects' them by embedding
a copy of itself in some software, so that they become Trojan
horses. It then precedes reproducing itself and spreads further
across a network. They are most often spread by direct connections
to the Internet.
3.0 How to Help Protect my Computer
 There are
a few steps you can take to protect yourself from Virus, Worms and
Spyware. Mainly, it requires some extra software and some good computer
security habits to guard against them. Just follow the few steps
listed below to protect your computer and information.
- Keep your system operating system updated and patched.
Always keep your system up-to-date with the latest security patches
for your operating system, email programs and web browser. Virus,
spyware and worms often use common security exploits in operating
systems to infect them. These exploits can be patched from the
vendor’s website, thus making your computer immune from
the attack.
- Install and Keep you Antivirus and Spyware Scanner up-to-date.
Install a virus and spyware scanner on your computer system to
check and protect your computer. Keep updating your antivirus
and spyware scanner everyday or set to auto-update. Viruses and
spyware come out almost every day, so keep protected.
- Install a Firewall
Install a firewall on your computer system to protect against
worms and spyware from the Internet.
- Use another browser than Microsoft Internet Explorer
Due to many security problems with Microsoft Internet Explorer,
it is recommended to use a different browser program. Many spyware
programs use holes in Microsoft Internet Explorer to infect you
via web pages.
4.0 Software
There are many products available for protecting your computer
system against Internet threats. Below we have listed a few examples
of products for your computer.
Anti Virus Scanners
Anti Spyware Scanners
Firewalls
Non Microsoft Browsers
5.0 Can Linknet Help?
 We
currently have VET Antivirus available for purchase. A single license
is $130.00 Inc GST, including installation of the software.
We also have Adware Professional available for purchase. This enterprise
quality spyware scanner and blocker license is $130.00 Inc GST,
including installation of the software.
Also keep a check on our homepage, with “The Latest Virus
Threats” at http://www.linknet.com.au.
6.0 Common used Virus Terms
Antivirus software - a program which will identify and
remove viruses.
Boot sector - hard disks, floppy disks and logical drives
all have boot sectors. Many common viruses will attack the 'boot
sector'.
Circular infection - this occurs when two viruses infect
the boot sector. Disinfecting one virus generally causes a reinfection
by the other virus.
Encryption - encryption viruses are the most difficult
to detect, and use a brief 'encryption loop' at the start of the
program which makes the program unusable.
False positive - this occurs when a virus scanner identifies
an infected file which is not really infected.
Heuristics - a rule- based method of identifying new viruses.
It does not rely on virus 'signatures' and is not fooled by new
variants of existing viruses.
In the wild - a virus which is known to be spreading, as
opposed to a virus which is "in the zoo", or not currently
spreading.
Joke programs - a program which is not normally harmful,
but interferes with the normal operation of the computer or a program.
It is often mistaken for a virus.
Logic bomb - a virus which will execute itself when certain
conditions are met. These are usually destructive.
Macro virus - a virus written in one of many macro languages.
They spread by infected files, including documents, spreadsheets,
databases or computer programs.
Malware - software which intentionally performs a destructive
action to destroy or disrupt a system.
Memory resident - the virus resides in the computer's memory
instead of on a disk.
Multi- partite - a highly infectious virus which infects
both files and boot sectors.
Stealth virus - viruses which actively hide themselves
while running and one of the first common identified viruses.
Trojan horse - a program which hides inside another program,
usually an authorized program. It is frequently destructive.
Virus - an independent program which reproduces and may
damage or corrupt data. It may also degrade system performance,
and can attach itself to any executable file. It also infects boot
sectors and partition sectors of hard disks or floppy disks.
Virus variant - a variation of a previously diagnosed virus.
Worm - a program which reproduces by copying itself over
and over. They are self-contained and are generally spread via networks.
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