| What Malware And Grayware Are And What You Can Do About Them |
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| Written by SusanReynolds | |
| Saturday, 17 October 2009 | |
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Malware is a pretty uncommon term, and is not familiar to a lot of users of computer software. Basically, the term refers to any kind of software that has been created to cause harm to its host computer by installing things and doing procedures unknown to the user.
Malware is a pretty uncommon term, and is not familiar to a lot of users of computer software. Basically, the term refers to any kind of software that has been created to cause harm to its host computer by installing things and doing procedures unknown to the user. The term can also encompass adware and spyware as well, similar software that don't necessarily damage the computer but interfere with its general operation, track and send information, and operate without the user knowing about them. Although malware isn't quite the same thing as a virus, they share the same basic purpose - of screwing your computer up. It's important to distinguish them from ordinary programs that may have running problems because of unintentional or unforeseen issues. Freely downloaded programs and files tend to host malware more often than purchased software does, and malware can also sneak in by piggybacking on Trojan viruses and rootkits. Trojan horses,are just as they sound, they are harmful installations that are hidden by seemingly harmless installations. While running these installations seems safe, what the user does not know is that malware is also secretly installing itself at the same time. In order for malware to continue to work, it needs to stay hidden and that is where Rookits come in. Rootkits Make sure that the malware installed on your computer stays completely undetectable, and that it does not show up in your list of system processes. Advanced Rootkits will also fight any attempt at removing them. For example, a malware program may create instantaneous 'ghost' versions of itself, and whenever it realizes that one of the 'ghosts' has been deactivated or deleted, the original program quickly begins creating replacements for the deactivated or deleted files in order to protect itself. Some examples of especially infamous forms of malware are Blaster, Sasser, and the rather appropriately-named Mydoom. A spinoff of malware is something called grayware, which is a non-harmful but nonetheless irritating piece of software. Grayware includes things like adware and humorous joke programs that are meant to annoy the computer's user without damaging the computer or user. Grayware can be as tedious a problem to deal with as malware, and as difficult to get rid of as well, which is why grayware is often classified with malware. Additionally, grayware can serve as a gateway for more harmful malware that installs itself later. Grayware and malware also share many of the same paths of infecting a victim network, either getting into your system through unauthorized device codes on your USB ports, or through exploiting the homogeneity of access to your administrative network. Since it is virtually impossible to prevent malware from installing itself on your system, it is best to create a routine check on your system for malware by using an anti-malware system such as Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool. This program is compatible with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003, and can determine the nature of specific malware installations while also being able to assist you in removing them from your system. About the Author: Susan Reynolds is the webmaster for a leading Spyware Removal Software brand. For more information visit: http://www.spywareremovaldoc.com From the Webmaster: "Having the opportunity to share my hobbies and interests with so many people around the world gives me great satisfaction. As a bonus, I blog and produce websites about topics that interest me and receive ad revenue from the websites and Blogs."
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