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Glossary |
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Virus
Virus is a generic term,
covering many different types of malicious
program: classic viruses, Internet and email
worms, Trojans, backdoors, and others.
Whatever its form, a virus is programmed to
spread throughout computers and networks by
copying itself, almost always unnoticed by
the user. The virus payload, or effect, can
be annoying, harmful, or even criminal. A
virus may be programmed simply to display
a humorous message on screen, or to erase
all files on the computer, or to steal and
distribute confidential data.
Cyber-hysteria
The first viruses appeared
at the end of the 1960s, or the beginning
of the 1970s:
Their effect was relatively limited, for the
simple reason that the number of computer
users was much smaller than it is today. The
increased use of computer technology has led
to virus scares becoming an almost everyday
occurrence. Some scares are hoaxes. However,
real mass attacks have become commonplace,
and the consequences are serious, resulting
in financial loss for individuals and corporations
alike. The number of threats and frequency
and speed of attacks is increasing every day.
Antivirus protection is therefore a priority
for anyone who uses a computer.
Adware
Adware is one type of spyware.
This is advertising-supported software that
displays pop-up advertisements whenever the
program is running. The software is usually
available via free download from the Internet,
and it is the advertisements that create revenue
for the company. Although seemingly harmless
(aside from intrusiveness and annoyance of
pop-up ads), adware can install components
onto your computer that track personal information
(including your age, gender, location, buying
preferences, surfing habits, etc.). Most advertising
supported software doesn't inform you that
it installs adware on your system, other than
via buried reference in a license agreement.
In many cases the software will not function
without the adware component. Some adware
can install itself on your computer even if
you decline the offer.
Definitions
A definition is the set
of fingerprints that characterize a piece
of spyware. FREE-I Communicatons. regularly
updates the definitions of known spyware that
TC spy. uses.
Fingerprints
Fingerprints are the unique
patterns of files, cookies, and registry entries
that spyware installs. These are what TC spy.
detects and compares to its internal database
to determine if spyware is present on your
computer.
Spyware
Spyware is any application
that collects information about your computer
activities and then sends that information
to another individual or company without your
knowledge or permission.
Spyware arrives bundled with freeware or shareware,
through email or instant messenger, as an
Active X install, or by someone with access
to your computer. Once on your drive, spyware
secretly installs itself and goes to work.
Unlike traditional personalization or session
cookies, spyware is difficult to detect, and
difficult (if not impossible) for the average
user to remove.
System monitors
System
monitors are applications designed to monitor
computer activity to various degrees. These
programs can capture virtually everything
you do on your computer including recording
all keystrokes, emails, chat room dialogue,
web sites visited, and programs run. System
monitors usually run in the background so
that you do not know that you are being monitored.
The information gathered by the system monitor
is stored on your computer in an encrypted
log file for later retrieval. Some programs
are capable of e-mailing the log files to
another location.
Traditionally, system monitors had to be installed
by someone with administrative access to your
computer, such as a system administrator or
someone that shares your computer. However,
there has been a recent wave of system monitoring
tools disguised as email attachments or "freeware"
software products.
Tracking cookies
Tracking cookies are one
type of spyware. These are pieces of information
that are generated by a web server and stored
on your computer for future access. Cookies
were originally implemented to allow you to
customize your web experience, and continue
to serve useful purpose in enabling a personalized
web experience. However, some web sites now
issue tracking cookies, which allow multiple
web sites to store and access cookies that
may contain personal information (including
surfing habits, user names and passwords,
areas of interest, etc.), and then simultaneously
share the information it contains with other
web sites. This sharing of information allows
marketing firms to create a user profile based
on your personal information and sell it to
other firms. Tracking cookies are almost always
installed and accessed without your knowledge
or consent.
Trojan horses
Trojans are one type of
spyware. These are malicious programs that
appear as harmless or desirable applications.
Trojans are designed to cause loss or theft
of computer data, and to destroy your system.
Some trojans, called RATs (Remote Administration
Tools), allow an attacker to gain unrestricted
access of your computer whenever you are online.
The attacker can perform activities such as
file transfers, adding/deleting files or programs,
and controlling the mouse and keyboard. Trojans
are generally distributed as email attachments
or bundled with another software program
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