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sarNie Hatchling
Hi Everyone,
This was an e-mail sent from our IT personel about malicious attacks on PC's.
Consider yourself lucky everyday when nothing happens to your PC ... but
if you are *_un_*lucky, spyware will leave your computer as good as
useless, steal your personal data, banking information, credit card
numbers, and passwords -- and make your life a living hell.
*What is the Difference between Spyware, Malware, and a Virus?*
There are distinct classifications for rogue software: all of which
cause harm to your Office PC in some way or another.
The terms spyware and malware generally refer to software that purposely
exploits your PC and/or steals personal information: all for the sole
purpose of making money. Sometimes, spyware is referred to as adware
because it can serve ads (repeatedly and obtrusively) to your PC.
On the other hand, viruses usually cause harm to the PC and are most
noted because they can spread infection to other computers easily:
hence, a "viral infection." The major difference between a virus and a
spyware infection is that viruses don't usually exploit a PC for profit.
*Keeping your Computer Clean of Spyware and Viruses*
Viruses and spyware both rely on exploits. An exploit is a "hole" in
your operating system (Windows) that allows intruders -- in this case, a
spyware or virus infection -- in without your knowledge or consent.
That's why it's *important* to keep your system up to date with security
fixes and the latest security software.
*Here’s another rogue software, called “Scareware”.*
"Scareware" products that take over users' computers to push phony
antivirus software are using a new technique: some versions can now take
over the product reviews of legitimate software.
A new malicious software package called Anti-Virus-1, which sometimes
goes by the name AntiVirus2010, has a feature that redirects infected
users' browsers to a spoof Web site if they try to look up a review of
the phony software.
Scareware programs infect a user's computer and promise to wipe the
infection if the user buys a specific antivirus product online.
Anti-Virus-1 also adds new entries to the "hosts" files of affected
machines; when users try to visit certain Web sites such as /PC
Magazine/'s product review site, these files force the machine to view a
counterfeit site instead.
Again, please keep your computer up to date, avoid potentially bad
sites, and be careful about which files you open and install on your
computer.
This was an e-mail sent from our IT personel about malicious attacks on PC's.
Consider yourself lucky everyday when nothing happens to your PC ... but
if you are *_un_*lucky, spyware will leave your computer as good as
useless, steal your personal data, banking information, credit card
numbers, and passwords -- and make your life a living hell.
*What is the Difference between Spyware, Malware, and a Virus?*
There are distinct classifications for rogue software: all of which
cause harm to your Office PC in some way or another.
The terms spyware and malware generally refer to software that purposely
exploits your PC and/or steals personal information: all for the sole
purpose of making money. Sometimes, spyware is referred to as adware
because it can serve ads (repeatedly and obtrusively) to your PC.
On the other hand, viruses usually cause harm to the PC and are most
noted because they can spread infection to other computers easily:
hence, a "viral infection." The major difference between a virus and a
spyware infection is that viruses don't usually exploit a PC for profit.
*Keeping your Computer Clean of Spyware and Viruses*
Viruses and spyware both rely on exploits. An exploit is a "hole" in
your operating system (Windows) that allows intruders -- in this case, a
spyware or virus infection -- in without your knowledge or consent.
That's why it's *important* to keep your system up to date with security
fixes and the latest security software.
*Here’s another rogue software, called “Scareware”.*
"Scareware" products that take over users' computers to push phony
antivirus software are using a new technique: some versions can now take
over the product reviews of legitimate software.
A new malicious software package called Anti-Virus-1, which sometimes
goes by the name AntiVirus2010, has a feature that redirects infected
users' browsers to a spoof Web site if they try to look up a review of
the phony software.
Scareware programs infect a user's computer and promise to wipe the
infection if the user buys a specific antivirus product online.
Anti-Virus-1 also adds new entries to the "hosts" files of affected
machines; when users try to visit certain Web sites such as /PC
Magazine/'s product review site, these files force the machine to view a
counterfeit site instead.
Again, please keep your computer up to date, avoid potentially bad
sites, and be careful about which files you open and install on your
computer.
jk