Spam Protection – Know Thy Enemy: Viruses and Malware, Trojans and Adware
Spam has increasingly become known for containing malicious software that can actually hurt your personal computer. The entire purpose of these programs is to carry out unauthorized, commonly detrimental, actions. They self install on your computer, infect every program and file that they can. Usually these types of viruses are spread via email. Spammers will disguise them as harmless attachments in the hope that you will download them.
These programs come in many forms, the most common of which are viruses, Trojan horse, malware and adware. Being knowledgeable about their presence and how they work will protect you from this kind of spam.
Viruses
Viruses are computer programs that were designed for one thing: to infect your system and cause major damage without your knowledge. Viruses come in many forms, including but not limited to:
The Boot Sector Virus
This is a virus that infects the innermost operations of your computer, the hard drive. More specifically the boot sector, which is the programming that allows your computer to start up. Boot sector viruses can bar your computer from performing and may force a hard drive format, which will effectively wipe out any and all information on your computer in a manner of minutes.
The Program Virus
Commonly known as an executable file, these will have an .exe extension. When the program it infects is run the program will be activated. At activation, it will infect many programs on your PC, rendering them useless.
The Macro Virus
Number three on the list is a virus that targets specific documents like Microsoft Word. Activation occurs when the document is opened and run. One of the many actions it can perform is erase dates from documents or other areas of your PC.
Malware
Malware is actually a shortened description meaning malicious software. This program will spread throughout your hard drive causing mayhem and destruction. Malware can install a program on your computer that you did not authorize or want. This can effectively eat up huge portions of your computers resources slowing your system to a crawl.
Trojan horse
Named appropriately, the Trojan is much like its Greek counterpart. The program will seem sweet and innocent until it is opened. Inside is all kinds of malicious code which, when it is set free, will create devastation in its wake. This is another program that can run undetected on your system giving spammer’s unlimited access to your computer and any information there. They will commonly search for bank account information and passwords. The hacker can then also put messages on your PC screen.
Adware
Similar but not identical to malware, adware is also used for malicious purposes. Adware has gone beyond what can be considered good advertising. In fact, it has given such a bad name to software that people are missing out on some great programs that they could benefit from. The program generates pop-ups or similar aggravating advertising that often freezes or locks up the desktop. Too often adware is so sophisticated that the average user is unable to remove it or even recognize that it is there.
Along with displaying annoying ads from the advertiser, adware may also track your online activity sending reports to the spammer about where you go and what you do online. This gives the company information they use to target you for even more spam advertising.
Spam is annoying but it is not the most detrimental thing you can open from your inbox. Attachments that come in the messages can do some real damage. It is very important that you never open attachments from unsolicited emails.
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