Scumware- Spyware, Malware, Adware Or Trojans- What's all the commotion?
by: PJ Keenon
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Sometimes, Spyware is spoken of as viruses, trojans, dialers, adware and malware. I’ll just call all of these Scumware for a short definition.. Being a little knowledgeable about how to detect a service running scumware is an important part of fighting this nuisance. The problem of malicious programs is getting worse by the day, and it is not just for fun any more. Fighting this nuisance is a overwhelming task. This is because root-kit-shielded scum ware is installed in the system. This makes it more difficult for traditional anti-virus and other scanning applications to see the malicious program. Also, many new codes are being written everyday. As a result, the only good solution to getting rid of scum ware sometimes, is doing a complete Operating Systems reinstall.
Spyware
Spyware as it is called has become a generic term that also includes adware, malware and many trojans. For the the largest part, these have inter related behavior and features and are commonly referred to as Spyware. Spyware can be broken up into two major groups- adware and malware. All spyware are rogue software programs that typically install themselves without the operators knowledge. You can get contaminated with programs just by visiting a website. You can also get contaminated by installing software which seems genuine but is bundled with malicious codes. Getting rid of spyware is not instant, and certainly not a one time event. It is a process. It requires the use of detection and removal tools that scan explicitly for spyware. However, many experts agree that no one anti-spyware product catches all malware and spyware. That's why some spyware appears so unbeatable.
Malware
Malware which is another form of Spyware is usually installed on your computer without your knowledge also. Most often, malware is designed to send itself from your contacts e-mail account to your computer and vice versa. Most malware is limited to Windows systems. This is however changing as more and more malware are being written for the Linux system. The usual way of detecting malware is through heuristics. Most malware is easy to remove. One of the first signs of being infected is the speed of your computer. Indications of the presence of malware can also be found in the temporary decompression folders. If the only signs are in the temporary decompression folders it is unlikely that the malware has been activated. Once the presence of a malicious code is confirmed, it could be removed with a scan and removal software. Files that contain the known codes are quarantined and scheduled for deletion.
Trojans
Trojans yet another form of Spyware is like the infamous 'Trojan Horse” are typically malware with a payload. It spreads itself by deceit as legitimate software. The phrase Trojan has usually been used to refer to malware that performes unexpected or unauthorized actions. For instance, a Dialer Trojan is malware coded to secretly dial phone numbers. This leaves the infected victim with a large phone bill. The trojan can also install spamming malware. It can present itself as a legitimate Windows Live Messenger advertisement from Microsoft. Unlike Viruses or Worms, Trojan Horses do not replicate themselves. Their danger is in causing damage to networks by delivering other types of Malware. The trojan malware can hijack web browser form data to secure online banking credentials and send the stolen data to the owner or group. Catching the threats of a Trojan Horse would require the use of a Trojan scanner.
Conclusion , you have seen that malware is short for malicious software and a catch all phrase for viruses, worms, adware, spyware, trojans, or whatever. Malware we have also learned is getting more resistant due to the fact that rootkit-shielded malware is installed in the system. This makes it difficult for traditional antivirus scanning applications to see the malicious program. As a result, the only good solution to malware sometimes, is a complete Operating Systems reinstall. Malware we noted can be distributed through email and other file sharing. Some of the early signs we observed is a system slow down. Fortunately, most malware can be easily removed by a simple scan and remover application. The difficulty and reason why some seem invincible is because no one application can take care of all the threats. This article is brought to you free by AntiSpywareReports.com
(You can fill out an online spyware compliant form at www.ftc.gov.) Enough consumer complaints may get adware advertisers to rethink their actions.