Malware And Antivirus Software

Malware And Antivirus Software

Warning: most antivirus programs will not protect you against all forms of malignant software (often called "malware") on their own. Find out how to protect yourself.

Sure, your antivirus software will protect you against viruses. It will probably even do a good job against worms. But what Trojans, exploits, backdoors, spyware and the dozen other nasty software parasites?

Malware and Antivirus Software: a History

The war on computer viruses has led to an arms race between the designers of antivirus software and the designers of viruses (you didn't think viruses just created themselves did you?). Some years ago, virus designers responded to ever more successful antivirus software by creating the descendents of viruses, worms, which did not infect files but rather installed themselves directly on the hard drive, making them harder to detect.

The arms race has since led to a total of at least eleven distinct types of what is now called malware, a neologism meaning bad (as in malignant rather than shoddy) software. According to Wikipedia, these eleven types of malware are:

1. Virus
2. Worm
3. Wabbit
4. Trojan
5. Backdoor
6. Spyware
7. Exploit
8. Rootkit
9. Key Logger
10. Dialer
11. URL injection

There's a twelfth kind of malware: adware, which Wikipedia considers simply to be a subset of spyware.

Why Antivirus Software Isn't Enough for Malware

As you can see, makers of antivirus software have their work cut out for them if they're going to keep every instance of malware off your system. As a result, antivirus software makers have often had to pick their battles. Adware, whose makers often claim they are doing nothing illegal or even questionable, often gets treated more lightly.

Even when antivirus software makers do come out with a product that fights all twelve or so kinds of malware, responding to each new instance of malware to come on the market isn't easy. First the malware has to be identified, which means someone's computer, and probably tens of thousands of computers, will be infected first. Then, the malware has to be dissected. Then a removal program and a filter must both be written. Then the removal program and filter must be tested to make sure they work, and that they don't interfere with any other functions of the antivirus software or the computer itself. When a fix for the virus is out, it then has to be loaded into an antivirus software update and transmitted to every single computer worldwide that has the antivirus software installed.

The speed with which antivirus software makers are able to deliver updates for newly discovered malware would impress even Santa Claus. Yet there's still a crucial window of one to a few days between when the new malware has reached a critical mass of thousands of computers, and when the update is released. If your antivirus software is not set to check for updates automatically every hour or so, that window opens even wider.

Practically speaking, then, you're better off having more than one line of defense against malware. Even if two different anti-malware programs utilize the exact same database, there might be a crucial difference in the speed of getting updates. It makes sense to back up your antivirus software with anti-spyware software. When you consider that dedicated anti-spyware software developers make protection against the non-virus forms of malware their stock-in-trade, you can see why anti-spyware software is so essential. In fact, you should strongly consider having two anti-spyware programs running on your computer at all times, since the gap in updates between two anti-spyware programs can be even longer than for two antivirus programs.

After all, with a dozen kinds of malware out there, shouldn't you at least have two pieces of software to fight them?

Author:
Joel Walsh: Joel Walsh writes for http://www.spyware-refuge.com on how to remove spyware: http://www.spyware-refuge.com? spyware adware blocker [Publish this article on your website! Requirement: live link for above URL/web address w/ link text/anchor text: "spyware adware blocker" OR leave this bracketed message intact.]

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Anti Spyware Software Reviews

Finding the Security Suite that meets your needs

Before proceeding to read this article, it is important that we state something up front. It is essential for the reader to understand and appreciate that there is no such thing as a secure operating system or web browser. While the use of security suites and other complementing products can significantly reduce your risks, they are not magic wands that you can wave to eliminate 100% of your risk. Any product claiming they can do this should be viewed with great skepticism.

With that being said, let's talk computer security and security suites. There are numerous ways in which the security of your computer can be breached. The most common threats come from worms, viruses, Trojans, phishing, hackers and crackers. Potential security breaches can come in the form of downloading unfamiliar email attachments, being monitored by spyware, maliciously attacked by malware, or probed through port scanning.

Dshield.org (www.dshield.org), a non-profit company, functions as a "dominating attach correlation engine with worldwide coverage". In short, they work with people and companies to track, among other things, port scanning violations. Port scanning involves a person (referred to as a hacker or cracker) who attempts to break into you computer through the open ports in your system. Once an open port is located, the individual attempts to collect your personal data or install a malware program into you computer. On average, Dshield.org logs over 1.1 billion reported attempts of port scanning each month. What is even scarier is that this is just based on their program participants. You can imagine how many more incidents are occurring each month to the general population of computer users.

Dshield.org also reports on survival time. Survival time refers to how long it will take before an unpatched PC is attacked or infected. Below is a snapshot of their current operating system breakdown:

Current OS Breakdown Category % Adjusted Survival Time Windows 27.0000 128 min Unix 0.5000 3648 min Application 3.0000 1203 min P2P 1.5000 1591 min Backdoor 0.5000 5432 min Source: Dshield.org - Survival Time History (11/8/05)

In short, if you have a Windows-based operating system and an unpatched PC, you will be attacked or infected in a little over 2 hours. When looked at in these terms, securing your computer becomes a mission.

Here are a few easy steps you can take to immediately protect your computer.

1. Don't run unfamiliar programs on your computer. It sounds like common sense, but many of the most prominent attacks have involved spyware and email attachment worms such as Bagle and Netsky. If you don't recognize the sender, don't download its attachments. 2. Don't allow unrestricted physical access to your computer. If you have sensitive or proprietary information on your computer, allowing other employees or family members to use your computer can lead to potential breaches in your computer's security. 3. Don't use weak passwords. Use passwords which are difficult for someone to figure out. People frequently use the names of children, pets, anniversary dates, or birthdays. Because there seems to be a password needed for everything, it is not uncommon to see many people using the same password for everything. Big mistake! The use of only one password provides a hacker with easy access to a smorgasbord of personal information. If you have to write your passwords down, it is best not to leave them on a post-it, attached to the screen of your computer. You may chuckle at the absurdity, but it happens more than you think. 4. Don't forget to regularly patch your operating system and other applications. Many industry experts believe that most network security attacks would be stopped if computer users would just keep their computers updated with patches and security fixes. Too often, we forget to do this on a regular basis. Remember that every day, new viruses, worms and Trojans are being created and distributed. They are looking for the weaknesses in your computer system. Having outdated software is basically the same as holding the door open and inviting them in for a visit. 5. Don't forget to make regular backups of important data Always keep a copy of important files on removable media such as floppy/ZIP disks or recordable CD-ROM disks. Store the backups in a location separate from the computer.

In most cases, Windows desktop and screen-saver passwords provides adequate protection for normal security concerns. However, if you feel more comfortable taking additional security measures consider obtaining a comprehensive security suite.

Selecting a Antivirus Software The next question is how do you pick the best product for your needs? You start by asking yourself a series of questions. Do you need password protection for individual files, your desktop, a network, or to block someone's access to the Internet? Is your computer used only by you or do multiple users have access to the computer? How many users in total do you expect on your computer? What are your system requirements? How much do you want to spend?

Once you are able to answer these questions, you can begin to research which security suite will best meet your needs. Product reviews and user statements provide a great starting point. PCMagaine (www.pcmag.com), Zdnet.com (www.zdnet.com), and Consumer Reports (www.consumerreports.org) are just a few informative sites that offer research on various computer software products.

There are numerous security suites available on the market. Take the time to choose the one that meets your specific needs. As a starting point, we've listed a couple of the more popular programs:

1. Kaspersky Personal Security Suite Description: A comprehensive protection program package designed to guard against worms, viruses, spyware, adware and other malicious programs. The program offers five pre-defined security levels and is convenient for mobile users. System requirements: Window 98/2000/XP; Internet Explore 5.0 or higher, Memory: minimum of 64 MB RAM, 100 MB free on hard drive.

2. Shield Deluxe 2005 Description: This program provides protection from viruses, adware, spyware, and privacy threats while using very low system resources. Additionally, the maker, PC Security Shield offers ongoing free technical support. System requirements: Windows 98 or higher, WinNT, WinXP, WinME; Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher, Memory: 32MB ram or higher, 65 MB free disk space.
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Remove Spyware. Learn How to Identify Spyware Before It's Too Late

Everyday, computers and technology become more advanced, and so do hackers. They are creating new spyware, new viruses, and new trojans, all of which are becoming extremely hard to prevent. Spyware is a silent killer, it's virtually impossible to pick up. There could be even spyware running on your computer right now, and it doesn't just put your computer in jeopardy, it can lead to stolen files, stolen passwords, and even identity theft. This article will outline exactly what spyware is, how to indentify spyware, how to remove it, and how to prevent it from getting on your computer all together.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a program that is run on your computer that allows someone else, probably miles away from you, to see everything you are doing, virtually "spying" on you and your computer. Spyware isn't snuck onto your computer like a virus is however, most of the time you download them yourself. Many P2P downloaders can contain spyware (Kazaa, Blubster, etc.). It is important to know the background of a program before you download it off of the internet.

How to Identify Spyware

Day by day, spyware is becoming more and more undetectable. Nowadays, it's almost impossible to identify it yourself. There are certain anti-spyware programs that can do that job easily for you. Although, recently a lot of spyware has been slipping by most programs. It is very important to make sure you download the correct spyware removal programs to insure your safety. If you download the wrong ones, you may just miss the spyware that steals your credit car numbers. Below are 3 of the best spyware removal products on the internet today.

Netcom3 - Netcom3 Internet Security Software speeds up your computer, detects and removes spyware and adware, Viruses, Trojans, Dialers, Worms and a host of other dangerous parasites.

RegSWEEP - RegSweep is the latest in PC error diagnostic and repair. RegSweep can do a complete scan of your entire file system and registry in under 2 minutes! All corrupt files, paths, and registry keys will be analyzed and automatically repaired so that your PC functions just as when you first purchased it, Guaranteed.

Registry Fix - This software will inform you of where the errors exist, and what potential errors they might cause. Registryfix will scan for errors related to ActiveX controls, DLL issues, Windows explorer errors, Windows installer issues, Internet Explorer errors, Iexpore and System32 errors, Runtime errors, Outlook and Outlook Express Errors, EXE errors, Svchost errors and a wide variety of other system issues.

It's important to buy AT LEAST one anti-spyware program, as you should use it very often. All of these programs should be able to find and identify all the spyware that is on your computer. To do so, open your program (almost all of them function relatively alike), and find the "Scan, Scan Files, Scan PC, etc." button in the program. The program should find all your corrupted files, be it viruses, trojans or spyware, and organize it into a list. Some programs have specific scans for spyware. If yours does, it is essential to use that scan.

How To Remove Spyware

Once you've got your list of spyware in front of you, it's important to see where these files are stored. Run a quick background check on each file, make sure you aren't deleting anything important for you computer to run, and delete all your spyware. You do not want to clean these programs. They were designed to steal your identity. Find your "delete" button and get rid of them!

How to Prevent Getting Spyware

Preventing spyware isn't hard. It is just important to make sure you know and trust the source you are downloading from. If not, try to check around a bit and make sure it's valid. After you download a new program, run a quick scan and make sure it's OK. If it passes, you're in the clear. If not, DELETE!!

Spyware will not go away. It will not get nicer. It will just keep getting more advanced and more efficient. The only way to protect yourself is to own a program, and scan frequently. I personally scan my computer after every download and do a virus check at least once a week. As a result, my computer runs quickly and error free.
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Spyware Protection: Simple Caution Can Prevent A Lot Of Damage

Spyware is one of the biggest threats to online systems today, and must not be taken for granted. Unless you actually experience the consequences of spyware infiltration in your system, it is hard to imagine the extent of damage that these malicious software can bring you.

You've probably heard about people suddenly being in debt because somebody else used their credit card information. Or businesses that have suffered tremendous losses because of inadequate spyware protection. But perhaps you didn't really pay attention because you thought it can't possibly happen to you.

Reality check...it could happen to anyone, and you are not an exception. Everyone who is online faces the threat of having spyware embedded in his computer system. That is why spyware protection is required for everybody.

There are many programs out there that offer spyware protection. Hundreds of anti-spyware programs are available, some more effective than others. There are free anti-spyware programs and there are the more expensive ones that offer a greater amount of spyware protection.

It certainly helps to have such programs installed in your system, but an even more effective spyware protection comes from simply being careful.

Most people fall victim to spyware programs merely because of carelessness. In fact, more than 90% of spyware damages could have been avoided if the user had only exercised more caution and better judgment while surfing on the Internet.

Spyware programs are being developed almost everyday, and even the most comprehensive spyware protection software may miss some of the most recently released spyware. This leads us to the conclusion that the most effective spyware protection is still to practice caution.

If you want to have better spyware protection, you will have to stop clicking here and there while surfing. You need to be more discriminating about which sites you visit and which programs you download. Here are some basic ways of being careful on the Internet that everyone should practice:

1. Never click on dubious sites. Ignore unsolicited ads and offers, as these are among the leading carriers of spyware. 2. Never open email attachments from unknown sources. Resist your urge to take a peek. Just delete the file unopened. 3. Never open email attachments from friends when the subject or body of the email looks bogus. 4. Never click on unwanted popups. 5. Delete cookies on a regular basis. This will prevent spyware from getting any useful information from your computer. 6. Update your system and your anti-spyware programs constantly.

These are just some of the most basic ways to provide yourself with spyware protection. Once you make these practices a habit, you will be certain that you are providing yourself and your system with the best form of spyware protection there is.
by David Faulkner
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Spyware removal software

Antispyware software is a necessity of the modern internet-connected world. Spyware is now considered the top threat to computer security, according to the Anti-Spyware Software Review 2007, surpassing even viruses. One of the reasons that spyware is such a threat is that many computer users are unaware that it even exists.

Unlike viruses, which are contained within program downloads, spyware files piggyback onto a variety of sources. Many websites will install a "cookie," this is a small file that tracks your usage of their website. These cookies are generally not malicious but do invade your privacy. They can be considered a form of spyware. Other spyware files are more dangerous, designed to track your overall internet behavior or even record keystrokes for purposes of stealing your passwords and/or gaining access to files on your system. This type of spyware is often attached to free software downloads or clickable popup ads.

Spyware has become practically an epidemic in today's computer-addicted world. However, antispyware software, used in tandem with your computer firewalls and other PC security software, will assist you in safe internet usage. Understand the available features and select the program that works best for you.
by David Odell
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Free Antivirus Software

WinAntiVirus Pro anti-virus program for Windows users, it monitors downloads as well as email and definately will help those of us out who have a few computers and dont like to pay (or are financially 'tight') for antivirus.

Dont get me wrong, the big players are nice and they have all kinds of bells and whistles that do all kinds of mind boggling things but if you just need simple protection from bugs.. this is something to consider.

With free programs available there should be absolutely no reason anyone should be without at least a minimum level of protection. Remember that not only do virus pose a threat to your computer and your information but your lack of protection puts those you communicate in a dangerous position and possible risk of infection.

Anti Virus Program. Anti Spyware Downloads

Stop online threats - spyware, viruses and hackers
Every now and then you can read about a new virus and the damage it causes. The millions viruses costs companies each time they strike. It is however not only companies that are suffering from the damages caused by viruses. A virus can be just as damaging if not more for a private Internet user by destroying important documents, family pictures and everything else you keep on your computer. Therefore should no home computer be without a good virus protection software. This way you can protect your computer and yourself from loosing data, corrupted hard drives and a number of other problems. There are several anti virus programs available of which some are free and some are not. You should however always remember that you might get what you paying for, meaning that the service and the updates might be better for the paid alternatives and thereby protect your computer better.