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Virus a segment of program code that attaches itself (infects) another file called the host.
The virus is activated when the host file is used. Once activated, the virus will seek to replicate and infect
or damage user files, system files or the boot record with results from the humorous to the apocalyptic.
In January of 2003 the Slammer Virus infected 78,000 computers in half an hour.
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Worm is not attached to a file and repicates by sending a copy of itself via email or a network message.
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Wabbit is a self-replicating program whose rapid multiplication can saturate system resources until the
system halts.
Adware is any program that provides unwanted advertising on a computer.
Spyware is any program that provides user information across the net.
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browser hijacker is a program that chages browser settings and the home page so that the user cannot fully
control internet access.
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keystroke logger is a program that captures user keystrokes and sends them to another party.
Phishing is misrepresentation in order to induce the user to provide personal information.
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Rootkit is a set of programs that hack into a system and gain control. Rootkits act to obscure their
presence on the system through subversion or evasion of standard operating system security mechanisms. Often, they
are also Trojans as well, thus fooling users into believing they are safe to run on their systems. Rootkits conceal
running processes from monitoring programs and hide files or system data from the operating system. They monitor traffic and
keystrokes, alter log files, attack other computers on the network, and alter existing system tools to circumvent detections.
Very difficult to iradicate.
Denial of service is an attack on a network that disrupt and overloads transmission protocols so some
or all network servies are unavailable. The
buffer overflow attacks use traffic saturation. The
SYN attacks use unsysnchronized packets.
Teardrop attacks use oversize packets.
Smurfattacks use IP ping saturation.
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Botnet is a group of computers infected with the malicious kind of robot software, the bots,
which present a security threat to the computer owner. Once the robot software (malware) has been
successfully installed, this computer becomes a zombie, accepting control of the bot commander. Botnets do
any of the following: denial of service, spamming and traffic monitoring, keylogging and mass identity
theft, botnet spread, and pay per click abuse.
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