1 .. -*- coding: utf-8; -*-

     2 .. include:: HEADER.rst

     3 

     4 =========

     5  Malware

     6 =========

     7 .. contents::

     8    :local:

     9 

    10 About malware

    11 =============

    12 

    13 Malware (malicious software) is software designed to infiltrate a computer

    14 system without the owner's informed consent.

    15 

    16 Virus

    17 =====

    18 

    19 Program that has infected some executable software and that causes that

    20 software, when run, to spread the virus to other executable software.

    21 

    22 Viruses may also contain a payload that performs other actions, often

    23 malicious.

    24 

    25 Worm

    26 ====

    27 

    28 Worm is a program that actively transmits itself over a network to infect

    29 other computers.

    30 

    31 Worms may also contain a payload that performs other actions, often malicious.

    32 

    33 Trojan horses

    34 =============

    35 

    36 Trojan horse is any program that invites the user to run it, concealing a

    37 harmful or malicious payload.

    38 

    39 One of the most common ways that spyware is distributed is as a Trojan horse,

    40 bundled with a piece of desirable software that the user downloads from the

    41 Internet.

    42 

    43 Rootkits

    44 ========

    45 

    46 Rootkit is a program which modifying the host operating system so that the

    47 malware is hidden from the user.

    48 

    49 Rootkits can prevent a malicious process from being visible.

    50 

    51 Backdoors

    52 =========

    53 

    54 A backdoor is a method of bypassing normal authentication procedures. Once a

    55 system has been compromised, one or more backdoors may be installed in order

    56 to allow easier access in the future.

    57 

    58 Spyware

    59 =======

    60 

    61 Spyware is a type of malware that is installed on computers and collects

    62 information about users without their knowledge.

    63 

    64 The presence of spyware is typically hidden from the user.

    65 

    66 Sometimes, spywares such as keyloggers are installed by the owner of a shared,

    67 corporate or public computer on purpose in order to secretly monitor other

    68 users.

    69 

    70 Adware

    71 ======

    72 

    73 Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which

    74 automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after

    75 the software is installed on it or while the application is being used.

    76 

    77 Botnets

    78 =======

    79 

    80 

    81 Keystroke loggers

    82 =================

    83 

    84 Malware programs install a key logger, which intercepts the user's keystrokes

    85 when entering a password, credit card number, or other information that may be

    86 exploited. These are then transmitted to the malware creator.

    87 

    88 Dialers

    89 =======

    90 

    91 Electronic device that is connected to a telephone line to monitor the dialed

    92 numbers and alter them to seamlessly provide services that otherwise require

    93 lengthy access codes to be dialed.

    94 

    95 Screen scrapers

    96 ===============

    97 

    98 

    99 Phishing

   100 ========

   101