Malicious Software or Malware: Its Out There, Are You Protected?

If you are a computer user, you should be aware of malware. Malware is short for malicious software. Malware usually includes all types of software and computer code that can be damaging or corrupt your computer. Malware includes viruses, adware, spyware, and Trojans.

First on the computer scene are viruses can cause your hard drive to be erased or your computers operating system to malfunction. Adware is a legal type of software that many people inadvertently download onto their computer. Many people mistakenly download adware with free software programs such as screensavers and games. Adware tracks your computers web surfing habits and sends you advertisements such as pop ups and banner ads.

Most anti-virus programs can identify most types of malware and rid them from your computer. You can also check out specific programs for viruses or Trojans. So if you would like to protect your data and your computer, protect yourself against malware

Two common types of malware (malicious software) are adware and spyware. If you would like to protect your computer from malware, here is information about adware and spyware and how to rid your computer of them.

Spyware is similar to adware but it can also record your keystrokes and other personal and financial data. Spyware is also unknowingly downloaded onto a surfers computer through freeware.

Both adware and spyware are very similar. Adware are a group of programs that are usually unknowingly downloaded onto your computer. Adware keeps track of the web sites that you search, records them in a log and then sends them back to a marketing database.
Using the log, the marketing web site makes a profile of each user and targets specific ads to the computer in the form of pop up and banner advertising. Spyware is similar to adware except that besides tracking web sites that the computer visits, it can also record logs of your keystrokes, passwords and other personal information.

Spyware and adware are both downloaded by the user. The user unknowingly downloads both spyware and adware when they download freeware such as screen savers, games and peer to peer software. Adware and Spyware usually are stated in the EULA or end user licensing agreement. If you would like to stray from these types of programs make sure you read the fine print and do not download freeware with adware or spyware programs.

Trojans are one of the worst types of malware. Trojans horses are small software programs that you download unknowingly onto your computer. These malicious programs then secretly track your every move such as what sites you visit, and look for personal and financial information which they collect and send back to a hacker database. Trojans are usually downloaded inadvertently by either visiting an unknown web site or clicking a suspicious link. Many people visit web sites and do nott realize that they are really fronts for hackers. These sites are thinly disguised as porn sites, gambling sites or sites that give free stuff away. When you visit the sites, they seem not to load right or are redirected to another site. The other way that Trojans are downloaded is through links. When you click a link your browser is directed to a web site where a Trojan is downloaded.

Trojans are some of the most dangerous types of programs. Most Trojans are secretly downloaded to your computer by hackers, then steal your personal and financial data and then report it back to a hacker database. Some Trojans are downloaded by clicking links in email that look sublime but are really hyperlinks to hacker databases where a Trojan is then downloaded to your computer.

To protect yourself and computer from Trojans, do not visit unknown web sites and do not click on any links within emails that you do not know who the sender is. You can use anti-virus software and special Trojan software that will seek out Trojans on your computer and protect you from incoming programs sent to your computer. So be safe and protect yourself from Trojans.

Most anti-virus software programs also rid your computer of adware and spyware. You might also want to try specific programs that identify adware and spyware as well. Be sure to read the entire article to understand the differences between adware and spyware and how to rid your computer of these malware programs.

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