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Quick Links Help Desk - 3765 ITS Home IT Security Services Information About... Site Index In this section... IT Security Stay Updated! Passwords Data Security Firewalls Virus Protection While Traveling... Types of Threats E-mail Safety & Spam Phishing Identity Theft Malware How Malware Gets on Your Computer Protecting Your Computer & Yourself Online Web Surfing Safely Social Networks Online Harassment Copyrights & Peer-to- Peer (P2P) Applications Related Links (external) MSU Security Web Site Help Desk MSU-Northern students, faculty and staff - Use the ITS Help Desk as the first point of contact for your technology problems, questions & services! Information Technology Services Help Desk Walk-in Support: Cowan Hall 117B Telephone Support: 265-3765 E-Mail Support: itstech Last Updated: 18-Jun-2009
	Information Technology Services: Malware "Malware" is a generic term for programs that try to secretly install themselves on your computer. It is any software that is designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. Malware Types Viruses are software that replicate or makes copies of itself and attaches itself to other pieces of software. Viruses require a host for survival and reproduction, just like their biological namesakes. Viruses must insert their code into an application like Word or Excel, or a data file for such programs, particularly ones that have macros or a scripting language capability. Worms are self-replicating programs that do not need a separate software host. Worms are generally "network-aware" propagating by seeking out other connected computers with unpatched software or inadequate defenses. Trojan (Trojan horse) is a program that installs malicious software while under the guise of doing something else. Though not limited in their payload, Trojan horses are more notorious for installing backdoor programs. Trojan horse programs depend on actions by the intended victims: the victim must run the Trojan. Generally they don’t replicate themselves. Rootkits are designed to take control of computer systems. They hide their presence on a system and cover up what is really going on on your system. They change your operating system so it lies to you – hiding files, processes, registry keys and communication session. Spyware intercepts or takes partial control over a user's interaction with the computer, without the user's informed consent. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. One form of spyware is Keyloggers. These literally record your everything you type (like passwords) and then send the information to a remote computer. Adware is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer. How Malware Gets on Your Computer Top of page Return to IT Security Home		Malware Facts Malware is often bundled with other software and may be installed without your knowledge While End User License Agreements (EULA) will usually include information about additional programs, some malware is automatically installed, without notification or user consent. Malware is very difficult to remove. Few of these programs provide removal instructions (especially if it’s a virus, worm, Trojan or rootkit). In addition, they ‘hide’ in unexpected places on your computer (such as the Windows registry) and can corrupt your operating system, making their removal complicated and time-consuming. In some cases, you may have to re-install Windows to completely remove malware. Malware threatens your privacy. Malware programs are known for gathering personal information and relaying it to advertisers and other third parties. Malware threatens your computer’s security. Malware is notorious for being at the root, whether directly or indirectly, of virus infection, causing conflicts with legitimate software and compromising the security of operating systems. Report Security Incidents Report stolen devices (laptops, PDAs, etc) and suspected computer break-ins to ITS immediately. The sooner we know about an incident, the sooner we can respond, potentially limiting any damage.