To emphasize the nature of malware, you should keep in mind that it stands for ‘malicious’ or ‘malevolent’ software, both words being defined as something that is designed to harm you. These various sets of computer codes were created with the intent to intrude your computer and steal sensitive information from you. Recent findings also reveal that cyber criminals are now able to use them to gain administrative control to your computer, meaning it will only take them a couple of clicks on their mouse to open your web camera or to access you documents.

While invasion of privacy is the main concern of individuals, businesses have their overall operations at risk every second they are live in the worldwide web. Fraudulent acts are rampant, particularly in online trading. Business owners and their employees are obliged to continuously learn about new forms of felonies conducted in the web so as to avoid becoming the next victim.

The whirlwind of information and hazards sometimes lands us in the wrong starting lines. In order to certify your security, you have to start with the basics, and those include the popular forms of malware such as viruses, worms, Trojan Horses, and the like. You won’t get far if you don’t nail the basics first.

What is a Computer Virus

In a technical respect, viruses are programs and codes that replicate themselves in the system they have infiltrated. Their chief function is to multiply until they occupy the computer’s memory and halts all its operations. Advanced viruses that have surfaced in the web do more than hinder the normal performance of software programs; they can be so powerful that they can penetrate your address books and mail itself to your contacts. Breaking into security barriers is no longer enough to block them.

The damages it has caused multi-national corporations have caused awareness in internet users. Melissa, Chernobyl, and ILOVEYOU are prominent examples of viruses that have shocked the world with their speed and destructive effects.

Nevertheless, not all viruses are the same. They may possess similar fundamental characteristics that classifies them as a virus, but there are more specific categories in which they may belong.

• Polymorphic Virus – This type creates a variation of itself whenever it replicates, which makes it difficult for an antivirus program to detect it immediately. With altering digital signatures, it can successfully harm your system before it can be acted upon.
• Macro Virus – First and foremost, macro is a recorded set of actions that can be triggered to automate repeated commands. A macro virus, therefore, is a macro language that subsists in common operating system programs and replaces stored commands with viruses in the same name. They are stimulated when a program is turned on and off.
• Memory Resident Virus – This is a stubborn virus because it remains in the computer’s memory even after your terminate the infected application. That is why it is also called the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR).  It stays in the RAM and infects the future programs you activate.

What are Computer Worms

The ultimate purpose of worms is to replicate and spread to other computers. It is different from a virus because it accesses loopholes in computer security instead of opposing it, and it consumes bandwidth instead of attaching itself to programs. If you have poor computer maintenance skills, then you are vulnerable to be infected by multiple worms.

They infiltrate a system by targeting its weak spots. The most common ways of acquiring worms is by opening suspicious emails, running unauthenticated programs, and falling victim for phishing attacks.

Employing the services of the latest malware protection software and diligently updating it will increase your defense against both worms and viruses. Research the best updates from antivirus websites present online.

What is a Trojan Horse

Experts classify this as the most dangerous kind of malware. Their main purpose is to steal personal information, bank information, sensitive documents, and other things that may lead to worse crimes and consequences. You can consider a Trojan Horse as a mere gateway to further criminal acts and unusual behavior from your computer like sending pornographic images, videos, and messages to your contacts and infecting them too.

Author Bio: –

Morris works as a tech support specialist in an IT firm in NYC. Being a tech enthusiast, he has a passion for writing on topics related to computer security and technology.