The malwares
The malwares are malicious codes which have mainly been programmed in order to harm.
Each malware can be very dangerous for your computer and yourself because we practically can do everything
we like of the
infected PC,
get your personal informations, for example.
The categories of malwares
There are various kinds and the following list could be incomplete :
- The trojans are the most dangerous. They consist of
two executable parts : the client, used by the
hacker,
which enables to manage the possible takedowns thanks to the
servers, installed on the victims' PC against them, which establish a link
between the client (=> the
hacker's computer)
and the server (=> the victim's one).
All the victim has to do is to execute the server just once to give the
hacker
the opportunity to access to the PC server.
Since this link is established, the
hacker
can entirely control the victim's computer, as long as this one remains
switched on. We can view the trojans as a gathering of spywares, keyloggers, etc ...
- The spywares work with the same client/server rule of the trojans and
then are often included.
Since this link is established, the
hacker
can acquaint himself to everything the victim does on her computer,
the opened applications and all which happens on the victim's screen
(some spywares enable to make
screenshots
of the PC server or even movies).
- The adwares are softwares used by the businesses to display advertisements
on your computer. It's easy for the businesses to use those softwares coupled with
spywares, so as to know the main interests of the target before displaying the advertisement.
- The keyloggers enable the
hacker
to acquaint himself to all the keys the victim press, which enables him to get passwords,
online conversations not to say the bank cards' numbers, and more again.
- The virus are codes which spread over your PC, setting up
in safe codes, affecting your computer's working. Not limited to only one
machine, they spread over the Internet, the floppy disks, the CD, the USB keys ...
- The worms duplicate themselves on computers thanks to a network, like
Internet, without requiring the help of another code. The outcomes of the
intrusion
of a worm are various, and often turn out to be dangerous for the infected computers.
- The exploits enable to exploit an
operating
system's or a
software's
security flaws in order to, for example, take the
remote control
of the targeted machine.
- The mailbombers enable to send duplicate
mails
to the victim anonymously and in large numbers so as to let-off her
mailbox, to
put it out of order. This kind of malwares isn't very efficient anymore nowadays.
Where do they come from ?
Some hackers whose
knowledges are quite extended programmed those
softwares.
At least, it shows their IT abilities.
However, the
script-kiddies
put themselves out to go through there and directly use the others'
softwares, being
unaware about the risk to be had by a first infected malware on download.
Where and how can we catch malwares ?
Those malwares can be hidden wherever on the
Web and in the
softwares.
Thus, by downloading anything on the Internet, there's every chance to come across
malwares more or less inconspicuous and powerful.
So a dishonest business don't ask the users' opinions before perfusing some spyware in its codes so as
to flood you of advertisement likely to interest you, and a malicious person would not hesitate to foist
you some malware to play with your computer.
Who can the victims be ?
Whoever using a computer is a potential victim !
It could be whoever from the kid chatting and surfing the Internet to the old man introducing himself
to the Internet's joices, going through you !
So, at the same time you're reading those lines, a
hacker
may have targeted you
(not me, don't worry
)
How can we protect ourselves from it ?
It is essential to equip correctly your computer against those threats. For this, refer you to the
class which shows you the various security softwares here.
Let's conclude
The malwares are like the real life's illnesses : they can be very bothering, not to say,
if they are not treated, mortal for your computer. Consequently, prevention is better than cure :
equip correctly your computer against those threats, and update regularly your security softwares.
However, the
hackers
will aways be one step ahead, then we never are completely under shelter ...
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