Definitions to Help Defend Your PC

Here are common words that are often associated with malicious attacks on your PC:

Adware - any software which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertisements to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Antispyware programs typically are designed to detect adware as well.

Botnet - generally refers to a collection of computers (called zombie computers) running programs such as worms, Trojan horses, or backdoors.

Browser Toolbar - a set of icons or buttons that are part of a software program's interface or an open window. When it is part of a program's interface, the toolbar typically sits directly under the menu bar.

Cybercrime - all criminal offenses which are committed with the aid of communication devices in a network. This can be, for example, the Internet, a telephone line or a mobile network.

Cyberstalking - the use of the Internet, e-mail, or other electronic communications devices to stalk another person. Cyberstalking can be a criminal offense.

Cyberbullying - the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to deliberately harass, threaten, or intimidate someone. Cyberbullying is often done by children, who have increasing access to these technologies.

Firewall - a set of related programs that protects the resources of a private network from users from other networks.

Keystroke logging - a method used to obtain passwords or encryption keys; can be distributed as a Trojan horse or as part of a virus.

Malware - short for "malicious software," malware refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system.

Phishing - a criminal activity typically carried out by email or instant messaging to fraudulently acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, often by directing users to give details at a fake website — eBay and PayPal are two of the most targeted companies, online banks are also common targets.

Ransomware - a term referring to malware that steals or holds data from a PC and then demands a ransom, or payment, for the return of the data.

Rootkits - a type of malicious software that is activated each time a PC boots up. Rootkits are difficult to detect because they are activated before the PC’s operating system has completely booted up. A rootkit often allows the installation of hidden files, processes, hidden user accounts, and more in the operating system. Rootkits are able to intercept data from terminals, network connections, and the keyboard.

Spam - unsolicited or undesired bulk electronic messages. Types of electronic spam include:

• E-mail spam - unsolicited e-mail
• Forum spam - posting advertisements or useless posts on a forum
• Spamdexing - manipulating a search engine to create the illusion of popularity for webpages
• Spam in blogs - posting random comments/promoting commercial services to blogs, wikis, guestbooks
• Newsgroup spam - advertisement and forgery on newsgroups
• Messaging spam ("SPIM") - use of instant messenger services for advertisement/extortion

Spear Phishing - an e-mail-spoofing fraud attempt that targets a specific person or organization, seeking access to confidential data. Spear phishing messages appear to come from a trusted source — usually appearing to come from a large and well-known company or Web site with a broad membership base, such as eBay or PayPal. In the case of spear phishing, however, the apparent source of the e-mail is likely to be an individual in a position of authority within the recipient's own company.

Spyware - software that sends information about Web surfing habits to its Web site without the user's consent.

Storm Worm - a Trojan horse delivered through an executable file in an email attachment. This can affect Microsoft operating systems without sufficient malware protection.

Trojan horse - a program that installs malicious software while under the guise of doing something else; notorious for installing backdoor programs which allow unauthorized remote access to the victim's machine. Malicious code is hidden in a computer program or other computer file — when this computer program or file is executed by the unsuspecting user, the malicious code is also executed, resulting in the installation of the malicious Trojan horse program.

Virus - a program or piece of code that attaches to an existing software program without the user’s knowledge and runs against the user’s wishes. Viruses can also replicate themselves.

Worm - a malicious program that originates on a single computer and searches for other computers connected through a local area network (LAN) or Internet connection. When a worm finds another computer, it replicates itself onto that computer and continues to look for other connected computers on which to replicate. Unlike a virus, it does not need to attach itself to an existing program.

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