Troubleshooting
T-13
Viruses, Worms, and Spyware
Viruses, worms, trojan horses and spyware are malicious software (malware)
that are covertly loaded onto the computer through infected e-mail, bogus
software, from an infected Web site, or simply by connecting to a network that
has an infected machine on it. This malicious code can:
*
steal information behind the scenes (like the credit card number,
passwords, personal files on the hard disk drive, or e-mail
addresses in the address book)
* load files onto the hard disk drive (including offensive content, or spam
messages)
* corrupt or delete personal files or programs on the hard disk drive
* slow the computer's performance
* e-mail itself to people in the address book
Internet worms can by themselves search, find, and infect unprotected
computers that are logged on the Internet within a half-hour. All computers
have ports that are used to communicate with their own peripherals and with
the outside world. Hackers can seize control and attack these well-known
ports. Like a backdoor, these ports must be secured and locked with firewall
software to keep out intruders, and to protect the system from attack.
*
Symptoms of infection
* The system becomes slow, unstable, and crashes
* The browser displays pop-up advertisements while starting the computer,
or when the system has been idle
* The browser's home page unexpectedly changes
* Web pages are unexpectedly added to the Favorites folder
* New toolbars are unexpectedly added to the Web browser
* You cannot start a program
* When you click a link in a program, the link does not work
* The browser suddenly closes or stops responding
* It takes a much longer time to start or to resume the computer
* Components of Windows or other programs no longer work
