1.4.3

Malware

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Types of Malware

Malware is any kind of malicious software that is installed without your knowledge or intent.

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Viruses and worms

  • Viruses:
    • Small pieces of code injected into other programs which spread from computer to computer.
  • Worms:
    • Small pieces of code which spread across a network, similar to viruses but without a host program.
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Trojan horses and ransomware

  • Trojan horses:
    • Any form of malware which tricks the user into installing it by pretending to be a different program.
  • Ransomware:
    • Encrypts files on an infected system and only decrypts files once a payment has been made to the hacker.
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Spyware, rootkits, and backdoors

  • Spyware:
    • Gathers information about a user by tracking their activity.
  • Rootkits:
    • Modifies the computer's operating system to avoid detection by antivirus software.
  • Backdoors:
    • Opens up an access channel to a computer that other malware can use to take over the machine.

Jump to other topics

1Computer Systems

1.1Systems Architecture

1.2Memory & Storage

1.3Computer Networks, Connections & Protocols

1.4Network Security

1.5Systems Software

1.6Ethical, Legal, Cultural & Environmental Concern

2Computational Thinking, Algorithms and Programming

2.1Algorithms

2.2Programming Fundamentals

2.3Producing Robust Programs

2.4Boolean Logic

2.5Programming Languages & IDEs

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