THE MAJOR SECURITY THREATS
:1.) Spyware: These are programs that get installed without your knowledge or consent when you download and install a 3rd party program (such as a screen saver program). This 3rd party, while making a potentially legitimate program, took money from the Spyware maker as part of an agreement to bundle the Spyware with the installation of their legitimate software. This additional software is installed without the your knowledge or permission, and can provide statistical information about your usage of the Internet (what sites you visit, what items you like to purchase, where you purchase the items, etc). This demographic information is quite valuable to unscrupulous people who obtained it from your system, and they will turn around and sell for a high price. The biggest symptoms of Spyware is that your system is getting slower over time, and your applications will crash or lock-up more often. Extremely bad spyware is also referred to a Malware, in that it is malicious in nature, and usually causes damage on purpose. This problem exists entirely on the PC platform.
2.) Spam: Here is a problem that everyone has experienced at least once: that receiving of e-mail (usually mailed in bulk by the originators) to users like yourself who did not request the information in the first place. Symptoms include slow internet connection speed when downloading e-mail due to the sheer volume of spam messages. At risk is your personal data or hard-earned money, if you chance to fall prey to an e-mail scam that arrived within your daily load of spam. Additionally, spammers will let loose Malware and Trojans (which you could have unwittingly executed) which could open your system up to become an “open relay” for their outgoing spam. This problem exists on both PC and PocketPC platforms, but is normally managed from the PC platform.
3.) Virus/Worm Infections: These are programs that are parasitic in nature, and are generally more dangerous than spam or Spyware, but is seen far less.. A virus will attach itself to a legitimate program and then replicate itself by transmitting itself to a couple of other computers, with the intent of performing a specific action (usually destructive) at a later date or time. For example, a Virus may erase your Partition table, or obliterate your “My Documents” folder. A worm exists to simply replicate as many times as it can, consuming computer resources as quickly as possible on the initial computer, then spreading itself to as many computers as possible. Symptoms include slow downs in the computer speed, failure to boot, failure to bring up an application, etc. This problem originates almost entirely on the PC and Network platforms. Some Viruses have been found on the PocketPC platform.
4.) Keystroke Loggers: These programs resemble Spyware, in that they are usually installed when a user installs a 3rd party application that appears to be completely useful. However, once installed, this program will watch and record EVERY KEYSTROKE the user types, with the ultimate hope it will record the user accessing their bank account, or typing a personal message which can be used to someone else’s advantage. This particular problem can have the same symptoms as SPYWARE above; slower system response over time, and frequent application lock-ups and crashes. This Threat resides entirely on the PC platform.
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