What
is a Cookie?
A
cookie is a text file placed on your computer by a specific
web site. When used as they are intended they help remember
browsing information for a specific site and are most useful
for shopping carts.
While
they were originally intended to be used for that site alone
current malicious practices use them to track all browsing
habits.
What
is Spyware?
Spyware
and Adware - Such programs often piggyback on freeware applications,
and then deliver advertisements to the user.
Spyware while deviant in nature is not a virus. Spyware
is a marketing tool design to track browsing habbits and
tends to exploit cookies for the information.
Spyware
can also affect your browsing habbits when it sends your
information it uses up the bandwidth on your computer. When
spyware sends this information it can slow your download
speed to a crawl.
Other
nasty things spyware can do include the familiar pop ups,
weird e-mails, web site hijacking, and prevent you from
changing the home page in your browser.
In
most instances it is easiest to remove spyware with a spyware
removal tool. These tools are designed specially for the
removal of spyware and just like anti virus software need
to be updated and current. |
What
is Malware?
Unlike
viruses, which infect a portion of existing files, Malware
installs as discrete programs, and will often modify the
registry and start up areas so that they are the first processes
activated during a boot.
A
challenge of non-viral Malware is that it is extremely difficult
to remove. They may even rename themselves to appear as
legitimate Windows processes.
Removing
them often requires changes to registry and start up areas
as well as file deletion, and may require a system re-boot.
Anti-virus
products aren't designed to perform these functions and
a Spyware removal tool may or may not be able to remove
the malware either.
What
is a Virus?
A
virus is program that attempts to spread by copying itself
to any new drive or medium like a floppy or CD ROM with
out the users permission or intent.
What
is a Trojan?
A
type of virus is a Trojan which spreads like other viri
and does other malicious tasks as well. Two things trojans
usually do are destroy or modify data and files. Trojans
can steal passwords, credit card numbers and other confidential
information.
Computer
Virus Symptoms can prevent Internet browsing and other
intermittent problems. |
