Trojan horses Seemingly good and useful software can contain a disguised virus, known as a Trojan horse. Whenever the user downloads and launches the infected application, the unwanted functions of the virus will be initiated.
Adware Not detrimental to the computer itself, but displays unwanted or undesirable content to a user in the form of advertisements. |
Viruses They are all types of malicious software that have the function to replicate and the need to deceit users into opening the file in which they are contained. They damage files, can modify information and perform other unwanted actions, which are known as payload. Viruses scan spread computer to computer and consume resources. Macro viruses are different from other viruses because they attach themselves into one application in particular and from there, they infect every file that the application opens.
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Worms They are the fastest malicious software and unlike viruses do not require a user to propagate. They manifest trough the network and can provoke servers and clients to slow down since they consume resources like memory and bandwidth. Most of the computers infected are unaware of the software and are termed zombies.
Spyware Applications that are installed in computers and not detected by users. Such software is used to collect information about a user and can also take unwanted actions like modifying the computer’s settings. |
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Destruction of Systems
Depending on the nature of the virus, it can deplete or exhaust a computer’s resources. The way the virus is run and reproduced is based on its particular characteristics. Sometimes, a virus has a phase during which it attacks. This is known as a payload, which is the harmful effect on a computer system. This payload is a code that causes undesirable effects on the computer. It can do so by changing programs or data without the users knowledge. This payload is like the set of instructions the virus has that help it destroy the computer system. It is what the virus is meant to do. A virus can have more than one payload, for example, it can be programmed to send certain information to unknown sites and also delete or modify data. |
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