Some Malware Definitions

• Adware

Adware is any software application that has the ability to display advertisements on your computer. Some adware may track your Web surfing habits. These advertisements may be displayed in many forms, including, but not limited to, pop-up, pop-under, and banner advertisements. Adware may slow your Web browser's performance.

Worst case scenario: Some adware may have the ability to download third party software programs on your computer without your knowledge or consent.

Browser hijackers have the ability to change your Internet Explorer settings, redirect your Web searches through their own search engines, redirect mistyped or incomplete URL's, and change your default home page. They may redirect your searches to "pay-per-search" Web sites which are very often pornographic Web sites.

Worst case scenario: If a hijacker changes your Internet Explorer browser settings, you may be unable to change back to your preferred settings. You may also be unable to browse the Internet entirely.

Cookies are pieces of information that are generated by a Web server and stored on your computer for future access. Cookies were originally implemented to allow you to customize your Web experience. However, some Web sites now issue adware cookies, which allow multiple Web sites to store and access cookies that may contain personal information (surfing habits, usernames and passwords, areas of interest, etc.), and then simultaneously share the information with other Web sites. Adware cookies are installed and accessed without your knowledge or consent.

Worst case scenario: This sharing of information allows marketing firms to create a user profile based on your personal information and sell it to other firms.

Dialers have the ability to disconnect your computer from your local Internet provider and reconnect you to the Internet using an expensive pornographic, 0900, or international phone number. They do not spy on you, but they may rack up significant long distance phone charges. They have the ability to run in the background, hiding their presence.

Worst case scenario: Dialers may rack up significant phone charges.

When programs are downloaded without the user's knowledge or consent, most often accomplished when the user clicks to close or eliminate a random advertisement or other dialogue box.

A program that can change settings in your Internet browser; most often including your search page to redirect all searches to a specified pay-per-search site, and your default home page to the company page - often a pornography site.

A keylogger is a type of system monitor that has the ability to record all keystrokes on your computer. Therefore, a keylogger can record and log your e-mail conversations, chat room conversations, instant messages, and any other typed material. They have the ability to run in the background, hiding their presence.

Worst case scenario: A third party may be able to view your personal conversations and may gain access to private information such as your usernames, passwords or credit card numbers.

Options on spam that are often fake. That is, if you respond to request removal, you very well may be subjecting yourself to more spam, because by responding, the sender knows that your email account is active. A 2002 study performed by the FTC demonstrated that in 63% of the cases where a spam offered a "remove me" option, responding either did nothing or resulted in more spam email.

Spyware is software that transmits information back to a third party without notifying the user. It is also called malware, trackware, hijackware, scumware, snoopware or thiefware.

System monitors have the ability to monitor all of your computer activity. They range in capabilities and may record some or all of the following: keystrokes, e-mails, chat room conversations, instant messages, Web sites visited, programs run, time spent, and even usernames and passwords. The information is gathered via remote access or sent by e-mail, and may then be stored for later retrieval.

Worst case scenario: A third party may be able to view your personal conversations and may gain access to private information such as your usernames, passwords and credit card numbers.

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