Re: Malware
- From: "eager" <eager@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:02:05 GMT
"Todd H." <comphelp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:84ir3tznto.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxx
"eager" <eager@xxxxxxxxx> writes:
My friend's computer, running XP Media Centre 2002, was infected with
Malware, viruses, and Trojan horses
His Norton had expired long time ago. I downloaded and installed Antivir,
the free version, did a system recovery and free online scanning using
Trend
Micro HouseCall.
I also suggested my friend to take his computer to a computer store to
format the HDD and re-install windows, because he did not have a winXP
CD.
Probably he did not get a CD when he purchased his computer.
What's the make/model? Typically you can get replacement CD's at a
rather nominal cost, sometimes free (e.g. HP or Compaq business
pc's).
It's a compaq
This machine needs a fresh OS.
Average home users do not back up data and, when it comes to this point,
they do not want to lose their songs...; they do not want to pay much money
either.... . My friend had norton (hate it) and when it expired, he
procastrinated ...
Well, he is a teenager, the son of my wife's friend; my wife, who _thinks_
that I know about computers, got me in trouble. lol
Mr.Lipman has posted numerous times about cleaning up infected computers,
just have to find his threads .... I am still wondering though, why I was
not able to start the PC in safe mode? Was the boot sector infected ... or
... something else?
I am trying to find some info regarding what is a malware, how does it
damage the computer and what are the symptoms?
What is the difference between the malware and the viruses?
If you think of a virus as just one possible type of malware, you'll
be in good shape.
Thank you Mr. Todd!
Read some more in wikipedia to do your own comparison of the terms:
Computer Virus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_virus
Computer Worm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_worm
So technically, a virus isn't necessarily malware
Now you are confusing me, man :)
(it's defined
typically as code that can self-replicate and attach itself to another
existing host program, without regard to its badness or goodness).
But in the lexicon used by normal people (who aren't pointy headed and
hang out in security newsgroups just to disagree with people or engage
in protracted semantic debates) it's become synonymous with it,
e.g. "anti-virus" software meaning software that attempts to detect
and thwart programs you don't want/need/or that do bad stuff.
And likewise, a worm is self-replicating code that doesn't necessarily
attach itself to another program like a virus would.
Yes, I read about the difference between these two and they have two major
dofferences:
1. A virus attaches itself to a document and is spread by travelling along
with the document. A worm can travel by itself.
2. A virus needs the user to perform some type of action, to start the
infection. A worm can replicate itself until it clogs all the available
resources.
still wandering though, how can a worm travel by itself, where does it find
the energy, how does it find the way? we could use worms instead of cars,
ships and planes :)) or at least, apply the idea ...
I know that Trojan horses are kind of spyware and do not damage the
computer, worms are dangerous for networks rather than for a stand-alone
PC,
etc.
A Trojan horse is more simply defined than that. It's generally a
program that purports to do one thing, but actually does something
else or more than that thing. THe definition speaks to a delivery
mechanism more so than what the program does.
And spyware is more defined in terms of functionality--in that it does
some harvesting of personal information in one way or another. It's
not as well defined as the other terms discussed here.
Trojan Horse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computing)
Spyware
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware
I am also trying to understand the difference between access deny, delete
and move to quarantine options.
Those terms would require knowing which Anti-virus or anti-malware
program you're speaking of, but a reasonable guess is that access deny
does nothing to the file, except the AV program tellst eh operating
system not to open the file whenever a program calls to open it.
Delete would aim to remove the file from teh disk (which may or may
not be possible). Quarantine, in most software connotes moving the
file to a "vault" so that in case a good file is mistakenly flagged
as bad, it could be removed from quarantine. In a delete option, the
file is deleted with no recovery (easily) possible.
Thank you!
I imagine the terms you brought up will generate lots of debate and
response though, that you may take with a grain of salt (this post
included if you like). Nothing like definition questions to give
those who love to point out things that are wrong a chance to try to
prove their intellect. Pointing out something that's wrong, after
all, is the easiest way to be right, isn't it? And we all love bein
right!
Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/
.
- References:
- Malware
- From: eager
- Re: Malware
- From: Todd H.
- Malware
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