Malware (a portmanteau of the words “malicious” and “software”) is blanket word for any sort of software that disrupts the normal functions of your computer, steals your personal information, and/or leaves you vulnerable to other, external operations of a malevolent nature. But what is it exactly? Malware is a bit of a loaded term since it is actually a group of several related types of software:
- Adware: any type of software that appears to offer coupons, deals, or gratuities to the user. This is one of the most populous forms of malware and infects hundreds of thousands of computers a year.
- Backdoors: any type of software that opens a system to external attacks or users. This form of malware can blur into other types since getting into a user’s system is the end goal of most malware.
- Browser Hijacker: any software that infects a user’s internet browser and alters his internet traffic requests. The FBI ran an active cyberwarfare campaign against a DNS change that had infected millions of computers by 2012 and had almost USD $14 million worth of profits.
- Bots/Botnets: any software that automatically perform a specific action or actions. Before it was shut down, the Bredolab botnet was estimated to have infected over 30 million computers and was one of the most prolific of its kind to date.
- Ransomware: any software that locks a user out of his system and then requires that they pay in order to get back in. The name comes from the fact that the user’s computer is “held hostage” until a “ransom” can be paid.
- Rogue Security Software: any software that tricks the user into thinking their machine is compromised or infected in some way. Some types actually encrypt the infected system’s hard drive making recovery near-impossible via external methods.
- Rootkit: any type of software that is difficult to detect and remove since it operates on the same “level” as the computer’s operating system.
- Spyware: any type of software that spies on you by tracking your internet search history, capturing passwords/logins, or logging your keystrokes (also called a “keylogger”). Some forms of spyware tie into adware to tailor themselves to a given user’s habits. Particularly nefarious types may take over a user’s webcam and/or microphone.
- Trojan Horses: any type of software that appears to be useful or interesting in some way to get a user to install it. Once installed, it typically unleashes some other malware or performs some other action (e.g., installs user access to an external operator).
- Viruses: any type of software that replicates itself by attaching code to other programs or data.
- Worms: any type of software that destroys data on a computer’s hard drive by “eating” it. One of the earliest forms of malware was a virus.
Being able to protect your system from these sorts of attacks almost always require good sense, knowledgeability, and a powerful antivirus software such as Stopzilla Antivirus.
September 26, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Our PC was attacked by “Ransomware” twice over the last couple of years. When I called customer support asking why “Stopzilla” did not stop the resulted renaming and inaccess to any of our personal files, I was told quite firmly that: “Ransomware was not a virus and “Stopzilla” cannot prevent this attack”. We were/are really disappointed because this happend with no protection from Stopzilla. So I decided at that time (several monts ago) that I would not renew our service with Stopzilla when the current prepaid subscripyion expires on 2/08/17. We have used Stopzilla now form over 5 years.
Now I read, within your definition of “Malware”, that Stopzilla will prevent infections from Ransomware, (quote from the definition)…..”Being able to protect your system from these sorts of attacks almost always require good sense, knowledgeability, and a powerful antivirus software such as Stopzilla Antivirus” What is a long -time satisfied customer to do? Please reply baxters@provide.net
Jim & Patty Baxter
September 26, 2016 at 8:52 am
ESPECIALLY, I would like to see what the AV-Test Institute in Germany has to say about my favorite antivirus program, STOPzilla: https://www.av-test.org/en/antivirus/home-windows My bet is that you will do very well.
Over time, i have discovered that STOPzilla finds problems that Bitdefender fails to catch; or any of the other malware products i have to double check every once and a while. I sure do hope one day Corporate decides to pony up the money demanded by the head-to-head antivirus comparison and evaluation blog sites, that rank the so-called major and well known anti-virus systems.
September 25, 2016 at 11:19 am
I think you have kept me fairly virus free-however, I was quite surprised at some of the things you flagged up or stopped, I would have been caught out.
September 14, 2016 at 6:08 pm
I WAS HACKED A FEW DAY’S AGO CAN YOU CLEAN UP MY COMPUTER ON YOUR END