Serving Solano & Contra Costa Counties

What is Malware and How Does it Get on my Computer?

The term Malware is short for malicious software and can be a generic term for spyware, viruses, trojans, worms, hijackers and other computer infections.

Spyware:
Computer software that collects personal information about users without their consent. Spyware can track the user's browsing habits and collect data in order to target advertising. Unlike viruses, spyware does not usually self replicate. Spyware can also be a program that places unwanted ads on your computer. Cookies can be considered spyware. Spyware can be installed on your computer as an automatic download from a website you are surfing. Also, a free software download can contain spyware. Or spyware can get on your computer via an email attachment.

Virus:
A program that when run, has the ability to self-replicate by infecting other programs and files on your computer. These programs can have many effects ranging from wiping your hard drive or doing nothing at all except to replicate itself. These types of infections tend to be localized to your computer and not have the ability to spread to another computer on their own. The word virus has incorrectly become a general term that encompasses trojans, worms, and viruses. This is a computer program that replicates itself through the use of a host file (hence the name, virus), while a worm can spread from computer to computer without the use of a host file. A virus is a small piece of software that hides itself in, or uses real programs. For example, a virus might attach itself to a spreadsheet program. Each time the spreadsheet program runs, the virus runs, giving it the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other programs).

Trojan:
A Trojan contains malicious code which can cause loss of personal data. A computer becomes infected with Trojan horses, usually through the unwitting invitation of the user. It is a program that appears authentic, but performs some illegitimate activity when it is launched. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive. One of the most insidious types of Trojan horse is a program that claims to rid your computer of viruses but instead introduces viruses onto your computer. This Trojan is usually introduced to your computer through a prompt disguising itself as a Windows error message or other prompt. Clicking "okay" to this prompt will install the Trojan to your computer.

Worm:
A program that when run, has the ability to spread to other computers on its own using either mass-mailing techniques to email addresses found on your computer or by using the Internet to infect a remote computer using security holes found in the operating system. They do not attach themselves to other files or programs.

Hijacker:
A program that attempts to hijack certain Internet functions like redirecting your start page to the hijacker's own start page, redirecting search queries to a undesired search engine, or replace search results from popular search engines with their own information.

If you find yourself infested with any of the above, there is hope. The best way to combat these buggers (for free) is to use the software listed in the links on the right.

You can feel confident calling on us.
If we can't do it, it probably can't be done.