1.Anti-spyware Software --
Anti-spyware software is used in detecting, blocking and/or removing spyware
attempts.
Spyware is a type of software that seeks to gather your personal
information, without your permission. It has the capability to take over your
computer entirely! The information it collects is then sent to a third party
without your consent.
There 4 main different types of spyware:
- system monitors,
- Trojans,
- adware,
- and tracking cookies.
Spyware is mainly used for tracking
a user’s movements online and serving annoying and dangerous pop-up ads.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Your system can get infected with spyware if you visit certain websites,
by pop-up messages that ask you to download an application or program (told you
they’re evil!), through security holes in the browser or in other software,
etc.
Usually, spyware is well hidden and it’s also difficult to observe. You might
notice a spyware infection when the virus starts using your system’s resources
and slows it down in a way that will make you really, really angry.
- Antivirus Software
Antivirus software, sometimes called an anti-malware program (you can also call
it AV if you want to show off), is computer software used to prevent, detect
and remove malicious software.
Antivirus protects your computer from a large number of threats, such as ransom-ware, rootkits, Trojans, spyware, phishing attacks or botnets.
Without getting technical, let’s just say that the way antivirus scans for
infections is not really coping with current threats. Cyber criminals are
smart. Really, really smart! And their attacks are vicious, so just remember
that antivirus is not enough and you need something more to keep you
safe.
But that doesn’t mean you don’t need antivirus. YOU DO, trust me! But you need
other stuff too and I’ll tell you more about that later on.
- Cyber-Attack
A cyber-attack is classified as any type of offensive action used by cyber
criminals to deploy malicious code in your system with the purpose of stealing,
altering, destroying or taking any advantage from this action.
Cyber-attacks can target both people and things. ANYWHERE. ANYTIME.
Individual users, computer networks, information systems, IT
infrastructure of all types and sizes – no one is safe! (And I’m not being
dramatic about it.)
And smarter cyber criminals launch stronger attacks, which lead to worse
consequences.
- Drive-by download
A drive-by download can refer to 2 things:
- A download which you authorized but without
understanding the consequences (example: downloads which install an
unknown or counterfeit executable program, ActiveX component, or Java
applet).
- The unintentional download of a virus or malicious
software (malware) onto your computer or mobile device.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Drive-by downloads can happen when you visit a website, when reading an email
or by clicking on a deceptive pop-up window.
These type of malicious downloads usually take advantage of (or “exploit”) a
browser, an app, or an operating system that is out of date and has a security
flaw that has not been solved or patched.
This is why it’s crucial to constantly maintain your software updated.
(No worries, I’ll nag you about this along the way.)
- Exploit
An exploit is a piece of software, a chunk of data, or a set of commands that
takes advantage of a bug, glitch or vulnerability in order for malicious
purposes.
Exploits can cause disruptions in the behavior of computer software, hardware,
or something electronic (usually computerized).
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
By using exploits, cyber criminals can gain control of your computer.
After that, they can do pretty much what they want.
One of the ways to protect yourself from exploits is to keep your software
updated at all times (told you I’d nag you about this!) and take all
essential security measures (which I’ll show you in this course).
- Keylogging
Keylogging (also called keystroke logging) is a method that cyber criminals use
to record (or log) the keys you strike on your keyboard in order to get
confidential information about you.
Of course they do this in a concealed manner, so that you won’t know you are
being monitored while typing passwords, addresses and other secret data on your
keyboard as usual.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Keyloggers are usually used with malicious intentions, to steal passwords or
credit card information.
Although many anti-spyware applications can detect some software based
keyloggers and quarantine, disable or cleanse them, there is no solution that
can claim to be 100% effective against this type of threat.
- Malver-tising
Malver-tising (short for "malicious advertising") is the use of online
advertising to spread malware.
Cyber criminals inject malicious or malware-loaded code into online advertising
networks or legitimate websites, which then infect your systems through
clicking, redirection or drive-by downloads.
Since online ads are managed by online advertising networks, even a legitimate
website may host an infected web banner, although the website itself remains
uncompromise. Some of the websites that have unknowingly hosted malver-tising
are The New York Times, the London Stock Exchange, Spottily, and The Onion.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Cyber criminals use pop-up ads, drive-by downloads, web widgets, hidden
iframes, malicious banners, and third-party applications (example: forums, help
desks, customer relationship management systems, etc.) to deliver malware. This
is why malvertising is so wide-spread, affecting many users without their
knowledge.
- Malware
Malware (short for malicious software) is one of the terms you’ll hear most
often when it comes to cyber security threats. The terms defines any software
used by cyber criminals to:
- disrupt computer operations,
- gather sensitive information,
- or unlawfully gain access to private computer systems.
Malware is characterized by its malicious intent, because it acts stealthily to
steal your information or to spy on your computer for a long time, without your
knowledge.
'Malware' is a general term used to refer to an entire category of malicious or
intrusive software, including computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses,
ransomware, spyware, adware, scareware, and other harmful programs.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Malware is usually spread through executable code, scripts, active content, and
other software. The major threat is poses comes from malware being disguised
as, or embedded in, non-malicious files, such as .jpeg, .mpeg, .exe, .gif, .mp3
and many, many more.
You should definitely check out this list of 50+ File Extensions That
Are Potentially Dangerous on Windows
to get an even better idea of how malware can sneak into your system.
- Patching
Patching is the process of updating software to a different, newer version. A
patch is a small update released by a software manufacturer to fix bugs in
existing programs.
A patch can relate to features and usability, but is can also include security
features.
Patching is essential for your online security, because it prevents cyber
criminals from launching attacks using Zero Day viruses (definition at
#18).
- Phishing
Phishing is (yet) another method that cyber criminals use in order to acquire
sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details
(and sometimes, indirectly, money) by posing as a trustworthy entity in emails
or other means of electronic communication.
Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques (definition at
#12) used to deceive users, and exploits the poor usability aspects of current
web security technologies.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
A phishing email could seem that it legitimately comes from your bank,
and could trick you into entering valid credentials on a fake website.
Phishing is done through emails, instant messaging apps or social media posts
(on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).
- Ransomware
Ransomware is a form of malware that essentially holds a computer system
captive while demanding a ransom.
This type of malware locks you out of your computer by either:
- encrypting files on the hard drive
- or locking down the system and displaying messages that
extort you into paying the malware creator to remove the restrictions and
regain access to their computer, usually via a key. The bad news is that
the malware creator is the only one who knows the key.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Ransomware typically spreads like a normal computer worm (by replicating(making
exact copy itself) itself in order to spread to other computers), and it could
infect your system via a downloaded file or through some other vulnerability in
a network service.
The chances of retrieving your data are very small, unless you’re willing to
pay the ransom (which is why it’s crucial to have a back-up of your data in a
secure location).
The malware creator will either supply a program which can decrypt the files,
or he will send an unlock code that decrypts your data. But there is no
guarantee that this will happen, even if you pay the requested ransom.
- Social engineering
Social engineering is one of the most commonly used methods of cyber hacking,
which requires little to no technology. It relies on psychological manipulation
to something belive the victims to perform certain actions or make known
(private or sensitive ) confidential information.
HOW YOU CAN BE COMPROMISED:
In this case, cyber criminals use lies, impersonation, tricks, bribes,
blackmail, and threats (just like your ex) to attack information systems.
Phishing (defined at #10) is also a form of social engineering.
For example, cyber criminals may pose as contractors, exterminators, fire
marshals and technicians to go unnoticed as they steal your secrets or trick
you into make known (private or
sensitive ) confidential information about your company.
- Spam
We all know that spam is made of those pesky (Annoying) , unsolicited emails
that clog our inboxes. But, in recent years, spam has spread to instant
messaging apps, texting, blogs, forums, search engines, file sharing and social
media.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
While spam itself may not seem very dangerous, it sometimes carries malware,
spreads viruses, worms and other types of threats, such as financial theft,
identity theft, data and intellectual property theft, fraud, and deceptive
marketing.
- Trojan (Trojan horse)
A Trojan horse (commonly known as a Trojan) is a type of malware that hide
itself as a normal file or program to trick you into downloading and installing
malware.
A Trojan can do many dangerous things to your system, like give cyber criminals
unauthorized, remote access to your infected computer.
Once that happens, cyber criminals can:
- steal data (logins, financial data, even electronic
money),
- install more malware, modify files,
- monitor your activity (screen watching, keylogging,
etc.),
- use the computer in botnets (a collection of
Internet-connected programs communicating with other similar programs in
order to spread malware),
- encrypt your files, like in the case of ransomware
(defined at #11)
- crash your computer
- format your disks, destroying all the contents on your
device, etc.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
There are plenty of ways in which your system can become compromised by a
Trojan:
- through email attachments
- software or music downloads
- unsafe instant messages
- peer 2 peer downloads
- routine forms that need to be filled in
- drive-by downloads, etc.
- URL or web content filtering
URL or web filtering technology is software which keeps you from accessing
inappropriate websites or content or that prevents you from ending up in a
dangerous web location (and by dangerous I mean malware-laden).
The software’s filter checks the origin or content of a web page against a set
of rules provided by company or person who has installed the URL filter. If the
web page has been blacklisted or marked as infected, it will deny access to
that web location, blocking a potential cyber attack.
- Virus (Computer Virus)
A computer virus (shortly called virus) is a type of malware (told you it
would come up often!) capable of replicating itself and spreading to other
computers and data files.
Viruses spread to other computers by attaching themselves to various programs
and executing code when you launch one of those infected programs.
But they’re really sneaky, so they can also spread through script files,
documents, and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web apps (defined
at #17).
Viruses are also evil, because they can be used to steal information, harm your
computers, log keystrokes (keylogging – defined at #6), create botnets,
spam your contacts, steal your money, display political or humorous messages on
your screen (the least of your worries), and more.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
Viruses install themselves without your permission, because cyber criminals use
social engineering (defined at #12) and exploit software bugs and vulnerabilities
(defined at #17) to gain access to your computing resources.
Viruses can reside in executable files (.exe or .com files), in data files
(Microsoft Word documents or PDFs), or in the boot sector of your hard drive.
Or in a combination of all of these.
And the worst part is that some viruses are polymorphic, which means that the
virus has no parts which remain identical between infections, making it very
difficult to detect directly with an antivirus solution.
- Vulnerability
A cyber security vulnerability is a weakness which allows an attacker to
undermine your system's data security defenses.
A vulnerability appears at the intersection of 3 elements:
- a system susceptibility or flaw (example: your Java software hasn’t been updated to
the latest version – seems pretty innocent, right?)
- attacker access to the flaw (example: you click on a malware-infected banner ad
which delivers a download on your computer)
- and attacker capability to exploit the flaw (example: now the cyber criminal has a way in,
through that malicious download).
A vulnerability is just a skill(an attempt to make something that is not
the case appear true.) that a cyber criminal can use to
launch a full scale attack on your system. He still needs the right tools for
that, but they come in a large supply online and they’re cheap as well.
The way to protect yourself against vulnerabilities is to maintain your software
updated at all times.
- Zero-Day
virus
Now that you know what a vulnerability is, it’ll be really easy to understand
what a Zero-Day virus is as well.
Zero-Day viruses appear when cyber criminals discover a flaw in a piece of
software (for example, in Adobe Air). They exploit that vulnerability,
launching an attack that users can’t defend themselves against, for two simple
reasons:
- The flaw they exploit is attacked by launching a
previously unknown computer virus or other malware
- Antivirus programs rely upon signatures to identify
malware, but the signature for this new breed of malware or virus is not
in their database, because it’s new and hasn’t been sampled.
That is why antivirus software is not effective against Zero-Day viruses, and
that why you need additional solutions to protect you from advanced attacks
such as these.
HOW YOU CAN GET INFECTED:
The usual methods described beforehand work in this case as well:
- drive-by downloads
- malvertising
- spam
- through email attachments
- software or music downloads
- unsafe instant messages
- peer 2 peer downloads
- routine forms that need to be filled in, etc.
The difference is that, once you get infected, there’s very little you’ll be
able to do to stop the infection and mitigate its effects.
