Malware+and+Spyware

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What Is It?? ** Malware; (short for malicious software) is a program that is made to damage or interrupt a computer system without the user knowing. Malware includes viruses, Trojan horses, worms, key loggers, spyware and adware such as tracking cookies. It can be used to gather information about a user without their permission, to hijack your internet browser, change your searches or even to record everything you do.
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** Ways to Protect Yourself ** **Be Careful Where You Download **:  Corrupt programs often come from dishonest sites. If you are looking for a freeware or shareware program for a certain purpose, try searching for a reputable site.

**Read the EULA ** : What is a EULA you ask? End User License Agreement. It's all of the technical and legal stuff in the box above the buttons that say "No, I do not accept" or "Yes, I have read and accept these terms".

**Read Before You Click ** : Sometimes when you visit a web site a text box might pop up. Like the EULA, many people think these are a nuisance and will just click away to make the box disappear. People will click "yes" or "ok" without stopping to see that the box said "would you like to install our spyware program?" Ok, they don't usually come out and say it that clearly, but that is all the more reason you should stop to read those messages before you click "ok".

**Protect Your System ** : Viruses are only a small part of the malicious code these programs protect you from. Antivirus has expanded to include worms, Trojans, vulnerability exploits, jokes and hoaxes and even spyware and adware.

**Scan Your System ** : Even with antivirus software, firewalls and other protective measures some spyware or adware may eventually make it through to your system. While a product like Adware Pro will monitor your system in real time to protect it, Adware Pro costs money. The makers of Adware Pro, Lavasoft, also have a version available for free for personal use.

**Case Study 1** <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">The user receives a virus on their computer. Which of these actions is most likely to have given him this virus?

1. The user downloads videos from iTunes.

2. The user finds a game on the internet and tries to download it. Nothing happens.

3. The user downloads software from a reliable site.

4. The user downloads a song from iTunes.

The most likely action to have given them this virus is trying to download a game and nothing happens. This means that a virus or a Trojan horse is being downloaded onto your computer without you knowing.

** Case Study 2 **

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt;">The user receives an email from an unknown person. The email contains a link to a website the user has never heard of. The user should:

1. Open the link in case there is a major prize he/she could win

2. Ignore the email in case there is a virus hidden in it

3. Send it to a friend telling them to open it

From what you have read on the rest of the Malware and Spyware page, what do you think is the most sensible option to pick?